In the latest installment of their intense rivalry, the United States turned the tables on Canada Tuesday afternoon to capture the top seed of the IIHF Women’s World Championship in Denmark. Three other matchups took place on the final day of the preliminary round, leading into Wednesday’s quarterfinals.

USA VS. CANADA
Two former Western Collegiate Hockey Association stars and a current WCHA player led a string of five unanswered goals to give the Americans a 5-2 victory over the defending World Champions and gold medal winners from the Beijing Olympics. Wisconsin’s Lacey Eden broke a 2-2 tie early in the third period, helping the Americans complete pool play with a 4-0 record.

After the first period, Canada carried a 2-0 lead, where former Minnesota athlete Sarah Potomak had an assist on the first goal. At 11:11 of the second period, it was Kelly Pannek (Minnesota) who had the game-tying goal.

Hilary Knight (Wisconsin) scored an empty net goal in the final minute to clinch the victory, making it her 50th career goal in the world tournament. It moves the Wisconsin all-American to within one point of tying Haley Wickenheiser as the all-time leading scorer in world tournament play. Knight, who is the all-time leading goal-scorer, now has 85 points.

Last year’s Patty Kazmaier Award winner Taylor Heise (Minnesota) had an assist and continues to lead the world tournament in scoring with two goals and seven assists for nine points in four games.

IIHF Game Recap: IIHF - U.S. rallies to win, finish first
USA Hockey Game Recap, with post-game comments from Coach John Wroblewski: U.S. Tops Canada, 5-2, To Close Women’s Worlds Prelims (usahockey.com)

The Americans’ comeback victory was the first time Canada had lost a game at a major event since the 2019 World Championship – a span of 17 games. However, USA has won nine of the last 11 games in the world tournament against its chief rival.

CZECHIA VS. SWEDEN
In Pool B play Tuesday, Czechia wrapped up the preliminary round unbeaten with a 3-0 victory over Sweden. St. Cloud State’s Klara Hymlarova scored an empty net goal in the third period for her fourth goal of the tournament. Minnesota Duluth goalie Emma Soderberg made 21 stops on 23 shots faced for Sweden.

IIHF Game Recap: IIHF - Czechs finish prelims on top

GERMANY VS. DENMARK
As Germany saw goals from two WCHA players as Laura Kluge (St. Cloud State) and Tanja Eisenschmid (North Dakota) in the last 4 minutes, 11 seconds, it was able to rally past Denmark 3-2.  Eisenschmid’s goal came with one second left in regulation to secure the victory.

Katarina Jobst-Smith, a Minnesota Duluth defender, had an assist for Germany, while North Dakota’s Josefine Jakobsen had an assist on one of Denmark’s two goals.

IIHF Game Recap: IIHF - Germany beats the buzzer

FINLAND VS. SWITZERLAND
In the other Pool A game, Finland blanked a short-handed Switzerland team 4-0. Former North Dakota athlete Susanna Tapani had a goal and an assist, while Minnesota defender Nelli Laitinen earned a pair of apples for the Swedes. Michelle Karvinen (North Dakota), assisted on the Tapani goal.

In the crease, Ohio State’s Andrea Braendli opened with a 19-save performance, before St. Thomas’ Saskia Maurer made 21 saves on 22 shots faced for Switzerland.

IIHF Game Recap:  IIHF - Finns beat short-handed Swiss

LOOKING AHEAD
Tuesday’s intense battle between the two tournament favorites completes the preliminary round and sets up Thursday’s quarterfinal pairings: USA vs. Hungary and Switzerland vs. Japan are in one bracket, with Finland vs. Czechia and Canada vs. Sweden in the other bracket. The winners of the quarterfinal games play in the semifinals Saturday, followed by the gold medal game on Sunday. The NHL Network will carry all games involving the USA and Canada, including the USA vs. Hungary quarterfinal at 9 a.m. CT Thursday.

IIHF Standings:  IIHF - Standings 2022 IIHF ICE HOCKEY WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Complete Schedule: IIHF - Schedule and Results 2022 IIHF ICE HOCKEY WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

ROSTER BREAKDOWN
The United States leads WCHA representation at the world tournament with 13 players, including five current student-athletes. Team Canada, which beat Team USA for the gold medal in both the Beijing Olympics in February and the World Championship last summer in Calgary, has 10 WCHA representatives, including two current student-athletes in Ashton Bell (Minnesota Duluth) and Emma Maltais (Ohio State).

Switzerland and Germany each have five players with WCHA ties, while Finland and Sweden each hold four. In addition to having three WCHA skaters in the lineup, former Wisconsin star Carla MacLeod serves as head coach for Czechia. Rounding out the rosters, three players with WCHA ties lace up for Hungary, including incoming St. Thomas player Lotti Odnoga and future 2023-24 Minnesota signee Emma Kreisz. The host country of Denmark has one WCHA alum on its roster in Josefine Jakobsen (North Dakota) of 20 skaters and three goaltenders.

With 11, Wisconsin has the most representatives at the event, while Minnesota tallies 10 players in the tournament. Minnesota Duluth has nine players with WCHA ties in the field, while St. Cloud State, former WCHA member North Dakota, and Ohio State each have four. The WCHA’s newest member in St. Thomas has three players competing as well, while Bemidji State and Minnesota State each send a skater to Denmark.

Behind the bench, the USA staff also has several WCHA connections. Former commissioner Katie Million serves as General Manager, while Operations Director Nick Bryant has worked at both Minnesota Duluth and Minnesota State. Scout Jeff Giesen is a current Assistant Coach at Minnesota State, Strength Coach Cal Dietz works at Minnesota and Equipment Manager Sis Paulsen is from Wisconsin, where she played. A fellow WCHA alum, Goaltending Coach Alli Altman played at Minnesota State from 2008-12.

Team USA (13 players, five current student-athletes*):
Hannah Brandt - Minnesota
Jesse Compher - Wisconsin *
Jincy Dunne - Ohio State
Lacey Eden - Wisconsin*
Caroline Harvey - Wisconsin*
Taylor Heise - Minnesota*
Amanda Kessel - Minnesota
Hilary Knight - Wisconsin
Kelly Pannek - Minnesota
Maddie Rooney - Minnesota Duluth
Abby Roque - Wisconsin
Lee Stecklein - Minnesota
Grace Zumwinkle - Minnesota*

Team Canada (10 players, two current student-athletes):
Ashton Bell - Minnesota Duluth*
Emily Clark - Wisconsin
Kristen Campbell - Wisconsin
Ann-Renee Desbiens - Wisconsin
Jocelyne Larocque - Minnesota Duluth
Emma Maltais - Ohio State*
Meaghan Mikkelson - Wisconsin
Sarah Nurse - Wisconsin
Sarah Potomak - Minnesota
Blayre Turnbull - Wisconsin

Team Switzerland (Five players, three current student-athletes):
Andrea Braendli - Ohio State
Saskia Maurer - St. Thomas*
Lara Stalder - Minnesota Duluth
Nicole Vallario - St. Thomas*
Laura Zimmermann - St. Cloud State*

Team Germany (Five players, one current student-athlete):
Lena Dusterhoft - Minnesota State
Marie Delarbre - Minnesota Duluth
Tanja Eisenschmid - North Dakota
Katarina Jobst-Smith - Minnesota Duluth*
Laura Kluge - St. Cloud State

Team Finland (Four players, two current student-athletes):
Michelle Karvinen - North Dakota
Nelli Laitinen - Minnesota*
Jenniina Nylund - St. Cloud State*
Susanna Tapani - North Dakota

Team Sweden (Four players, three current student-athletes):
Josefin Bouveng - Minnesota*
Michelle Lowenheim - Minnesota Duluth
Sofie Lundin - Ohio State*
Emma Soderberg - Minnesota Duluth*

Team Czechia (Three players, two current student-athletes, head coach):
Klara Hymlarova - St. Cloud State*
Katerina Mrazova - Minnesota Duluth
Blanka Skodova - Minnesota Duluth*
Coach: Carla MacLeod – Wisconsin

Team Hungary (Three players, one current student-athlete, one future player):
Lotti Odnoga - St. Thomas *
Emma Kreisz – Minnesota (signed for 2023-24)
Hayley Williams - Bemidji State

Team Denmark (One player):
Josefine Jakobsen - North Dakota