Action from the group stage game between Czechia and the USA. The teams meet again in Saturday's 2025 Women's World Championship semi-final in Ceske Budejovice.
photo: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / ANDREA CARDIN
We’re down to the final four in Ceske Budejovice. Last year’s finalists USA and Canada are hot favourites to renew their rivalry in Sunday’s gold medal game, but it’s absolutely not a done deal. Host nation Czechia, backed by fantastic support, is ready to test the Americans after thrashing Switzerland 7-0 in the quarter final. And Finland, last year’s bronze medallist, has improved through the tournament and has a point to prove after a tough group-stage encounter with Canada. Read on for the lowdown on Saturday’s IIHF Women’s World Championship semi-finals.
Semi-final 1: USA vs Czechia. 15:00
Group stage result: USA 4 Czechia 0
Expect plenty of noise in the building for this one. The Czech fans have generated a fantastic atmosphere throughout this tournament and there’s a growing belief that Carla McLeod’s team can respond by delivering a medal. Thursday’s 7-0 thrashing of Switzerland in the quarterfinal is only adding to that optimism, while another sell-out crowd will bring the 2025 championship closer to the all-time attendance record.
And even though the Americans won the group-stage clash between the teams, Czechia came out with much credit from a battling display. With first-choice goalie Klara Peslarova set to play on Saturday in place of Michaela Hesova, who made her World Championship debut in the earlier encounter, there are hopes that Czechia will be even tougher to break down this time.
Kristyna Kaltounkova, the leading Czech scorer with 5 (2+3) points, believes that the fighting spirit from the group stage can ensure the hotly-favoured USA faces a real test here. “I feel like the way we battled with them in the first game was the way to go,” she said. “So, just go back to our roots. Go back to what we know how to do, not get too cocky, and handle it with grace and hard work.
“I think we're going to like where we end up with that.”
But Team USA has a point to prove after losing in last year’s final to Canada. Progress in Czechia has been flawless to date, with a 2-1 win over the Canadians ensuring top spot in Group A.
And Lacey Eden, who scored in the 3-0 quarter-final win over Germany, is ready to subdue a fervent crowd as well as a promising Czech team.
“They have the home crowd, so it’s definitely going to be a gritty game,” she said. “It’s going to be a battle, but we'll be ready for it. We can use the fan energy and kind of go off that.”
Cayla Barnes believes that the pacey offence seen so far can make the difference for the Americans once again.
“Continuing to stick to our game plan and pushing the pace will be key,” she added. “We have a lot of speed and attack in our game, so it’s just sticking to that game plan and continuing to move forward.”
And last year’s silver medal is motivation to go one step further this time. “It’s everything to us,” Barnes said. “We want to be in that final and obviously want to be back on top of the podium, seeing as we fell short last year.
“Trying to reclaim that title is our main goal.”
Semi-final 2: Canada vs Finland. 19:00
Group stage result: Canada 5 Finland 0
The Canadians wasted little time in taking control when these teams met in the group stage. Three unanswered goals in the first period, followed by a fourth just 18 seconds after the intermission, set up a convincing win. But the knock-out rounds are a different beast. Finland has grown in confidence after defeating the Czechs, and the Canadians expect a new challenge this time around.
“I’m sure we're going to see a new Finland team,” said Sarah Fillier. “They’re going to see a new Canadian team. We've had five games under our belt now since we've seen them, so [there's been] a lot to build on each game.”
And Marie-Philip Poulin, who is one point shy of breaking Hayley Wickenheiser’s all-time Team Canada scoring record at the Women’s Worlds, added: “It’s going to be a hard battle. We played them in the prelims, and we know they're going to come out hard. We have to focus on our way. Play physical, play fast, and put a lot of pucks on the net.”
The Finns are boosted by news that Ronja Savolainen is fit to play after being helped from the ice during the QF against Sweden. Although the star defender had a nasty collision with Lisa Johansson in the third period of the game, she is expected to be available for the semi-final.
That’s crucial: Savolainen is Finland’s leading scorer here and would likely lead the team in ice time had she not missed the closing stages of the Sweden game. She also had two goals and an assist when the Finns stunned Canada at this stage of the 2019 edition – still the only time a European team has won a semi-final.
To repeat that success, captain Michelle Karvinen wants to cut out defensive lapses. They hurt Finland early in the tournament, and also allowed Sweden to recover a two-goal deficit in Thursday’s QF.
“We need to be more disciplined in our own zone,” she said. “We’re realistic, we know that Canada will have more puck possession, but we also know from the past that a couple of chances can be enough. But we need to sort out our own zone first if we’re going to have any chance.”
Placement Game: Switzerland vs Sweden. 11:00
Before Saturday’s semi-finals, the highest ranked beaten quarter-finalists contest a fifth-place playoff. For Switzerland, who finished fifth in Group A before losing to Czechia in the quarters, it’s a last chance to get a win here in Ceske Budejovice. The Swiss will need to find some offence at last after scoring just once in five games to date. Sweden, meanwhile, will be confident of defeating a Group A opponent. The Damkronorna won all four games as it topped Group B before pushing Finland hard in a 2-3 quarterfinal loss.
Semi-final 1: USA vs Czechia. 15:00
Group stage result: USA 4 Czechia 0
Expect plenty of noise in the building for this one. The Czech fans have generated a fantastic atmosphere throughout this tournament and there’s a growing belief that Carla McLeod’s team can respond by delivering a medal. Thursday’s 7-0 thrashing of Switzerland in the quarterfinal is only adding to that optimism, while another sell-out crowd will bring the 2025 championship closer to the all-time attendance record.
And even though the Americans won the group-stage clash between the teams, Czechia came out with much credit from a battling display. With first-choice goalie Klara Peslarova set to play on Saturday in place of Michaela Hesova, who made her World Championship debut in the earlier encounter, there are hopes that Czechia will be even tougher to break down this time.
Kristyna Kaltounkova, the leading Czech scorer with 5 (2+3) points, believes that the fighting spirit from the group stage can ensure the hotly-favoured USA faces a real test here. “I feel like the way we battled with them in the first game was the way to go,” she said. “So, just go back to our roots. Go back to what we know how to do, not get too cocky, and handle it with grace and hard work.
“I think we're going to like where we end up with that.”
But Team USA has a point to prove after losing in last year’s final to Canada. Progress in Czechia has been flawless to date, with a 2-1 win over the Canadians ensuring top spot in Group A.
And Lacey Eden, who scored in the 3-0 quarter-final win over Germany, is ready to subdue a fervent crowd as well as a promising Czech team.
“They have the home crowd, so it’s definitely going to be a gritty game,” she said. “It’s going to be a battle, but we'll be ready for it. We can use the fan energy and kind of go off that.”
Cayla Barnes believes that the pacey offence seen so far can make the difference for the Americans once again.
“Continuing to stick to our game plan and pushing the pace will be key,” she added. “We have a lot of speed and attack in our game, so it’s just sticking to that game plan and continuing to move forward.”
And last year’s silver medal is motivation to go one step further this time. “It’s everything to us,” Barnes said. “We want to be in that final and obviously want to be back on top of the podium, seeing as we fell short last year.
“Trying to reclaim that title is our main goal.”
Semi-final 2: Canada vs Finland. 19:00
Group stage result: Canada 5 Finland 0
The Canadians wasted little time in taking control when these teams met in the group stage. Three unanswered goals in the first period, followed by a fourth just 18 seconds after the intermission, set up a convincing win. But the knock-out rounds are a different beast. Finland has grown in confidence after defeating the Czechs, and the Canadians expect a new challenge this time around.
“I’m sure we're going to see a new Finland team,” said Sarah Fillier. “They’re going to see a new Canadian team. We've had five games under our belt now since we've seen them, so [there's been] a lot to build on each game.”
And Marie-Philip Poulin, who is one point shy of breaking Hayley Wickenheiser’s all-time Team Canada scoring record at the Women’s Worlds, added: “It’s going to be a hard battle. We played them in the prelims, and we know they're going to come out hard. We have to focus on our way. Play physical, play fast, and put a lot of pucks on the net.”
The Finns are boosted by news that Ronja Savolainen is fit to play after being helped from the ice during the QF against Sweden. Although the star defender had a nasty collision with Lisa Johansson in the third period of the game, she is expected to be available for the semi-final.
That’s crucial: Savolainen is Finland’s leading scorer here and would likely lead the team in ice time had she not missed the closing stages of the Sweden game. She also had two goals and an assist when the Finns stunned Canada at this stage of the 2019 edition – still the only time a European team has won a semi-final.
To repeat that success, captain Michelle Karvinen wants to cut out defensive lapses. They hurt Finland early in the tournament, and also allowed Sweden to recover a two-goal deficit in Thursday’s QF.
“We need to be more disciplined in our own zone,” she said. “We’re realistic, we know that Canada will have more puck possession, but we also know from the past that a couple of chances can be enough. But we need to sort out our own zone first if we’re going to have any chance.”
Placement Game: Switzerland vs Sweden. 11:00
Before Saturday’s semi-finals, the highest ranked beaten quarter-finalists contest a fifth-place playoff. For Switzerland, who finished fifth in Group A before losing to Czechia in the quarters, it’s a last chance to get a win here in Ceske Budejovice. The Swiss will need to find some offence at last after scoring just once in five games to date. Sweden, meanwhile, will be confident of defeating a Group A opponent. The Damkronorna won all four games as it topped Group B before pushing Finland hard in a 2-3 quarterfinal loss.