Czechia’s Katerina Mrazova was called for interference just over 10 minutes in, pitting the tournament’s top penalty kill against the top power play. Until this moment, no one had been able to crack Czechia’s perfect penalty kill, but Cayla Barnes picked up a rebound and passed across the slot to Amanda Kessel for a one-timer, giving the U.S. a 1-0 lead.
Barnes helped set up the Americans’ second goal as well, feeding the puck to captain Hilary Knight, who sent it backhand into the net over Blanka Skodova.
The U.S. power play proved deadly, increasing the lead for Team USA to 3-0 just over a minute later. Andrea Trnkova was in the box for only seven seconds when Knight scored her second of the game, tipping in a shot from Caroline Harvey (and guess who else assisted on the goal? Barnes, for her third point of the game).
“It’s what she [Knight] does best,” said Barnes. “She’s an incredible leader, and incredible hockey player, and when the team needs one like that, she puts in on her back. I would follow her anywhere.”
Harvey jumped up into the play for the Americans’ fourth goal of the game, dragging Skodova out of her crease and passing the puck out in front for Abbey Murphy. Czechia changed goaltenders after this, with Katerina Zechovska taking to the ice for the first time at a Women’s World Championship.
“It was good for us to get a lot of goals tonight,” said Alex Carpenter. “We learned last time how strong a team they are. They’re physical, they play well, they look for odd-man rushes. We used that last game to help find our game today, and it paid off.”
While the Americans had most of the momentum, the Czechs found a way to score. Adela Sapovalivova crossed the blue line with speed, beating Aerin Frankel blocker side. The Czechs tried to close the gap further with a near shorthanded breakaway opportunity for Vendula Pribylova, but a glove save by Frankel kept the score at 4-1.
“That was a great snipe,” Czechia captain Alena Mills said of Sapovalivova’s goal. “I’m really happy that she’s playing the way she is, she’s a great kid. She’s a bubbly kid, great to have on our team, and I think she’s able to build on that confidence and also gets better every tournament. That’s what we want to see, that’s how we’re going to get this team to those shinier medals. It’s kids like her that are going to help us. Same goes for [Tereza Pistekova and Tereza Plosova], I think they’ve done great the whole tournament too. They might not have as much ice time, but every time they’re out there, they’re making things happen. Those young kids are really helping us.”
The U.S. scored twice more before the second intermission to take a 6-1 lead. Abby Roque fired the puck top shelf on the power play, and in the dying minutes of the period, Kessel batted a rebound out of the air and past Zechovska.
Women’s Worlds rookie Tessa Janecke added two more to the scoreboard in the third period. Zechovska made a nice save on Taylor Heise, but Janecke crashed the net to pot the loose puck. Her second goal came 15 seconds in to another U.S. power play.
“I think we’re going to need every piece of the puzzle to win tomorrow so I think it’s amazing that everyone’s getting on the scoresheet and everyone’s contributing in their own way,” said Barnes. “We just trust each other, we stuck to our game plan, made hockey plays. We got a couple of really good bounces as well, so I think that contributed to our success.”
Harvey scored the final goal of the game to add to her three assists. Her and Hannah Bilka (who assisted on Janecke’s first goal) are now on a six game scoring streak, and are the only U.S. players to have collected at least one point in every game in Brampton.
“We’re on the hunt for a gold medal,” said Barnes. “It’s been a little bit, so we definitely are hungry for that and we want to get that back so if it [USA vs Canada], it’s the greatest rivalry. It’s going to be a hard back and forth game, you expect that, so we’re really looking forward to the game tomorrow.”
As for Czechia, their sights are set on defending their bronze medal from the 2022 Women’s World Championship.
“I think it’s going to be harder to defend the bronze medal or to win it again because last year we surprised everybody,” said Mills. “I think it’s going to be a bit of a different challenge, a bit of a different battle, but nothing changes. We came here for a medal and if it’s bronze, bronze still counts.”
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
