photo: Matt Zambonin/IIHF
Sweden got off on the right foot tonight in Membertou, defeating a competitive team from Hungary by a 4-1 score. This marked Hungary’s first game at the top level of the U18 Women’s Worlds since March 23, 2014, when they hosted the tournament and lost the opening game to none other than Sweden, 5-1.
The only other time these teams have played at the WW18 level was the previous year, 2013, a 4-0 Sweden win as well.
Although shots favoured Sweden, 34-14, Hungarian goalie Zoe Takacs was sensational. "She's the best goalie I know," enthused captain Reka Heizl, the Hungarian goalscorer. "I don't know what would happen with the game, with the team, if she's not there. We're just really glad that she's there always."
Both teams have a day off now before resuming play on Monday. The Swedes will meet the Swiss in the early game, while Hungary faces hosts Canada in the evening.
"I think we started very well," said Sweden'sd coach Andreas Karlsson. "In the second period, we did not have consistency in our play. But in third, I think we came back and finished well. When we play our best hockey, we need to be consistent. We talk a lot about having five in the picture, and being very close together as a group."
"We played, I think, a really good game," enthused first-year coach Zoltan Fodor of Hungary. "Period by period, we did better. So I'm really proud of my team. We played physical, and then we had our structure. But I have to say, Sweden played pretty good. Pretty good team. We fought really hard."
The Swedes had a good chance early to open the scoring when Maja Staring blocked a Bonita Szabo shot at the Sweden blue line. Staring controlled the puck and went in alone, but she was stopped nicely by Takacs.
Nevertheless, Sweden got the first goal several minutes later on a nice play inside the Hungary end. Inez Nygren spotted Ebba Hesselvall to the back post and fired a hard pass to her which Hesselvall tipped in at 6:44.
Soon after, Hungary almost tied it on a nice solo effort. Hiezl pokechecked her counterpart, captain Ebba Westerling, coming out of the Sweden end a little too casually. Hiezl went in alone, but Meja Engelin made a blocker save to keep the Sweden lead, 1-0.
The Swedes doubled their lead early in the second on a perfectly-executed 2-on-1. Maja Akerlund carried the puck over the blue line and made a well-timed saucer pass to Tilia Lindgren, and she fired it home at 1:28.
But Hungary was not disheartened and continued to play an impressive level of hockey. They were structured in their own end and moved the puck out with speed and skill. Their biggest trouble was penetrating the Sweden zone and maintaining possession in the offensive end.
That being said, they capitalized midway through the period on their one great chance. Biborka Simon’s long shot snuck through the equipment of Engelin and rolled towards the goal line. Hiezl pushed it over, making it a one-goal game.
Although Sweden had the better of play and plenty of good chances, it became clear the best player on the ice was Takacs, who was poised and sensational throughout. Case in point, she stoned Nellie Noren late in the second on a clear breakaway to keep the score 2-1. Besides that, she was steady on her feet, was square to the shooter, and controlled her rebounds.
Hungary had two great chances to tie the game on power plays early in the third, but they couldn't muster much in the way of a good scoring chance. Soon after the second penalty expired, however, they added to their lead. Moa Stridh cut through the middle and wristed a shot past the blocker of Takacs at 4:30.
Just 53 seconds later, they made it 4-1. Takacs made the stop on the first shot, but no one picked up Tilde Grillfors skating through the slot. She got to the puck first and lifted a shot into the top corner over the goalie's shoulder.
"I think we skated our nerves away on the first shifts, and I think we just keep building on that," said Westerlind. "We just want to trust our game and trust our plan. I think we did that, and we skated a lot, so it was good."
"The first period was really good," Hiezl said. "We were a little nervous first. But we came out for the second period really well, faster, and we scored, so it was exciting. But we need to play for three periods, not only two and a half. I think that was the problem against Sweden. But we can learn about it, and we can continue to improve in the tournament."
The only other time these teams have played at the WW18 level was the previous year, 2013, a 4-0 Sweden win as well.
Although shots favoured Sweden, 34-14, Hungarian goalie Zoe Takacs was sensational. "She's the best goalie I know," enthused captain Reka Heizl, the Hungarian goalscorer. "I don't know what would happen with the game, with the team, if she's not there. We're just really glad that she's there always."
Both teams have a day off now before resuming play on Monday. The Swedes will meet the Swiss in the early game, while Hungary faces hosts Canada in the evening.
"I think we started very well," said Sweden'sd coach Andreas Karlsson. "In the second period, we did not have consistency in our play. But in third, I think we came back and finished well. When we play our best hockey, we need to be consistent. We talk a lot about having five in the picture, and being very close together as a group."
"We played, I think, a really good game," enthused first-year coach Zoltan Fodor of Hungary. "Period by period, we did better. So I'm really proud of my team. We played physical, and then we had our structure. But I have to say, Sweden played pretty good. Pretty good team. We fought really hard."
The Swedes had a good chance early to open the scoring when Maja Staring blocked a Bonita Szabo shot at the Sweden blue line. Staring controlled the puck and went in alone, but she was stopped nicely by Takacs.
Nevertheless, Sweden got the first goal several minutes later on a nice play inside the Hungary end. Inez Nygren spotted Ebba Hesselvall to the back post and fired a hard pass to her which Hesselvall tipped in at 6:44.
Soon after, Hungary almost tied it on a nice solo effort. Hiezl pokechecked her counterpart, captain Ebba Westerling, coming out of the Sweden end a little too casually. Hiezl went in alone, but Meja Engelin made a blocker save to keep the Sweden lead, 1-0.
The Swedes doubled their lead early in the second on a perfectly-executed 2-on-1. Maja Akerlund carried the puck over the blue line and made a well-timed saucer pass to Tilia Lindgren, and she fired it home at 1:28.
But Hungary was not disheartened and continued to play an impressive level of hockey. They were structured in their own end and moved the puck out with speed and skill. Their biggest trouble was penetrating the Sweden zone and maintaining possession in the offensive end.
That being said, they capitalized midway through the period on their one great chance. Biborka Simon’s long shot snuck through the equipment of Engelin and rolled towards the goal line. Hiezl pushed it over, making it a one-goal game.
Although Sweden had the better of play and plenty of good chances, it became clear the best player on the ice was Takacs, who was poised and sensational throughout. Case in point, she stoned Nellie Noren late in the second on a clear breakaway to keep the score 2-1. Besides that, she was steady on her feet, was square to the shooter, and controlled her rebounds.
Hungary had two great chances to tie the game on power plays early in the third, but they couldn't muster much in the way of a good scoring chance. Soon after the second penalty expired, however, they added to their lead. Moa Stridh cut through the middle and wristed a shot past the blocker of Takacs at 4:30.
Just 53 seconds later, they made it 4-1. Takacs made the stop on the first shot, but no one picked up Tilde Grillfors skating through the slot. She got to the puck first and lifted a shot into the top corner over the goalie's shoulder.
"I think we skated our nerves away on the first shifts, and I think we just keep building on that," said Westerlind. "We just want to trust our game and trust our plan. I think we did that, and we skated a lot, so it was good."
"The first period was really good," Hiezl said. "We were a little nervous first. But we came out for the second period really well, faster, and we scored, so it was exciting. But we need to play for three periods, not only two and a half. I think that was the problem against Sweden. But we can learn about it, and we can continue to improve in the tournament."
Sweden vs Hungary - 2026 IIHF U18 Women's Worlds Championship
OF