photo: © International Ice Hockey Federation / Tim Austen
Time flies when you’re having fun. We’ve already reached the semifinal stage of the 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship.
The lights have dimmed in Esbjerg, and the top four teams have all now made the trek to Herning. Let the battle for medals commence!
Wait, not just yet.
It’s time for our IIHF.com writers to recap the tournament so far, and peek into their crystal balls. Michael Sovso (MS) covered every single game in Esbjerg while Risto Pakarinen (RP) made his base in Herning
What’s your overall take on the tournament so far? Any surprises?
MS: It is excellent to see the return of the traditional group format. Even though the US was dominant in all four games in Esbjerg, I believe that teams like Austria and Germany benefit from facing the pace and puck movement that the Americans bring to the ice.
In particular, the new group format benefited Germany, my surprise team. Sandra Abstreiter was outstanding in goal, and the Welcke sisters' spirit and flair during the shootout drama against Czechia were the icing on the cake.
Finland proved too strong for Germany in the quarter-final, but I am sure we will see more of Jeff MacLeod's team in the coming seasons.
RP: I hope people have been tuning in, because the games in Herning have been nothing but entertaining, almost without exception.
What have been some of the memorable moments?
RP: Well, off the top of my head, there’s Jenni Hiirikoski’s 100th game, which is a magnificent feat in itself. But what made it all the more memorable was seeing how the other players reacted to it. All the Canadian captains — Renata Fast, Laura Stacey and Kristin O’Neill — made a point of skating up to her and congratulating her personally.
The players are skilled, they’re fast, they’re strong, they’re amazing athletes — that’s obvious. The hockey is fast-paced and entertaining, which goes without saying (but is worth repeating).
But what sticks in my mind is the one thing that I think makes women’s hockey so great: the joy. It was there when Denmark scored their first and only goal in their game against Finland, and goaltender Nordstrom raced to the bench to celebrate it with her goalie partner, not to mention the joy when they beat Japan in a shootout.
Or how giddy the Swedes were when Wilma Sundin scored her first goal in her first game, having watched the first three from the stands. Or the Finns’ pre-game ritual, with sticks raised towards the ceiling, not to mention the goalie hugs.
But it’s also there in those quick moments on the ice when something unexpected happens and the players laugh it off.
MS: There were so many here in Esbjerg. First off, Sara Hjalmarsson's wonderful game-winner against Switzerland in the quarterfinal. The Americans' ability to simply keep going, even when they are already leading by a comfortable margin, and Lilli Welcke's wonderful shootout goal that decided the game against Czechia.
We saw some excellent goaltending throughout the tournament and, of course, there were the enthusiastic groups of fans: American line dancers, German drummers, Swiss cowbells, Czech banners and proud Austrian newcomers to the top division.
Who has impressed you, and why?
MS: Again, the way the US has approached every single minute of their games has been fantastic to see. Despite their dominance, they keep working hard, playing with great focus and putting their opponents under relentless pressure.
Selma Luggin in Austria's goal was outstanding. She faced 164 shots and boasts a save percentage of over 95%, ultimately helping Austria avoid relegation.
RP: I came into the tournament already impressed with Mira Jungaker, having watched her closely at the 2023 Under-18 tournament in Sweden, but … she is a marvel to watch. She’s such a great skater and passer. In fact, Sweden has been impressive as a team.
Japan’s 17-year-old Umeka Odaira is also someone we will hear about in the future, as are Denmark’s teenage players Nikita Bergmann and Teresa Christensen.
Also, Canada’s first-timers Kendall Cooper and Caitlin Kraemer have hopped right in and played like veterans.
Do you have a gold medal favourite? What about a silver medal favourite? In other words, where do you see an upset in the semifinals?
RP: Team USA is the team to beat, no question about it. But, yeah, I do have a silver medal favourite, and it’s something of an upset. It is Sweden.
The Swedish program has taken great strides in recent years, and maybe more importantly in this tournament, they have eleven players who have played in the Under-18 Worlds final. In 2018, they got to the final by beating Russia. In 2023, they had to beat the US to make it to the gold medal game.
The core of the team knows they can not only hang with the best; they can beat them. But, it probably takes a perfect game.
MS: I see the USA as clear favourites for the gold medal. This team is more or less a copy of their Olympic roster. The atmosphere is great, the players enjoy each other's company and genuinely love playing together. They are simply a level above everyone else in this tournament.
For me, it would be a huge surprise if they didn't win gold, so I only see room for an upset in the game between Sweden and Canada. The Swedes will need a performance in goal similar to Kim Martin's at the 2006 Olympics, when Sweden famously beat the USA 3-2 in the semi-finals. Yes, they’ll need to play an almost perfect game if they are to pull off the win. But it is not impossible.
Who’s your MVP?
MS: Right now, it is a race between a number of Americans and the Austrian goalie Luggin.
RP: Having spent the entire tournament in Herning, I’ll say Jungaker. No, KK Harvey. No, Frankel. Maybe Eldridge or Fillier. Wait, what if the Finns pull an upset? Sanni Ahola, maybe.
We’ll just have to wait and see.
The lights have dimmed in Esbjerg, and the top four teams have all now made the trek to Herning. Let the battle for medals commence!
Wait, not just yet.
It’s time for our IIHF.com writers to recap the tournament so far, and peek into their crystal balls. Michael Sovso (MS) covered every single game in Esbjerg while Risto Pakarinen (RP) made his base in Herning
What’s your overall take on the tournament so far? Any surprises?
MS: It is excellent to see the return of the traditional group format. Even though the US was dominant in all four games in Esbjerg, I believe that teams like Austria and Germany benefit from facing the pace and puck movement that the Americans bring to the ice.
In particular, the new group format benefited Germany, my surprise team. Sandra Abstreiter was outstanding in goal, and the Welcke sisters' spirit and flair during the shootout drama against Czechia were the icing on the cake.
Finland proved too strong for Germany in the quarter-final, but I am sure we will see more of Jeff MacLeod's team in the coming seasons.
RP: I hope people have been tuning in, because the games in Herning have been nothing but entertaining, almost without exception.
What have been some of the memorable moments?
RP: Well, off the top of my head, there’s Jenni Hiirikoski’s 100th game, which is a magnificent feat in itself. But what made it all the more memorable was seeing how the other players reacted to it. All the Canadian captains — Renata Fast, Laura Stacey and Kristin O’Neill — made a point of skating up to her and congratulating her personally.
The players are skilled, they’re fast, they’re strong, they’re amazing athletes — that’s obvious. The hockey is fast-paced and entertaining, which goes without saying (but is worth repeating).
But what sticks in my mind is the one thing that I think makes women’s hockey so great: the joy. It was there when Denmark scored their first and only goal in their game against Finland, and goaltender Nordstrom raced to the bench to celebrate it with her goalie partner, not to mention the joy when they beat Japan in a shootout.
Or how giddy the Swedes were when Wilma Sundin scored her first goal in her first game, having watched the first three from the stands. Or the Finns’ pre-game ritual, with sticks raised towards the ceiling, not to mention the goalie hugs.
But it’s also there in those quick moments on the ice when something unexpected happens and the players laugh it off.
MS: There were so many here in Esbjerg. First off, Sara Hjalmarsson's wonderful game-winner against Switzerland in the quarterfinal. The Americans' ability to simply keep going, even when they are already leading by a comfortable margin, and Lilli Welcke's wonderful shootout goal that decided the game against Czechia.
We saw some excellent goaltending throughout the tournament and, of course, there were the enthusiastic groups of fans: American line dancers, German drummers, Swiss cowbells, Czech banners and proud Austrian newcomers to the top division.
Who has impressed you, and why?
MS: Again, the way the US has approached every single minute of their games has been fantastic to see. Despite their dominance, they keep working hard, playing with great focus and putting their opponents under relentless pressure.
Selma Luggin in Austria's goal was outstanding. She faced 164 shots and boasts a save percentage of over 95%, ultimately helping Austria avoid relegation.
RP: I came into the tournament already impressed with Mira Jungaker, having watched her closely at the 2023 Under-18 tournament in Sweden, but … she is a marvel to watch. She’s such a great skater and passer. In fact, Sweden has been impressive as a team.
Japan’s 17-year-old Umeka Odaira is also someone we will hear about in the future, as are Denmark’s teenage players Nikita Bergmann and Teresa Christensen.
Also, Canada’s first-timers Kendall Cooper and Caitlin Kraemer have hopped right in and played like veterans.
Do you have a gold medal favourite? What about a silver medal favourite? In other words, where do you see an upset in the semifinals?
RP: Team USA is the team to beat, no question about it. But, yeah, I do have a silver medal favourite, and it’s something of an upset. It is Sweden.
The Swedish program has taken great strides in recent years, and maybe more importantly in this tournament, they have eleven players who have played in the Under-18 Worlds final. In 2018, they got to the final by beating Russia. In 2023, they had to beat the US to make it to the gold medal game.
The core of the team knows they can not only hang with the best; they can beat them. But, it probably takes a perfect game.
MS: I see the USA as clear favourites for the gold medal. This team is more or less a copy of their Olympic roster. The atmosphere is great, the players enjoy each other's company and genuinely love playing together. They are simply a level above everyone else in this tournament.
For me, it would be a huge surprise if they didn't win gold, so I only see room for an upset in the game between Sweden and Canada. The Swedes will need a performance in goal similar to Kim Martin's at the 2006 Olympics, when Sweden famously beat the USA 3-2 in the semi-finals. Yes, they’ll need to play an almost perfect game if they are to pull off the win. But it is not impossible.
Who’s your MVP?
MS: Right now, it is a race between a number of Americans and the Austrian goalie Luggin.
RP: Having spent the entire tournament in Herning, I’ll say Jungaker. No, KK Harvey. No, Frankel. Maybe Eldridge or Fillier. Wait, what if the Finns pull an upset? Sanni Ahola, maybe.
We’ll just have to wait and see.