USA, Czechia advance to semifinals at Women's Worlds

BRAMPTON, Ont. — Aerin Frankel stopped 18 shots as the United States shut out Germany 3-0 in the women's world hockey championship quarterfinals Thursday afternoon.

Amanda Kessel, Hannah Bilka and Abbey Murphy each scored a goal as the Americans booked a spot in the semifinal.

German goaltender Sandra Abstreiter made 49 saves in Germany's smallest margin of defeat to the Americans ever.

The U.S. will face Czechia in Saturday's semifinals.

The Americans are looking to win the tournament for the first time since 2019 after losses to Canada in 2021 and 2022. The 2020 worlds were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The U.S. has nine women's worlds titles to Canada's 12. Germany's best result at the tournament was a fourth-place finish in 2017.

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SWITZERLAND 5 JAPAN 1

Rahel Enzler had two goals and an assist, Lara Stalder added a goal and four assists and Switzerland cruised to a 5-1 win over Japan in the world championship quarterfinals.

Alina Muller, with a goal and two assists, and Lara Christen provided the rest of the offence for Switzerland. Andrea Braendli made 27 saves.

Haruka Toko opened the game's scoring 8:17 into the first period for Japan. Miyuu Masuhara allowed four goals on 19 shots before Riko Kawaguchi stopped 15-of-16 shots in 33:50 of relief.

Switzerland is set to face Canada in Saturday's semifinals. The two met in the tournament's opener, with Canada taking a 4-0 victory on April 5.

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CZECHIA 2 FINLAND 1

Katerina Mrazova had two points, including the game-winning goal, as Czechia defeated Finland 2-1 on Thursday morning to advance to the semifinals.

Czech goaltender Blanka Skodova turned away 41-of-42 shots in the first quarterfinal of the day at the CAA Centre. Finnish netminder Anni Keisala made 20 saves in the outing.

Finland forward Viivi Vainikka opened the scoring at 15:18 of the first period, but Czechia replied with unanswered second-period goals from Natalie Mlynkova and Mrazova.

It's the fourth straight time the Czechs and Finns have played in the women's world hockey championship quarterfinal, and the second consecutive time Czechia has knocked Finland out of the tournament.

Czechia lost 10-1 to the United States in the semifinals last year, but defeated Switzerland 4-2 in the third-place game to earn a bronze medal.

Finland last made the semifinals in 2021, but won bronze at the Beijing Olympics last winter.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 13, 2023.