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2022 Women's Worlds Notebook: Team USA 10, Czechia 1

By USA Hockey, 09/02/22, 3:15PM EDT

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Follow along with Team USA's journey at the 2022 IIHF Women's World Championship

The 2022 IIHF Women's World Championship is taking place August 25-September 4, 2022, in Herning and Frederikshavn, Denmark. Follow along Team USA's journey with exclusive, inside access through our daily notebook.

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September 3 | Team USA 10, Czechia 1

HERNING, Denmark – Amanda Kessel (Madison, Wis.) scored a hat trick and added an assist and Taylor Heise (Lake City, Minn.) tallied five points (2G, 3A) to power Team USA to a 10-1 victory over Czechia in the semifinals of the 2022 IIHF Women’s World Championship at the KVIK Ice Center.

With the victory, the U.S. advances to the gold medal game, a feat the U.S. has achieved at every World Championship, and will face the winner of the Canada-Switzerland semifinal matchup. Puck drop is set for 1:30 p.m. ET on Sunday (Sept. 4) and can be viewed on NHL Network.

Heise and Team USA opened the scoring 7:53 into the first period. Alex Carpenter (North Reading, Mass.) fed the puck to Heise in the high slot, where she fired off a shot to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead. Hayley Scamurra (Getzville, N.Y.) doubled the U.S. lead less than two minutes later. Grace Zumwinkle (Excelsior, Minn.) and Jesse Compher (Northbrook, Ill.) set up the play, as Scamurra sent a quick one timer behind the Czechia netminder.

For the full recap, click HERE.


September 2 | What a Knight

Friday marked the team’s final practice of the 2022 IIHF Women’s World Championship, and while the team has its sights set on Cezchia for tomorrow’s semifinal game, we’re going to take a look back at the record-breaking night Team USA had against Hungary on Thursday. With her goal three minutes into the third period, forward Hilary Knight became the IIHF all-time women’s world championship point scorer, breaking a record long held by Canada’s Hayley Wickenheiser. 

HILARY KNIGHT ON BECOMING THE ALL-TIME WWC POINT SCORER:

“It’s a huge honor. It’s a lot of consistency I guess, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that I play with the best players in the world night in and night out when we suit up for the U.S. team. To be able to play with other individuals, the creativity and the competitiveness, it keeps you going. It’s a huge honor to represent our country on a world stage. To go into battle with these women and be in that room, there’s nothing comparable. I understand how big of an accolade it is. All I can say is it’s really an honor.”

“We haven’t had family at tournaments in a really long time and when you’ve been around a few, you kind of take it for granted that your family is always going to be there afterwards. This one definitely meant more because they were here. You think about all the people who had to sacrifice for me to be in a position of success. A lot of things have to align, I’m really fortunate and grateful and really excited about this one.”


September 1 | Team USA 12, Hungary 1

HERNING, Denmark – Hilary Knight (Sun Valley, Idaho) became the International Ice Hockey Federation’s all-time points leader at the Women’s World Championship, recording her 86th and 87th points tonight, as Team USA topped Hungary, 12-1, in the quarterfinals of the 2022 IIHF Women’s World Championship at the KVIK Ice Center.

“It’s a huge honor,” said Knight on breaking the IIHF record. “It’s a lot of consistency, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that I play with the best players in the world when we suit up for the U.S. team. To be able to play with other individuals with such creativity and competitiveness keeps you going. To represent our country on a world stage and go into battle with these women is incomparable.”

For the full recap, click HERE.

August 31 | Hungary on the Horizon

After closing out the preliminary round with a 5-2 victory over Canada yesterday, Team USA turned its attention to its quarterfinal matchup with Hungary. The team took the ice for practice with a renewed sense of fire and intensity. 

Team USA enters the playoff round as the top seed after finishing the preliminary round with a perfect 4-0 record. It marks the seventh time since 2010 that Team USA has run the tables in the prelims. 

The U.S.’ quarterfinal opponent is Hungary. Hungary is the third-placed team from Group B, having finished the preliminary round 1-0-1-2. Tomorrow’s matchup is the first time the U.S. and Hungary will meet in Women’s World Championship play and just the second time the teams will meet in international play. The last and only other time was March 24, 2014 at the 2014 IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship. The U.S. won the preliminary-round meeting 7-0 with the help of current Women’s National Team members Jincy DunneAbby Roque and Megan Keller. Peep some throwback photos from that game in 2014. 

GET TO KNOW… TAYLOR HEISE
NAME: Taylor Heise
BIRTHDAY: March 17, 2000
POSITION: Forward
CURRENT TEAM: University of Minnesota (WCHA)
PRIOR TEAM USA EXPERIENCE: 2019 Under-22 Women’s Select Team
2018 U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team (gold)
2017 U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team (gold)
2016 U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team (gold)

FAVORITE PLACE HOCKEY HAS TAKEN HER: This is definitely a new experience, but I’ve been to Russia, the Czech Republic and Canada as well. Those are three different places I really didn’t think I was going to ever end up. My brothers will go to places like Florida and all these other places for basketball, and here I am going around the world. 

HOW SHE FELT HEARING SHE MADE THE NATIONAL TEAM FOR THE FIRST TIME: I honestly blacked out a little bit when I saw my name up on the screen. Laughs As I was sitting there waiting, I was just praying, ‘come on, come on. Is it my time?’ I saw my name up there and I was just so excited. I honestly didn’t know whose name was up there other than mine, because I sat there and just stared at it. I was so excited for that opportunity. I knew that this is my time and I was feeling really good. I think that was one of my best National Festivals I ever had, so I just felt like I had my game complete finally. I was super excited, because you want to be at your best while you’re here. You want to prove to everyone that you’re worth the spot they gave you. I definitely was very excited. I called my parents and siblings. My brothers are always excited for me, but those two we’re like ‘this is sick.’ 


August 30 | Team USA 5, Canada 2

HERNING, Denmark – Team USA scored five unanswered goals in a 5-2 win over Canada to close out the preliminary round of the 2022 IIHF Women’s World Championship here tonight at the KVIK Ice Center in Herning, Denmark.

With the win, the U.S. finished the preliminary round with a perfect 4-0-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record and earned the top seed. Team USA will take on Hungary in the quarterfinals on Thursday (Sept. 1) at 4:00 p.m. local time (10:00 a.m. ET) and the game can be seen live on NHL Network.

For the full recap, click HERE.


August 29 | Team USA 9, Switzerland 0

HERNING, Denmark — The U.S. Women’s National Team used goals from seven different players, including two from both Taylor Heise (Lake City, Minn.) and Hilary Knight (Sun Valley, Idaho), to earn a 9-0 win over Switzerland in 2022 IIHF Women's World Championship play here tonight at KVIK Hockey Arena in Herning, Denmark.

With the win, Team USA moved to 3-0-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) in preliminary-round play at the tournament. Tomorrow’s matchup against Canada, who is also undefeated in competition, will determine the winner of Group A and the top seed entering Thursday’s quarterfinal round. Puck drop against the Canadians is set for 8 p.m. local time (2 p.m. ET) on NHL Network.

For the full recap, click HERE


August 28 | Welcoming Friends & Family to Herning

Today was an exciting day for Team USA! Following a 6-1 victory over Finland, the goalies had a special goalie world practice, while the skaters had the day off. 

This afternoon, the players and staff had their friends and family arrive in Herning. This is the first international tournament since 2019 that family and friends are able to attend, so the excitement within the group was palpable. USA Hockey welcomed the group with a nice dinner in downtown Herning, where players were able to see their guests and enjoy a meal prior to heading off to bed to prepare for Switzerland. 

Also, a very happy birthday to forward Amanda Kessel (Madison, Wis.). Kessel turned 31 on Sunday. 

EAT LIKE TEAM USA

A lot of preparation and training go in to being a member of the U.S. Women's National Team. The on-ice training, the off-ice conditioning, the mental training, it all adds up. That's why fueling your body with proper nutrition is also incredibly important. Fuel like Team USA with a team favorite... Pancakes in a mug!


1. Fill mug with 3/4 cup of pancake mix (1/2 cup for GF mix)
2. Add 4 oz. of water or milk, your choice (2 oz. for GF)
3. Stir mixture together in the mug
4. Place mug in microwave for two minutes. If after two minutes, it does not seem done, put back in microwave in 30 second intervals until cooked through
5. Add toppings as desired: syrup, nut butter, dried fruit, chocolate chips
6. Fuel up and ENJOY


August 27 | Team USA 6, Finland 1

HERNING, Denmark — Amanda Kessel (Madison, Wis.) led the offensive charge for the U.S. with two goals and an assist in a dominant 6-1 win over Finland in its second game of the 2022 IIHF Women’s World Championship here tonight at KVIK Hockey Arena in Herning, Denmark.

“I thought we were thorough in our play and really showed up ready to go tonight,” said John Wroblewski (Neenah, Wis.), head coach of the 2022 U.S. Women’s National Team. “You always have to respect the Finns, because they’re so dangerous in their mentality to make plays in the neutral zone and we were certainly up to the task tonight. I’m very happy with our effort.”

For the full recap, click HERE.


August 26 | Gå Team USA

Coming off an impressive 10-0 victory over Japan to open the women’s world championship, Team USA spent the day back on the practice rink, preparing for its next game against Switzerland. Today’s practice was special, because for the first time since coming to Denmark, the entire team and coaching staff was present. Two coaches and two players joined the team a few days late due to COVID, but the final player and coach arrived this morning. Hopping off the plane and right on to the ice. 

Post practice, players used the afternoon to relax and hang out as the weather in Herning, rainy, cold and storming, did not provide much opportunity for adventure. 

As the U.S. gears up for game two, the city of Herning has embraced having the women’s world championship. Learn some key phrases to be able to cheer on Team USA like a local. 

CHEERING TEAM USA ON…IN DANISH

Words
Hold – Team
Mål – Goal
Skud – Shot
Score – Score
Gemme – Save
Pind – Stick
Puck – Puck

Phrases
Gå Team USA – Go Team USA
Her går vi Team USA – Here we go Team USA
Hvilket mål – What a goal
Fin Redning – Nice save


August 25 | Team USA 10, Japan 0

HERNING, Denmark – It was a day of firsts as four players tallied their first points for the U.S. Women’s National Team and a total of 14 different players recorded points as Team USA shutout Japan, 10-0, in the opening game of the 2022 IIHF Women’s World Championship at the KVIK Ice Center in Herning, Denmark on Thursday.

For the full recap, click HERE.


August 24 | One Sleep 'Till Gameday

PHOTO DAY AND PRACTICE

Wednesday was an exciting and fast-paced day for Team USA. Before the day’s practice, the team and staff took their official IIHF Women’s World Championship head shot and team photo. The players were able to dress up in full competition gear, donning the white jerseys. Keep your eyes peeled on USA Hockey’s social media channels for the official team photo!!

After the photo, the team took the ice for a fast-paced practice. Everyone was feeling excited and prepared as puck drops on the official start of the tournament tomorrow!

A FULL-CIRCLE MOMENT

Newcomer Hannah Bilka dug back in teammate and linemate Hilary Knight’s Instagram to find a special picture. 425 weeks ago, back in 2014, Knight posted a photo with a young hockey star from Texas. That player was Hannah Bilka. They now share the ice as teammates and linemates. 

Hear about the picture, and the journey to find it, from both player’s perspective:

Hannah Bilka

“It was 2014, after Sochi, at a summer camp where she came to speak to all of us attending the camp. She took that picture with me and then posted that picture on her Instagram. I think I was 13 years old at the time.”

“When Hilary initially posted it, I told EVERYONE. I was like ‘I have a picture with Hilary Knight.’ It was so cool.”

“It’s so cool to be her teammate now. We were laughing about the picture and being teammates now for a little while. It’s a full-circle moment and so surreal.” 

Hilary Knight

“It was at a hockey selects camp, I want to say up in Buffalo, and I thought it was really cool that she was from Texas. At the time, it was a state where you didn’t really expect hockey players to traditionally be from. Obviously, that’s changing now. She was just the best player on the ice, so we snapped a pic and I posted it.”

“When [Abby Roque and Hannah Bilka] showed it to me, I was like, ‘Why did you guys spend so much time scrolling back in my Instagram?!’ I actually overheard them talking about finding their old photos with me. They thought I didn’t hear them, but I did. Laughs.. I knew it was coming.”

“I think it’s really cool that we’re now teammates and linemates. She obviously grew up watching this team and now that she’s a part of it, it’s pretty sweet. It’s such a full-circle moment.”


August 23 | A Taste of Competition

Team USA took to the ice for for its only pre-tournament competition on Tuesday. See below for the recap and photos of the game.

Pre-Tournament Game: Canada 3, U.S. 1

In its only pre-tournament competition before the start of the 2022 IIHF Women’s World Championship, Team USA dropped a tough 3-1 battle to Canada at the KVIK Ice Center in Herning, Denmark on Tuesday. 

The U.S. jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when Lee Stecklein (Roseville, Minn.) put a rebound past the Canadian netminder less than six minutes into the game. Lacey Eden (Annapolis, Md.) and Grace Zumwinkle (Excelsior, Minn.) recorded the assists on the opening score. 

Team USA maintained consistent offensive pressure throughout the first, posting a number of solid scoring chances. With 5:28 left in the first stanza, forward Hayley Scamurra (Getzville, N.Y.) picked the puck off Canada’s defense deep in the offensive zone, but Ann-Renée Desbiens swallowed the shot to keep the score at 1-0. 

Early in the second, an errant clear by Team USA wound up on Canada’s stick, but the puck would be cleared out of an empty crease by the U.S. defense.

Canada knotted the game at one 2:27 into the middle period when Blayre Turnbull shot a rising stick-side shot past Nicole Hensley (Lakewood, Colo.) on a 2-on-1 opportunity.

On a power-play opportunity in the middle of the period, Team Canada’s Jessie Eldridge put a rebound into the back of the net in a scramble to take a 2-1 lead. 

The U.S. opened the third with 1:46 of power-play time, but Canada’s penalty kill held them off. 

After a back and forth start to the third, Canada went on the power play. Goaltender Maddie Rooney (Andover, Minn.) made a sprawling save just outside the crease in the early second of the player advantage to keep the Canadians off the board. With 12 seconds remaining in the power play though, Sarah Fillier extended Canada’s lead to 3-1. 

With 1:30 remaining in the game, Team USA pulled the goaltender for an extra attacker, but could not make up the two-goal deficit. 

Team USA opens preliminary-round play of the 2022 IIHF Women’s World Championship on Thursday against Japan. Puck drop is set for 3 p.m. local time, 9 a.m. eastern time, and can be watched live on NHL Network. 


August 22 | Off To Herning!

After four days in Copenhagen for pre-camp, the team finally made its way to its final destination in Denmark…Herning. The team loaded the bus and hit the road for three hours this morning, driving through the beautiful Denmark countryside. 

Players used the bus ride as a time to catch a snooze, read a book or even play a few card games. Amanda KesselAbby Roque, and Megan Keller taught U.S. Women’s National Team newbie Hannah Bilka a team-favorite card game, Euchre.

Once the team arrived in Herning, the team headed off to KVIK Hockey Arena, for its first practice on the competition ice. Since Team USA is the top seed in the tournament, the team’s locker room is closest to the ice.

Practice was fast-paced and competitive. Tomorrow, August 23, the U.S. will face Canada in a pre-tournament game. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. local time. Be sure to follow @USAHockey for all game updates. 

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE 2022 IIHF WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

  1. The 2022 IIHF Women’s World Championship drops the puck on August 25 in Herning and Frederikshavn, Denmark. The medal games will be competed on September 4 in Herning. 
  2. This year’s world championship marks the first time in IIHF history a Women’s Worlds is competed in the same year as an Olympic Games. 
  3. The 2022 IIHF Women’s World Championship is the first WWC to ever be hosted in the country of Denmark. 
  4. Group A will be competing in Herning, Denmark at the KVIK Hockey Arena, home to Metal Ligaen’s Herning Blue Fox. Group B will take the ice in Frederikshavn, Denmark at the Iscenter Nord. 
  5. Group A features the United States, Canada, Japan, Finland and Switzerland, while Group B features Sweden, Czechia, Denmark, Germany and Hungary. After a single round-robin series in each group, the five teams from Group A and the best three teams from Group B advance to the Playoff Round. The winners of the quarterfinal rounds will play in the semifinals, with those winners advancing to the gold medal game. 

August 21 | A Visit From The Ambassador

Today, the team had a surprise visitor during practice, Alan Leventhal the United States Ambassador to Denmark, stopped by to say hello and wish the team well as they prepare to go take the ice at the Women’s World Championship.

Sunday was the team’s last full day in Copenhagen before hitting the road to head to Herning on Monday. The team got a full skate in and then a number of players used the afternoon to explore the sights and sounds of Copenhagen. 

GET TO KNOW…HANNAH BILKA

NAME: Hannah Bilka
HOMETOWN: Coppell, Texas
BIRTHDAY: March 24, 2001
POSITION: Forward
CURRENT TEAM: Boston College (HEA)

PRIOR TEAM USA EXPERIENCE: 2019 U.S. Under-22 Women’s Select Team
2018 U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team (gold)
2017-18 U.S. Under-18 Women’s Select Team

FAVORITE PLACE HOCKEY HAS TAKEN HER: I’m actually really excited to be in Denmark, so I’d say this trip so far has been my favorite. 

FAVORITE HOCKEY MEMORY: I have two. First, when we won the Under-18 Women’s World Championship in 2018 in Dmitrov, Russia, and in 2018, my team at Shattuck St. Mary’s won the USA Hockey Girls National Championship in Boston. 

DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE OF PLAY: I’m a playmaker. I like to score goals and try to be crafty and creative on the ice. 

HOW SHE FELT HEARING SHE MADE THE NATIONAL TEAM FOR THE FIRST TIME: There are no words to describe how I felt. It’s what you dream of, so when it happened, it was surreal. It was a dream into reality type of situation. 


August 20 | Enjoying Copenhagen, First Denmark Skate

Team USA enjoyed its first full day in Copenhagen on Saturday, crushing jet lag, taking in the city and even hitting the ice for a practice. 

After a few days off for travel, the team made its way to Østerbro Skøjtehal to get a few hours of practice in. Things were up tempo on the ice, with practice moving and the team skating well.

Today was also the 2022 Copenhagen Pride Parade. The parade started a block from the team’s hotel in Frederiksberg. Many of the players and staff took the opportunity to watch the parade, take in the sights and activities and support the local community. 

We are now five days away from puck drop on the first game of the 2022 IIHF Women’s World Championship. The excitement is building within the team, get to know a few of the new faces below…

GET TO KNOW…RORY GUILDAY

NAME: Rory Guilday (GILL-day)
HOMETOWN: Chanhassen, Minn.
BIRTHDAY: September 7, 2002
FORWARD: Defense
CURRENT TEAM: Cornell University (ECAC)

PRIOR TEAM USA EXPERIENCE: 2020 IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship (gold); 2019 U.S. Under-18 Women’s Select Team

FAVORITE PLACE HOCKEY HAS TAKEN HER: When we went to Slovakia in 2020 with the Under-18 team, our team got to see Vienna, Austria. It was one of the coolest places I’ve ever been. 

MOST MEMORABLE HOCKEY MEMORY: Winning the 2020 Under-18 Women’s World Championship was really cool. We beat Canada in overtime and that’s always a really fun way to win. 

HOW SHE WOULD DESCRIBE HER STYLE OF PLAY: I like to think of myself as a good, powerful skater and I like to contribute on all ends of the ice. I like to shoot the puck hard and be physical. 

WHAT SHE’S LOOKING FORWARD TO MOST IN DENMARK: I’m looking forward to getting to know my teammates really well, they’re all really awesome already. I’m also really looking forward to playing with the best in the world. It’s amazing. 


August 19 | Denmark Bound

The journey to the 2022 IIHF Women’s World Championship began on Thursday, as Team USA closed the U.S.-based portion of pre-camp in Buffalo, N.Y., and began its journey over to Denmark.

The day started with a visit to Niagara Falls, taking in the sights and enjoying a sunny and warm day on the Canadian side of the natural wonder. After a few hours of walking around, the team continued up to the Toronto Pearson Airport to catch an overnight flight to Copenhagen. 

Once landed in Copenhagen, the team headed off to its hotel in Frederiksberg, about 15 minutes from the Copenhagen city center and where the team will call home for the next four days.

Team USA will continue to practice, train and prepare before heading to the competition city of Herning on the 22nd.

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE 2022 U.S. WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM

1. The team returns 18 players from the 2022 U.S. Olympic Women’s Hockey Team that took home silver in February, including Cayla Barnes (Eastvale, Calif.), Hannah Brandt (Vadnis Heights, Minn.), Alex Carpenter (North Reading, Mass.), Jesse Compher (Northbrook, Ill.), Kendall Coyne Schofield (Palos Heights, Ill.), Jincy Dunne (O’Fallon, Mo.), Savannah Harmon (Downers Grove, Ill.), Caroline Harvey (Salem, N.H.), Nicole Hensley (Lakewood, Colo.), Megan Keller (Farmington Hills, Mich.), Amanda Kessel (Madison, Wis.), Hilary Knight (Sun Valley, Idaho), Kelly Pannek (Plymouth, Minn.), Maddie Rooney (Andover, Minn.), Abby Roque (Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.), Hayley Scamurra (Getzville, N.Y.), Lee Stecklein (Roseville, Minn.) and Grace Zumwinkle (Excelsior, Minn.).

2. Newcomers Hannah Bilka (Coppell, Texas), Taylor Heise (Lake City, Minn.) and Rory Guilday (Chanhassen, Minn.) will all represent Team USA as a member of the U.S. Women’s National Team for the first time. 

3. There is a 14-year age difference between the youngest player on the team and the oldest player on the team. Defenders Caroline Harvey and Rory Guilday are both 19, whereas forward Hilary Knight is 33. 

4. Seven players hail from the state of Minnesota, three from Illinois, two from Michigan and New York and one from California, Colorado, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, Wisconsin and Texas. 

5. The team is coached by John Wroblewski. Wroblewski is no stranger to USA Hockey, having headed up USA Hockey’s National Training Development Program from 2016-20

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Hayley Scamurra, in the USA Hockey navy jersey, moves the puck along the boards with a Canada opponent right at her back