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.”
With the win, the U.S. improved its overall tournament record to a perfect 5-0-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) and will take the ice in the semifinals on Saturday (Sept. 3) at 8 a.m. ET against Czechia. The game can be seen live on NHL Network.
“I think you have to look right at Hilary,” said John Wroblewski (Neenah, Wis.), head coach of the 2022 U.S. Women’s National Team. “It’s never about one player, until it is with a record like that. True to form, with what a figurehead of women’s hockey she is, she deflects the attention away from her and focuses on the ultimate prize that we’re waiting on here and trying to go earn.”
Fifteen different players contributed points in the victory, including three goals and two assists from Hanna Bilka (Coppell, Texas), three goals and an assist from Taylor Heise (Lake City, Minn.) and five assists courtesy of Amanda Kessel (Madison, Wis.).
Heise gave the U.S. an early lead just 1:36 into the game. She carried the puck into the zone against three Hungarian skaters and sent a shot over the blocker of Hungary’s goaltender Anika Nemeth. Jincy Dunne (O'Fallon, Mo.) and Kessel picked up assists.
The trio combined again as Heise added another 1:25 into the second. Kessel moved the puck to Heise, who skated into the middle of the zone and netted a shot from the left circle. Dunne and Kessel added their second assists of the game.
Bilka gave the U.S. a 3-0 lead less than a minute later. Hannah Brandt (Vadnais Heights, Minn.) picked up a rebound and found Bilka, who quickly sent a one timer into the back of the net.
Kelly Pannek (Plymouth, Minn.) tallied another just moments later. Kendall Coyne Schofield (Palos Heights, Ill.) possessed the puck behind the net and sent it to Kessel, who slid it backdoor to Pannek. Pannek tipped it into the net for a 4-0 lead.
Abby Roque (Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.) added her name to the scoresheet next with a power-play goal. Coyne Schofield raced for a loose puck and wired it to Kessel, who sent a one timer towards the goal. Roque redirected the puck in to take a 5-0 lead at the 5:20 mark of the second period.
It was Dunne who struck next, firing a shot from the point. Cayla Barnes (Eastvale, Calif.) and Heise each recorded assists. Bilka then added her second of the game with a shot off the crossbar from the slot. Knight and Caroline Harvey (Salem, N.H.) picked up assists
HIGHLIGHTS
Lee Stecklein (Roseville, Minn.) gave the U.S. an 8-0 lead at the 15:17 mark, with Kessel and Harvey tallying assists, before Brandt extended the lead further just 32 seconds later with 4:19 left in the second. Heise brought the lead to double digits for Team USA on a connection with Alex Carpenter (North Reading, Mass.).
Knight broke the IIHF Women’s World Championship all-time points record with her goal three minutes into the third. Bilka sent her the puck from behind the net and Knight fired a wrister from the slot for her 87th point to solidify her place in history as the all-time points leader in IIHF Women’s World Championship play.
Hungary got on the board with just over seven minutes left, but Bilka quickly answered with her third goal of the game to seal things at 12-1. Megan Keller (Farmington Hills, Mich.) and Rory Guilday (Minnetonka, Minn.) picked up assists on the play.
Nicole Hensley (Lakewood, Colo.) played the first two periods in goal for the U.S. and stopped all eight shots she faced. Aerin Frankel (Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.) entered the crease for the third period and made one save on two shots.
NOTES: Hannah Bilka was named the Player of the Game for Team USA … Team USA outshot Hungary 69-10 … Team USA was 1-2 on the power play, while Hungary was 0-4 ... Click here for pregame information.
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