The Americans found themselves in unfamiliar territory in the semifinals of the IIHF Women’s World Championship, trailing 1-0 to host Czechia after one period.
“It was unfamiliar and I thought it was just an amazing showing by the Czech players and fans,” said coach John Wroblewski. “I think an entire country was behind them – so much energy. Every loose puck and every blocked shot meant the world to them. I just have so much respect for how the Czechs played and from of that, I have so much respect for how we got the victory because that was a really tough game to play.”
The USA outshot the Czechs 13-5 in the first period and then 17-2 in the second but as the game approached its midpoint, the Americans still hadn’t found the scoresheet.
“We try to give them tips,” Wroblewski said about trying to help the players from behind the bench in that situation. “Certain players score from different landmarks on the ice.”
Cue Laila Edwards, the University of Wisconsin star who scored six goals as a forward in last year’s Women’s Worlds before famously switching to defense this year. She entered the semifinal without a goal in this tournament but scored a huge goal on the power play in the second period to tie the score.
“I got it in the left circle and that’s the place I’m comfortable in and I’ve scored a couple goals in my career there,” said Edwards. “People have been getting on me to shoot the puck so I made sure to get that shot off and cash in.”
“This whole tournament I’ve been struggling to get good shots off and get the puck through but I think it just takes one shot,” Edwards continued. “The team was building my confidence, how I was going to shoot it, and I took that shot and it went in.
“It can be frustrating but, at the same time, you can’t let it overtake you.”
Eventually, the USA prevailed 2-1 . While a blowout would have been an easier path, does a game like that better prepare the Americans for a probable matchup against Canada in the final?
“I think so,” said Wroblewski. “If you’ve been through the rigors, you can use that as confidence. Having been in a really tight-checking game … There was not a lot of ice through that neutral zone and I think there will be more of that against Canada or whoever we play tomorrow, and we’re going to have a little bit of a feel for that already.”
Edwards agrees.
“Now we’re battle-tested,” she said. “There are times you want the easier game but I’m glad we had that game – a lot of credit to the Czechs for bringing it.
“There were times when it felt like a Canada-USA game, which is great for women’s hockey.”
Hilary Knight Breaks Wickenheiser’s World Championship Career Assists Record
Entering the very last group-stage game of the 2025 IIHF Women’s
World Championship between the USA and Switzerland, Hayley
Wickenheiser’s career total of 49 assists was in serious jeopardy.
The USA’s Kendall Coyne-Schofield trailed her by only one point and
Hilary Knight by two. A third player, Canadian Marie-Philip Poulin,
also trailed by two but was idle on this day.