China has earned promotion to the top division of the IIHF World Championships only a year after being promoted from D1B. Slovakia has been demoted.
China has earned promotion to the top division of the IIHF World Championships only a year after being promoted from D1B. Slovakia has been demoted.
Only a year after being promoted from the Division 1B World Championships, China won their first four games at the 2023 Division 1A World Championships to earn promotion to compete amongst the top teams in the world in Utica, New York in 2024.
Tia Chan turned away 30 shots for China who shut out Austria 2-0 to officially secure one of. two promotion spots from Division 1A to the top division amongst teams like Canada, USA, and Czechia.
After a scoreless first period, Leah Lum (Qiqi Lin) got her first of the tournament at a big moment, finishing a powerplay opportunity for China to give her nation the lead. Lum won an Isobel Cup title with the PHF's Toronto Six this season.
The teams traded chances until Austria pulled netminder Selma Luggin who made 29 saves in the loss, when Yuting Wang scored into the empty net to secure the win.
Earlier in the day, Slovakia found themselves relegated to Division 1B for next season after losing 2-1 to Denmark. Josefine Jakobsen and Nicoline Jensen scored for Denmark in the win.