Division 1A Worlds: Meixner Earns Hat Trick, Norway Holds Off French Comeback, Hungary Remains Perfect

France and Norway squared off in an epic battle that needed a shootout to solve things, while Hungary stayed perfect. Host Austria also earned their first win of the tournament powered by captain Anna Meixner. The games again showed a level of parity among the top teams in the Division 1A World Championships. Here's how each of the games played out on Day 2.

Norway jumped out to a 3-0 lead against France in the first period, but after shaking off their slow start, the French mounted an impressive comeback forcing overtime and a shootout.

Karoline Pederson opened the scoring for Norwary in the first, followed by Ingrid Morset midway through the frame, and Millie Rose Sirum late in the period. The second period however saw the French trio of Chloe Aurard, Estelle Duvin, and Clara Rozier beginning to click. Rozier opened the scoring for France with assists to Aurard and Duvin, followed less than two minutes later by PWHL New York's Aurard scoring her first of the tournament. After Norway tightened up their defense, France continued to push until Gabrielle De Serres, who played last season in the PHF with the Montreal Force, scored with under three minutes to go int the game with Aurard and Duvin picking up assists.

Tied 3-3, the game went to overtime, which solved nothing, before going into what turned out to be a wild shootout. Typically favoring goaltenders, this shootout seemed to favor the shooters as nine goals were scored including three from France's Estelle Duvin and a pair from Norway's Mathea Fischer. In the end, Norway took a lead, and goaltender Ena Nystrom managed to shut the door to give Norway the 4-3 win.

Austrian captain Anna Meixner, a top prospect for the 2024 PWHL Draft, showed why she's among the best in the world scoring a hat trick to lead host Austria to a lopsided 6-0 win over South Korea.

Annika Fazokas continued her strong tournament opening the scoring for Austria at the 16:51 mark of the opening period before Meixner scored her first of the game with PWHL Boston's Theresa Schafzahl assisting. After a scoreless second, Meixner scored only 20 seconds into the third period to open the floodgates for Austria with Fazokas and Schafzahl assisting. Lena Daubock and Tamara Grascher would add to Austria's totals before Meixner topped off her hat trick with less than two minutes remaining in the game. Schafzahl picked up her third assist of the game on the goal. Magdalena Luggin made 17 stops for the shutout.

Aniko Nemeth stopped 22 shots as Hungary shutout the Netherlands 2-0 to improve to 2-0 in the tournament and move into sole possession of first place. Zsofia Pazmandi who will play NCAA D1 hockey next season for Lindenwood scored the eventual game winner for Hungary at 12:22 of the first. The goal was assisted by University of Minnesota standout Emma Kreisz and PWHL New York defender Taylor Baker. Reka Debasi scored an insurance marker for Hungary nearing the midway point of the game. Hungary would shut the door for the remainder of the game to take the win.