The inaugural European Cup of Nations got underway this week in Germany and Slovakia with eight nations in action and the six-team final scheduled for April.
The inaugural European Cup of Nations got underway with eight teams competing in Germany and Slovakia.
In the pool playing in Füssen, Germany, the host Germany was joined by Norway, France, and Hungary. In Bardejov, Slovakia, the host Slovakian roster were joined by Austria, Italy, and the Netherlands.
The tournaments will continue with additional pools during various international breaks, culminating with the six-team European Cup of Nations final in April.
It's a tournament format aiming to give European women's hockey nations additional meaningful games throughout the year. This season with the World Championships being shifted to November, many nations will not have their typical competitions in the spring, which the European Cup of Nations aims to fill.
In the opening round, the two host nations in Germany and Slovakia topped their pools.
Germany Finishes Atop Their Pool
In Germany, the host team went undefeated in their pool going 3-0.
Germany opened their own tournament with a 3-2 win over France.
"It was the first game of the season and also our first win, which we're very happy about. Overall, it was a successful performance, even though you could tell we were still finding our feet after some changes to the lineup," said head coach Jeff MacLeod in a translated statement.
The Welcke twins, Luisa and Lilli, who will attend PWHL training camps this Fall, each scored to lead Germany.
Germany beat Norway 4-2 in their second game. Svenja Voigt, Celina Haider, Emily Nix and Marie-Kristin Schmid were Germany's goal scorers.
Germany shutout Hungary in the final game with a 1-0 decision. Lilli Welcke scored the game winner for Germany with two minutes to go in the game, while Lisa Hemmerle posted the shutout for Germany.
France got a key win against Hungary to open their tournament, a victory that would prove the deciding points between the two nations with France finishing second, and Hungary third in the pool. Hungary got on the board first but Manon Le Scodan evened things on the power play. Later in the game Clara Rozier finished a period of Team France pressure to put France ahead 2-1, which is how the game would end.
France finished their tournament beating Norway 5-1. The Norwegian side failed to earn a point in their first three games of the European Cup of Nations. Julia Mesplède opened the scoring on a feed from Manon Le Scodan before Le Scodan, only minutes later, got her third of the event to put France ahead by two. The other French goal scorers in the game were Clara Rozier, Margot Huot-Marchand, and Chloé Aurard-Bushee.
Hungary opened their pool play before falling to France by beating Norway 8-0. Zsófia Pázmándi and Krisztina Weiler each scored twice, Boglárka Báhiczki-Tóth had two goals and an assist, and Taylor Baker making her return to Hungary's national team after a year away scored a goal and added three assists. Reka Hiezl chipped in with three assists and Anikó Németh had the shutout.
“We started the season off great. I’m really happy that the younger players stepped up and played physical," saif head coach Delaney Collins in a translated statement.
Hungary ended their competition with the aforementioned losses to France and Germany.
Slovakia Tops Home Event
In Slovakia, on home ice, the Slovak team went undefeated outscoring their opponents 18-3 to win their pool.
Slovakia opened with a 5-2 win over Austria, who was playing without the nation's best players who are entrenched in a battle for equitable treatment and better conditions with Austria's national ice hockey association. Barbora Sibertova led the way with two goals for Slovakia, while Elle Hartje of the New York Sirens, making her return to Slovakia's national program chipped in with two assists.
Slovakia easily handled Italy in their second game beating them 5-1 while outshooting the nation, who left most of their top players at home in favour of youth, 41-9. Franziska Stocker scored the lone goal for Italy, while Slovakia had give different scorers, Julia Metejkova and Janka Hlinkova each had a goal and an assist in the win for Slovakia.
Slovakia finished their pool play handing the Netherlands a lopsided 8-0 defeat. New York Sirens forward Elle Hartje exploded for two goals and four points in the win assisting on goals by Simone Bednárik and Barbora Sibertová. Lucia Halušková also scored a pair for Slovakia. Júlia Matejková chipped in with three assists.
Austria, who finished second, saw Anja Adamitsch make 19 saves in a 2-0 shutout win over the Netherlands with Leonie Kutzer and Selnia Gentilini scoring the goals in their second game of the tournament. Austria closed out their tournament beating Italy 3-1.f Lena Dauböck scored twice and Tamara Grascher added a single for Austria in the win, while Aurora Abatangel had the lone Italian goal.
Italy had opened their tournament with a 3-1 win over the Netherlands with Aurora Abatangel scoring twice and adding an assist while Montreal Victoire defender Nadia Mattivi scored and added two assists. Italy lost to Slovakia and Austria, but managed to finished third by way of their win over the Dutch.
