Finland and Switzerland easily handled Czechia and Sweden respectively on the opening day of the Women's Euro Hockey Tour in Kloten, Switzerland. In game one of the day, Elisa Holopainen had a hat trick and five points, and Michelle Karvinen scored the other two and assisted on three for a five point night of her own as Finland easily handled Czechia 5-2. Finland outshot Czechia 26-19 in the game, but possession was even more lopsided. On the other side of the puck, Kristyna Kalounkova and Tereza Vanisova scored for Czechia in the loss. In the second game of the day, Andrea Brandli put on a show of force turning aside 37 shots to help Switzerland shutout Sweden 4-0. Sweden outshot Switzerland 37-19. Sweden's Emma Soderberg struggled allowing three goals on 19 shots. Scoring for the Swiss were Alina Muller, Rahel Enzler, Alina Marti, and into the empty net, Laura Zimmerman. CZECHIA STRUGGLED ON DAY ONE Czechia struggled one the opening day of the Women's Euro Hockey Tour and they knew it. "It was a warm-up game that we are not completely satisfied with," said Kaltounkova in a translated comment [https://www.ceskyhokej.cz/novinky/8080-zeny-souper-byl-lepsi-musime-si-pohlidat-hru-s-pukem-shodli-se-andrasovsky-a-kaltounkova]. It is the end of the summer, so for some of us it was the first game, but we will definitely not make excuses for that. We have to remember that the Olympics are in February and whether the game is now, in November or in February, we still have to perform better." Czechia was not their normal tenacious team, and the absence of Katerina Mrazova, Dominika Laskova, Adela Sapovalivova, Tereza Plosova, and Andrea Trnkova changed the face of this roster. Perhaps the most notable portion of Czechia's issues in their opener was their blueline, which missed coverage, and were beaten to pucks in their own zone repeatedly. Finland's first goal was a 2-0 which remained preventable but neither player in chase played an angle well or managed to disrupt a stick or even get a touch on the tandem of Karvinen and Holopainen. Their second goal was a 2-on-1 that could have turned into a 2-on-2 but a lack of communication allowed a pass across the royal road and an unchallenged shot. Finland's third goal was another missed coverage by rookie Adela Fromova, who struggled in her debut, as Michelle Karvinen was left alone backdoor for a cross crease tap in. Czechia also experimented with Noemi Neubauerova on the blueline. It could work if she plays the blueline this season in Switzerland, but she was caught up ice and out of position on multiple occasions in the game leading to scoring chances, and goals against. This was not the same tight checking Czechia roster seen in past competitions, but with Olympic preparation the priority, working through the kinks now is all part of the process. BRANDLI BRILLIANT FOR SWITZERLAND Andrea Brandli put an exclamation on her first significant start of the 2025-26 season stopping 37 shots to guide Switzerland to a 4-0 win. Brandli remains Switzerland's most crucial component. Their top trio of offensive players - Alina Muller, Lara Stalder, Rahel Enzler - will be crucial in breaking out for the offensively starved Swiss, but Brandli is their hope for more. Brandli is arguably the best pro goaltender outside the PWHL, and could easily be backstopping a team in the world's top league now. She has an NCAA champion at Ohio State, the Swiss Hockey Woman of the Year in 2023, and was the SDHL Goaltender of the Year in 2025. With Brandli, Switzerland can continue to hold off up and coming nations like Sweden, for now. On the other side of the puck, Emma Soderberg's return to Europe didn't go as planned as she allowed three goals on 16 shots. KARVINEN AND HOLOPAINEN DYNAMIC It was a two-woman show for Finland in their opening win over Czechia. Michelle Karvinen, who is destined for PWHL Vancouver, and the 23-year-old Elisa Holopainen represent players on opposite ends of their careers, but they were certainly on the same page in Kloten. Holopainen tied for the SDHL scoring lead and was named league MVP and Best Forward as a first year player, and helped Frolunda win a title. The year before in 2024 she was the Best Forward and MVP in Finland's Naisten Liiga. Her career is on an upward trajectory and if her performance to open the 2025-26 season was any indication, Holopainen is set for a big season, and could find herself a hot commodity among PWHL teams. Karvinen will already be in the league waiting. Together, they'll have medal dreams for Milano Cortina.
