U.S. scores 5 goals in middle period to rout Kazakhstan and advance at ice hockey worlds
After a goalless opening period, the United States proceeded to secure its place in the quarterfinals of the ice hockey world championship with a 6-1 rout of Kazakhstan on Sunday.
The Americans are tied with the Czech Republic on 14 points in Group B, trailing leader Switzerland on 16. The U.S. completes its group stage on Tuesday against the Czechs, who have two more games to play.
'I thought we were ready to play out of the gate,' U.S. head coach Ryan Warsofsky said. "We need to continue to build and get ready for what will be a big challenge on Tuesday against the Czechs.'
Despite an unproductive first period in Herning, the U.S. jumped to a commanding five-goal lead in the second.
Frank Nazar broke the deadlock 6:58 into the period with a shot from the left circle above the glove of Sergei Kudryavtsev. The forward added two assists later in the game.
Defenseman Jackson Lacombe wristed a shot from the blue line through heavy traffic to double the lead with 8:14 to go in the second period.
The next two goals came in the span of 58 seconds.
Forward Tage Thompson scored his fifth at the tournament — after receiving a pass from defenseman Zeev Buium — to make it 3-0 with 6:00 left. Matty Beniers increased the advantage to four from the left circle before Michael Kesselring scored with a high shot from a tight angle from the boards 56 seconds before the end of the period.
U.S. defensive star Zach Werenski skated toward the goal before beating backup goalie Maxim Pavlenko who came on at the beginning of the final period.
Goaltender Jeremy Swayman made 16 saves for the U.S.
Switzerland demolished Hungary 10-0 and will play its last Group B game against Kazakhstan on Tuesday.
In Stockholm, a 5-1 victory over Slovakia lifted Latvia to fourth place in Group A.
Also in Stockholm, Austria beat Slovenia 3-2 in a shootout to keep alive its hopes of reaching the quarterfinals for the first time. Austria is tied in fifth with Slovakia in Group A.
The top four teams from each group will advance.
© Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Japan Today
an hour ago
- Japan Today
Kei Nishikori to miss U.S. Open because of back injury
tennis Kei Nishikori withdrew from the U.S. Open on Wednesday, saying a back injury has not fully healed. Nishikori was injured in May and pulled out of the French Open. The 2014 U.S. Open runner-up from Japan returned earlier this month for a first-round loss in Cincinnati but said his back isn't healthy enough to play in New York. 'Hi fans, unfortunately I will not be ready for the U.S. Open yet. I had an MRI taken of my back and it's not 100% healed yet,' Nishikori wrote in a social media post. 'Working hard to be back on court soon. Thanks for the support.' Nishikori was ranked No. 4 in 2015, the highest by an Asian men's player but has struggled with injuries in recent years and has fallen to No. 88. He missed the entire 2022 season after a hip injury. He will be replaced in the draw by a player who loses in the final stages of qualifying. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Japan Today
a day ago
- Japan Today
Potent host England helping massive ticket sales for Women's Rugby World Cup
FILE - England's captain Zoe Aldcroft, centre, lifts the trophy at the presentation ceremony following the Women's Six Nations rugby union match at Twickenham stadium in London, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File) rugby union By FOSTER NIUMATA As Ilona Maher accepted her breakthrough award at the ESPYs last month, she urged a theater full of fellow American sports glitterati to try and catch the upcoming Women's Rugby World Cup. 'You're not going to understand it the first time you watch it,' Maher said. 'You're not going to understand the second time either, but just keep watching.' What she was promising any perseverer was a rousing show — with Americans in it! — in an era-defining World Cup that has set records even before it kicks off on Friday when Maher's United States take on host England in front of 40,000 in Sunderland. Rugby fans anticipating the 10th and best Women's World Cup yet have gobbled up tickets at a stunning rate. Faraway New Zealand hosted the last tournament in 2022 and sold a record 150,000 tickets. This year more than 375,000 tickets — 80% of the total — have gone, and the Sept. 27 final is sold out, guaranteeing the largest crowd ever for a one-day women's rugby event. The exact capacity for the final at 82,000-seat Twickenham has yet to be settled but it will comfortably eclipse the 58,498 who watched England beat France at the stadium in 2023 and the 66,000 at the Stade de France for the women's sevens during the 2024 Paris Olympics. The buzz is driven by the tournament's flagship status and a host team that is the standard-bearer in women's rugby. England is the runaway trophy favorite, undefeated for nearly three years, and seemingly destined to continue the momentum of women's sport in the country after the soccer team's title win at the European Championship last month. Surging interest and participation in the women's game prompted World Rugby to expand the World Cup back to 16 teams for the first time in 23 years. Ireland and Spain return after missing out on the pandemic-delayed 2022 tournament, Samoa qualified for the first time since 2014, and Brazil became the first South American qualifier. There's been growth off-field, too. World Rugby says 31% of all World Cup coaches are women, up from 15% in 2022. It adds it has met its minimum target of 40% of all team staff at the World Cup being women, though only Australia, France and Japan have female head coaches. More than 60% of the tournament leadership and volunteers are women, World Rugby adds. Of the 16 teams' security advisers, 14 are women. And the final will have an all-women ground crew at Twickenham. Another all-women panel of referees and assistant referees could offer a chance for Scotland's Hollie Davidson to control a second consecutive final. The semifinals are seeded to be No. 1 England vs. No. 4 France, and No. 2 Canada vs. No. 3 New Zealand. Canada beat New Zealand last year and conceded a 27-27 draw in May in Christchurch, but it would not surprise if the final was a third consecutive England-New Zealand affair, and sixth in history. New Zealand's Black Ferns rise to the occasion like nobody else, having won six of the nine World Cups, including the last time in England in 2010. The chance to win another drew out of retirement the only woman to be the world 15s and sevens player of the year. Portia Woodman-Wickliffe quit playing after winning the Paris Olympics gold medal to start having children, but as she won Super Rugby Aupiki this year and excelled, her mindset shifted. 'This World Cup is going to be out the gate — the talent, the actual legends that are still playing in the game, the atmosphere, the crowds,' Woodman-Wickliffe told the Rugby Pass website. 'England and the UK and Europe just support rugby in a totally different way to how we do here in New Zealand, so I'm really looking forward to that.' Rugby Pass named its top 50 women's players this month and chose Woodman-Wickliffe No. 1 and only two England players in the top 10. But there's a good argument that the top 10 should feature any eight forwards that start for England's Red Roses. England's relentless dominance is based on almost unstoppable forward power. It's go-to try move is a lineout drive and rolling maul. Backline innovation since 2022 has made England more well-rounded and dangerous. Ominously in its last two World Cup warmups, England crushed Spain 97-7 in Leicester then changed 11 players and whacked France 40-6 in Mont-de-Marsan. England enjoys so much depth that of its four world players of the year — Ellie Kildunne (2024), Marlie Packer (2023), captain Zoe Aldcroft (2021) and Emily Scarratt (2019) — two may not make the starting XV. 'It's a privilege to have pressure,' England coach John Mitchell says. 'We've earnt it over the three-year cycle so it's not something we are going to walk away from, we're going to walk towards it.' © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Yomiuri Shimbun
3 days ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Akie Iwai Wins Portland Classic to Join Twin Sister Chisato as Rookie LPGA Tour Champion
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Akie Iwai joined twin sister Chisato as a rookie LPGA Tour winner Sunday at Columbia Edgewater, closing with a 6-under 66 for a four-stroke victory in The Standard Portland Classic. Akie Iwai capped the bogey-free round with birdies on the final two holes, running in an 18-footer on the last before Chisato rushed on the green and sprayed her with champagne. The 23-year-old Japanese player broke through in her first season on the LPGA Tour after winning six times on the JLPGA Tour. She had second-place finishes in Thailand in February and Los Angeles in April, then watched her sister win at Mayakoba in May in Mexico. On Sunday, Chisato Iwai shot a 64 to tie for third, five strokes back. 'This is a special year for us,' Akie Iwai said. Their parents shared in the victory. 'When I saw my mom crying, oh,' Akie Iwai said. She's the fifth player from Japan to win this season, following her sister, Rio Takeda, Mao Saigo and Miyu Yamashita. 'So many Japanese people this year won, so inspired me,' Akie Iwai said. They are fourth set of sisters to win on the LPGA Tour, joining Jessica and Nelly Korda, Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn and Annika and Charlotta Sorenstam. The winner finished at 24-under 264 on the tree-lined course. She opened with consecutive 67s, then shot a 64 on Saturday to take a two-stroke lead into the final round. American Gurleen Kaur was a career-best second, closing with a 65. 'I think it's super exciting,' Kaur said. 'We're playing in Canada next week with a stronger field as well, so excited about that. Carrying that good momentum from here to there.' Linn Grant of Sweden had a 67 to join Chisato Iwai at 19 under. Grace Kim of Australia was 18 under after a 70. Amateur Kiara Romero shot a 64 to tie for seventh at 16 under in her first tour start. The University of Oregon player won the 2023 U.S. Girls' Junior and 2025 Big Ten title. 'It feels great to just play really well my first LPGA event,' Romero said.' Kind of gives me a lot of confidence going into the school year… All the Ducks fans are out here. So, we had a big crowd and a lot of people cheering me on, so it meant a lot to put a good week.' The tournament is the longest continuous event on the LPGA Tour except for the majors, dating to 1972.
