Latest news with #SaraHjalmarsson
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hjalmarsson To Start Season With Linkoping In Sweden
Sara Hjalmarsson will hit the ice in full stride when PWHL camps open in November. The Swedish veteran, who was a fifth round pick, 35th overall, of the PWHL's Toronto Sceptres in 2025, has signed to start the season in the SDHL with Linkoping.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Quarter-Final Preview: Who will play for a medal at the Women's World Championships?
The IIHF women's World Championships are down to single elimination games. First up, it's the quarter-finals. With eight teams remaining after Norway and Hungary were relegated, the games get more serious. Here's a game-by-game look at the quarterfinal match ups. In a battle between Scandinavian nations, Finland and Sweden will face-off for the opportunity to play for a medal. Finland enters as the third ranked team in Group A, while Sweden won Group B. Sweden received balanced offense in the opening round from youth like Ebba Hedqvist, Mira Hallin, and Hilda Svensson, along with more season forwards including Linnea Johansson, Lina Ljungblom, and Sara Hjalmarsson. In a single game, there's no question Sweden could beat their neighbors. The players know each other well with 10 of the 15 players on Finland's roster competing in Sweden. It's Finland's game to lose, and there's not only a chance to play for a medal on the line, but also important positioning next year as the tournament moves away from tiered groups. It will be interesting to see which goaltender steps forward in this game. Players To Watch: Ronja Savolainen (Finland), Sara Hjalmarsson (Sweden) Germany has traditionally played USA hard, but it doesn't mean they stand a chance in this game. USA has too much fire power and too much depth. Every single shift is a colossal mismatch and there isn't a single player on Germany's roster who could crack USA's. Expect USA's offense to get plenty of reps. Germany will rely heavily on the goaltending of Sandra Abstreiter, and need a hard checking game from all areas of their lineup. One of Germany's team strengths is their defence, but there's just too much power coming the other way. USA's roster has traditionally been driven by the more game-ready NCAA players, but the PWHL impact is in full force now with their veterans stepping back to the forefront offensively. It just means that every shift is coming sharp, with Hilary Knight, Alex Carpenter, and co. continuing to produce in waves. Players To Watch: Tessa Janecke (USA), Nina Jobst-Smith (Germany) This is not a gimme game for Czechia, despite the fact they walked through Switzerland in a prelim game. They enter as the clear favourites, but will need to be sharp facing Switzerland. The primary tasks for Czechia will be locking up Alina Muller and Lara Stalder, and getting traffic in front of Andrea Brandli. Czechia will look to unleash their offense that's been bubbling, but has yet to boil over. Kristyna Kaltounkova is their focal point up front, but the speed and dogged persistence of Adela Sapovalivova and Natalie Mlynkova create opportunities for others. Czechia will hope Katerina Mrazova is continuing to feel stronger, and that Klara Peslarova can make a few key saves in net. The other aspect to watch here is two teams that if you get under their skin, can take bad penalties. Power play minutes will be crucial, and could decide this game. Players To Watch: Kristyna Kaltounkova (Czechia), Alina Muller (Switzerland) Meeting for the first time this tournament, Canada will take on Japan. Japan is the heavy underdog, and without top forward Akane Shiga, who was stretchered off the ice with what looked like a lower body injury in Japan's final round robin game against Germany, their efforts will be hindered. Miyuu Masuhara has been stellar for Japan in Group B, but it's a totally different game against Canada where every shot she faces will be better than the best she's seen to date. Canada will likely look to get some of their depth players more repetitions while rolling four lines to keep everyone sharp and hope to find another hot hand. We're also on record watch for both Ann-Renee Desbiens and Marie-Philip Poulin. Players To Watch: Marie-Philip Poulin (Canada), Miyuu Masuhara (Japan)
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sweden vs. Denmark: Winner Goes To The Olympics
Sweden and Denmark are only one win away from a spot at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina. The problem is, only one of them will win and qualify as the two undefeated teams in Group H will face off Sunday to earn a spot in Italy. Sweden enters as the heavy favorite to win the game and has not allowed a goal in their opening two games beating Norway 3-0 to open the tournament, followed by an 8-0 romp over the Netherlands today. Sara Hjalmarsson got Sweden on the board scoring twice in the opening frame, which was followed by six different Swedish players hitting the scoresheet. Josefin Bouveng, Paula Bergstrom, Thea Johansson, Sofie Lundin, Ida Karlsson, and Hilda Svensson all scored for Sweden. Ida Boman made nine saves in the win while Dutch goalie Eline Gabriel faced 80 shots in the game, including being outshot 30-0 in the first period. In the other game of the day, Denmark beat Norway 3-1. 16-year-old Nikita Bergmann was Denmark's top player scoring the empty netter and going end to end to set up Denmark's first goal of the game, scored by Lillo Friis-Hansen. With the two teams both undefeated, the winner of Sunday's game will earn an automatic berth to the 2026 Olympics.
