Finland cruise past Japan and Germany beat Czechs at women’s ice hockey worlds

HERNING, Denmark (AP) — Finland rallied after an early scare to cruise past Japan 8-2 for a second victory at the women’s ice hockey world championship on Tuesday.

Last year’s bronze medalist Finland answered an early lead by Japan through Remi Koyama with three goals in the opening period.

Emmi Juusela tied the game, added another goal and a couple of assists for the Finns, Sanni Vanhanen had a goal and two assists, Julia Schalin scored a short-handed goal and Emma Nuutinen, Julia Liikala, Sanni Rantala and Siiri Yrjola netted one each.

Finland goaltender Emilia Kyrkko stopped 15 shots.

Rio Noro scored Japan’s second.

Finland rose to second in Group B with six points, three behind leader Canada. Japan remained on the bottom on a point.

In Group A in Esbjerg, Germany edged the Czech Republic 2-1 after a shootout. Germany moved to second and the Czechs were third.

Later Tuesday, Switzerland plays Austria in Group A and Sweden faces Denmark in Group B.

Czech off-ice scandal

In between their games, the Czech team condemned derogatory remarks about women’s hockey by Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka.

Macinka said he considered hockey a men’s sport in a television debate on Sunday about the possible entry of a Russia team at the under-18 women’s worlds in the Czech Republic in January. He said he can’t imagine the Russian anthem being played in the Czech Republic despite a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and added “our great feminists” will be disappointed when the tournament will be without “Russia’s mannish women.”

Forward Kristýna Kaltounková, the No. 1 pick in last year’s PWHL draft, said she didn’t agree with Russia playing in international competitions but “women have the same right to play hockey as men,” she said. “It doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from or what you look like. Sport is for everyone.”

Macinka has apologized after athletes including Czech NHL players and politicians denounced his comments.

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See AP’s full women’s hockey coverage here

The Associated Press