Today marked the end of Group Play at the 2025 IIHF Women’s Worlds and the US closed it out in style, winning 5-0 over Switzerland. The Quarterfinal matchups were already determined heading into this one, so this game was (mostly) played for pride. There were some players getting their first taste of International play and there were some players looking to add to their already impressive World Championship resumes.
Based on the tournament thus far, the teams have been seeded for the quarterfinals (elimination play) that start this Thursday 4/17. To no one’s surprise, the US and Canadian teams head out of the Group Play seeded as the top 2 seeds which puts them in different brackets and sets up a heck of a (possible) championship game on Sunday 4/20. A quick shoutout to IIHF.com which has been putting up every single score, game recap and stats as the games have concluded (seems like a fairly straightforward idea, maybe the NCAA should follow their lead?). And here in the states, the NHL Network should take a bow as they’ve broadcasted every single game so far.
In net for the US was (friend of the podcast) Gwyneth Philips from the OTT Charge and at the other end of the sheet was Andrea Brändli from MoDo of the Swiss Women’s Hockey League. I’ll give you one guess who was the busier netminder for this one? Here’s a hint: Brändli was named the Swiss player of the game regardless of being the losing goaltender.
Out of the gate, the Swiss team was aggressive on the forecheck and kept tight gaps through all 3 zones. Every time a US player looked up there was a Swiss player in their grill. Through transition and during possessions the Swiss maintained their discipline and stymied the US offensive chances, until they didn’t.
Just before midway in the opening frame, Tessa Janecke (Penn State) broke the ice for the US squad. With the US on the power play, Laila Edwards (Wisconsin) at the left point worked the puck down to Hilary Knight (BOS Fleet) at the left post and she dished to Alex Carpenter (NY Sirens) in the slot. Carpenter’s shot from in close was turned aside, but Janecke was positioned at the opposite post for the put away. 1-0 USA, time to play “Free Bird”.
On a quick aside: Laila Edwards playing defense after putting up 35-36-71 in her junior year as a forward and then just hops in at defense for the National Team? C’mon, that’s just an embarrassment of riches for the red, white and blue.
And she’s out there paired with Megan Kellar (BOS Fleet)?? Holy schnikes!
That score held for 1:04 before Kendall Coyne Schofield (MIN Frost) doubled it up using her speed to force Switzerland into a turnover in their own end. Breaking down the LW wall Schofield pushed the puck behind the Swiss net and absorbed the body contact in the left corner. Kelly Pannek (MIN Frost) gathered the puck below the LW circle and put a shot on net that rebounded to Coyne Schofield who had scooted around the Switzerland net and met the puck at the right post for the putaway.
And then it was Janecke, again. I mean you don’t become the all-time points leader in Penn State hockey by chance (that’s both the men’s and women’s programs and as a junior). Carpenter carried the puck into the Switzerland zone and put it to Knight behind the Swiss net. Knight carried it behind the net and then dropped the puck between her legs to Janecke coming low to high swinging the Switzerland cage. Janecke gathered in the puck and spun at the bottom of the RW circle (as a lefty) and put the puck on net where it beat Brändli far side.
In the second period the US worked the high cycle to set up their low to high game, but Brändli was up to the task. In the US net, Philips came out just past midway in favor of Ava McNaughton (Wisconsin), I mean with these 2 plus Aerin Frankel in your goaltending room you have to make room to make room if you know what I mean. As I mentioned with the defense, it’s a good problem for the US program to have.
As time expired, the US got on the board again. Caroline Harvey (Wisconsin) gathered the puck at the left point and put a heavy wrister on net from the top of the LW circle that beat Brändli blocker side (and the horn). What a sequence from Harvey and an all-time apple from Knight.
Coyne Schofield added another late in the third when she corralled Anna Wilgren’s (MTL Victoire) point shot in front of the Swiss net and tucked it home to make the final score of the contest. Up next is a day off for all teams before the elimination games begin on Thursday.
As I mentioned earlier, Brändli was the player of the game for Switzerland with 49 saves on 54 shots (.907%SV), while Knight (3 assists) was the player of the game for the US squad. Knight now has completed the trifecta as she is now the goals, assists, and points leader at the World’s tournament in her 15th appearance for the US team. Both Philips and McNaughton ended the day with 3 saves apiece as the US dominated the SOG 54-6.
If you follow the women’s game, please check out our new podcast Breaking The Glass Hockey Podcast. We’re available on all platforms. Myself, Linda Lundrigan and Kelly Dyer Hayes talk women’s hockey and we feature a number of big-time guests. As we like to say: Like Subscribe and Share with 100 of your closest friends. You can find us on all socials @BTGHockeyPod
You can read more about Brownie in his bio down below or follow him on:
Twitter: @abrow28
Instagram: @a_brow28
Bluesky: @abrow28.bsky.social
The Morning Skate 