UTICA, N.Y. (AP) — Lisa Hemmerle made her first career start in goal for the national team, helping Germany beat China 3-0 on Tuesday to finish the preliminary round of the women’s world hockey championships with a 4-0 record for the first time in program history.
Hemmerle, a 28-year-old, recorded an easy shutout as Germany outshot China 44-9. Germany starter Sandra Abstreiter got the day off as the team had already clinched Group B.
Germany advances to the quarterfinals on Thursday to face Czechia, more widely known in English as the Czech Republic.
China started 18-year-old Grace (Jiahui) Zhan, who is playing high school hockey in Minnesota.
Germany started scoring early. Zhan made a stop on a long shot, but Laura Kluge was there to send home the rebound 28 seconds into the game.
CZECHIA 6, SWITZERLAND 1
Captain Aneta Tejralová scored 37 seconds into the game and Natálie Mlýnková added three goals to help Czechia cruise past winless Switzerland.
Czechia also scored two goals 76 seconds apart. Tereza Vanišová put Czechia ahead for good at 2-1, and Mlýnková backhanded a rebound into the net.
Daniela Pejšová converted Czechia's first powerplay goal of the tournament midway through the third.
Tejralová also sent a shot past the pads of Saskia Maurer with 4:55 remaining in the game and added a shorthanded goal with 3.5 seconds left.
Maurer, who made her first start at the worlds, faced 36 shots on net for Switzerland, which plays Finland in the quarterfinals.
JAPAN 3, DENMARK 0
Japan qualified for the quarterfinals after winning the final game of the preliminary round.
The win also pushed the Danes and Chinese out of the playoffs and into Division I-A for 2025.
Japan will face the United States on Thursday in the last of four quarterfinal matchups.
Japan scored on its first shot of the game when Remi Koyama sent in a loose puck on a power play. Japan doubled its lead in the second when Suzuka Taka finished a nice individual effort from Akane Shiga.
Rui Ukita added an empty-netter after Denmark pulled its goalie with more than four minutes left.
Riko Kawaguchi faced just eight shots in getting the shutout win.
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AP Women’s Hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey