Makoto Ito and Yumeka Wajima scored two goals apiece on Thursday, February 6 as Smile Japan thrashed France 7-1 in its opening game of the the IIHF Group G Women's Ice Hockey Final Olympic Qualification tournament.
Bidding for a fourth straight Olympic berth and fifth overall, Japan wasted little time in setting the pace at Nepia Ice Arena in Tomakomai, Hokkaido Prefecture.
Ito put the hosts up 1-0 just two minutes in when she took a pass from Akane Shiga and beat France goaltender Justine Crousy Theode with a blistering wrister from the top of the face-off circle.
Controlling the flow of play, Japan made it 2-0 just over five minutes later. Wajima broke in and beat Crousy Theode with another wrist shot from the face-off circle.
Wajima then made it 3-0 after she picked up a rebound off a slapshot by Ayaka Hitosato and fired it over the outstretched pad of Crousy Theode at 15:27 of the first frame.
Desperate to stop the onslaught, France coach Gregory Tarle called a timeout in which he urged his players to pick up the pace.
But Japan showed no sign of letting up after the break.
Smile Japan Extends its Lead to 4-0
Diminutive forward Remi Koyama gave Japan a comfortable 4-0 lead at 2:04 of the second period when she scooped up a generous rebound off the pad of Crousy Theode and niftily back-handed the puck into the net.
Tarle then replaced Crousy Theode with Margaux Mameri but Ito scored her second midway through the second, firing home a rebound over the pad of the new goaltender.
France finally broke through with just over a minute left in the second period. Julia Mesplede deflected a cantering pass by Sehana Galbrun over the shoulder of Japan goaltender Miyuu Masuhara.
Riri Noro and Kanami Seki added third-period goals to complete the rout.
Smile Japan Achieves Goal in Opener
Japan coach Yuji Iizuka said before the tournament that one of his team's main goals was to increase its offensive output and Japan certainly achieved that.
Having lost to China at the 2024 IIHF Women's World Championship and to France at the Four Nations in December there were some concerns for Iizuka's team heading into this tournament.
Japan lived up to its billing as the top-ranked team in the qualifying tournament, outshooting France 41 to 24.
Masuhara was named the Player of the Game for Japan while Mesplede took the honors for France.
France, China and Poland are all seeking a first Olympic berth in the 10-nation tournament in Italy next year. Only the winner in Japan will advance.
China Edges Poland in a Shootout
Xin Fang scored in regulation and netted the game-winning goal in a shootout to lead China to a thrilling 3-2 win over Poland on Thursday.
Taking advantage of a power play, Fang put her team up 2-1 early in the third period when she took a pass from defender Jiaxin Wang and beat Poland goaltender Martyna Sass low on the glove side.
Just when it looked like China would secure the win in regulation, Poland got a power play with just over five minutes left after Chunshuang Liu went to the box for tripping.
Maja Brzezinska tied it a 2-2 when she picked up a loose puck off a goalmouth scramble and beat China goaltender Jiahui Zhan with just under four minutes remaining in regulation.
The two teams tried to settle it in overtime but both goalies played well and it went to a shootout.
After three failed attempts by her teammates, Fang froze Sass with a head fake and slid the puck between her legs to break the deadlock.
Zhan then saved a final attempt by Brzezinska to seal the dramatic win for China.
After a day off on Friday, Japan takes on Poland on Saturday while France faces China.
RELATED:
- Smile Japan Will Be All Business in Pursuit of 4th Straight Olympic Ice Hockey Berth
- Japan Women Edge Finland in Dramatic Shootout, Finish 5th at World Championship
Author: Jim Armstrong
The author is a longtime journalist who has covered sports in Japan for over 25 years. You can find his articles on SportsLook.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login