Women's hockey

[hockeyfan1]

The CWHL season is underway and two new additions from China -- the Kunlun Red Star and the Vanke Rays -- make up the international portion of the league.

Both the Kunlun Red Star, and the Vanke Rays rosters are made up of mostly Chinese and  NCAA players (plenty with Chinese-American & Chinese-Canadian heritage as well as non-Chinese lineage).

The Kunlun Red Star  played the season opener in Thornhill against the Markham Thunder.  Just having an international presence is more than what the CWHL could bargain for, as the Chinese teams are here to gain knowledge of the game as well as being "ambassadors" for the sport's further growth &  development to spur greater interest in Women's hockey there.

While the 2022 Beijing Winter Games are still awhile away, having these two clubs presented itself as the perfect opportunity to raise awareness of it, as there are currently just 400+ women playing ice hockey in a country as populous as China.


https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2017/10/20/chinese-clubs-launch-revolutionary-debut-in-cwhl.html

Click on the teams in the dropdown list to see their full rosters:
http://www.thecwhl.com/stats/roster/3/18

Check out their website here:
http://www.thecwhl.com/

[hockeyfan1]

Well, what do you after your team gets bested pretty big in a game?  Why you dance on the ice after the  game with your opponents!

May the music begin.  Let's dance!

https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/good-sport-canadian-hockey-team-best-reaction-exhausting-9-1-loss-202957166.html

[hockeyfan1]

With the soon-to-be demise of the CWHL,  Women players from both Canada & the U.S. are determined to work together to forge one strong league — the already existing NWHL.

Kudos to the ladies, many of them teammates from teams from the CWHL, who share in the same goal & dream of further advancing Women's hockey.

Story:
https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/top-women-s-players-vow-to-shape-pro-hockey-in-north-america-1.4365295

[hockeyfan1]

The 2019 WWHC opens today in Finland.  The tournament runs from April 4 to 14 and for the first time in it's history, the WWHC will showcase 10 countries (plus a revised format).

It's been six years since Team Canada won the Gold.  Can the Canadians regain the crown from the reigning Americans?

Should be an interesting tournament but no doubt a Canada-USA final?  Perhaps not.  Read on:

https://www.tsn.ca/canada-looking-for-first-women-s-world-title-since-2012-1.1283197

[hockeyfan1]

Team Canada shuts out Team Switzerland 6-0.

Team Switzerland last won a Bronze at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Hockey.  However, since that time, their MVP Florence Schelling retired and her replacement Andrea Brandi today was peppered for 41 SOG.

Team Canada plays Team USA Saturday.

https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2019/ww/news/9758/sui-can

[hockeyfan1]

In other games:

Team USA whitewashed Team Finland; Team Germany upset Team Sweden 2-1.

For highlights, stats, schedule & more:
https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2019/ww

[hockeyfan1]

Results for Saturday April 6:

Team USA beat Team Canada 3-2.  The Americans displayed a more thorough puck-handling in taking advantage of Canadian turnovers, particularly their special teams.

Anytime these two play, it's always a classic.

Team Canada plays Team Russia Monday, while Team USA plays Team Switzerland tomorrow.

https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2019/ww/news/9834/usa-can

[hockeyfan1]

Other results (April 6):

Team Finland shutout Team Russia 4-0;  Team Czech Republic over Team Sweden 5-3; and Team Germany edging Team Japan 3-2.

https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2019/ww/schedule

[hockeyfan1]

Standings as of today:

https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2019/ww/standings/group

[hockeyfan1]

Team Canada topped Team Russia 5-1 thanks to Natalie Spooner's  three goals (hat trick). 

Team Canada's Marie-Philip Poulin, out with injury since February, returned but her play was limited.

Story/Highlights:
[url]https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2019/ww/news/9913/can-rus[/url

[hockeyfan1]

Other Preliminary Round results for April 8:

Team Czech Republic defeated a Team Japan 3-1.  The Czechs guaranteed themselves a berth in the Quarter-Finals; Team France prevailed over Team Germany 3-2 in OT.  It was the first-ever French victory in a WWHC tournament.  Bien joué!; Team Finland one-upped Team Switzerland 6-2.

Stories/Highlights:
https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2019/ww/news/9912/allez-les-bleues!

https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2019/ww

[hockeyfan1]

Team Canada shut down Team Finland 6-1. 

Canada's sharpshooter Loren Gabel's three points helped the Canadians dominate the Finns, as Finland's netminder Noora Raty faced 49 SOG, while Canada's Shannon Szabados faced 23. 

Team Canada now plays Team Germany in Thursday's Quarter-Final.

https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2019/ww/news/9946/can-fin

[hockeyfan1]

Other results for April 9th:

Team USA thoroughly routed Team Russia 10-0; Team Czech Republic shuts out Team Germany 2-0.

Meanwhile, Team Japan stunned Team Sweden 3-2 thus moving on to the Quarter-Finals, while Team Sweden faces relegation.  The Swedish Women's Team has fallen from it's perch slowly throughout the decade much to the disappointment of many.
For Japan, it was the sweet thrill of victory — it's their first-ever run to a Quarter-Final in a WWHC.  Definitely exceeded expectations of themselves.
Yoku Yata!

https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2019/ww/news/9928/swe-jpn

[hockeyfan1]

Quarter-Finals (Thursday April 11/2019):

Team Canada vs Team Germany
Team USA vs Team Japan
Team Russia vs Team Switzerland
Team Czech Republic vs Team Switzerland

Relegation Round: 
Team Sweden vs Team France

[hockeyfan1]

Top scorers:

Kendall Coyne Schofield  Team USA         4G 3A 7Pts  +8
Natalie Spooner              Team Canada    4G 3A 7Pts  +6
Alex Carpenter                Team USA        2G 4A 6Pts   +4
Brianne Jenner                Team Canada   2G 4A 6Pts   +2


https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2019/ww