Switzerland's Janine Hauser is playing in her record-tying fourth WW18.
photo: Robert Hradil / HHOF-IIHF Images
The IIHF WW18 takes a one-day respite before concluding the preliminary round on Wednesday and starting quarter-finals and Relegation Round on Thursday, so that gives us a chance to catch up on news and notes from around the tournament.
CLOSE GAMES
Of the eight games played so far, six have been decided by a single goal and the other two by two goals. There has been only one shutout (Saskia Maurer, Switzerland).
TRIPLE AND QUADRUPLE THE FUN
Three players are tying IIHF records this year, all Swiss. Goalie Saskia Maurer ties the record for most WW18 by a goaltender (three) and skaters Janine Hauser and Nicole Vallario are playing in their fourth WW18 (also tying a record).
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Several players are celebrating their birthdays during the tournament, including Ladina Staub (SUI) and Sofianna Sundelin (FIN), both turning 17 on Jan 13. Two Canadians also share a birthday. Laura Cote and Alexie Guay both turn 18 today (Jan 8) and Russian Vita Ponyatovskaya turns 16 today. Her teammate, Kristi Shashkina turns 16 tomorrow. Marin Nagaoka of Japan is 17 on January 12.
SCHELLING HERE
Florence Schelling is no longer 18 (!), but she is here with the Swiss as an assistant coach. The recently-retired bronze medallist at the Olympics in 2014 holds many records for goalies in senior IIHF competition.
VERY YOUNG I
Jade Surdez is the second youngest player in WW18 history. She was only 14 years, 45 days old when she played in Switzerland’s first game this past Sunday.
VERY YOUNG II
Remember the name Annic Buchi. The Swiss also brought her along to the tournament to give her some experience with the team, but she isn’t yet eligible to play. She’s only 13 years old, but already she’s 5’7”/1.70m, 130 lbs./59kg.
HOKKAIDO
Obihiro is a town in the Hokkaido region of Japan where the majority of female Japanese players were born. The city’s most famous athlete, however, is Hiroyasu Shimizu, an Olympic speedskater who won gold at the Nagano Games in 1998 in the 500m race.
CLOSE GAMES
Of the eight games played so far, six have been decided by a single goal and the other two by two goals. There has been only one shutout (Saskia Maurer, Switzerland).
TRIPLE AND QUADRUPLE THE FUN
Three players are tying IIHF records this year, all Swiss. Goalie Saskia Maurer ties the record for most WW18 by a goaltender (three) and skaters Janine Hauser and Nicole Vallario are playing in their fourth WW18 (also tying a record).
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Several players are celebrating their birthdays during the tournament, including Ladina Staub (SUI) and Sofianna Sundelin (FIN), both turning 17 on Jan 13. Two Canadians also share a birthday. Laura Cote and Alexie Guay both turn 18 today (Jan 8) and Russian Vita Ponyatovskaya turns 16 today. Her teammate, Kristi Shashkina turns 16 tomorrow. Marin Nagaoka of Japan is 17 on January 12.
SCHELLING HERE
Florence Schelling is no longer 18 (!), but she is here with the Swiss as an assistant coach. The recently-retired bronze medallist at the Olympics in 2014 holds many records for goalies in senior IIHF competition.
VERY YOUNG I
Jade Surdez is the second youngest player in WW18 history. She was only 14 years, 45 days old when she played in Switzerland’s first game this past Sunday.
VERY YOUNG II
Remember the name Annic Buchi. The Swiss also brought her along to the tournament to give her some experience with the team, but she isn’t yet eligible to play. She’s only 13 years old, but already she’s 5’7”/1.70m, 130 lbs./59kg.
HOKKAIDO
Obihiro is a town in the Hokkaido region of Japan where the majority of female Japanese players were born. The city’s most famous athlete, however, is Hiroyasu Shimizu, an Olympic speedskater who won gold at the Nagano Games in 1998 in the 500m race.