Czechia took a convincing 5-2 win over Switzerland in the final preliminary round game in Brampton, a rematch between the two teams that had contested for bronze at the 2022 Women’s Worlds Championship (a game won by Czechia 4-2).

The first period was all Czechia, as they spent nearly the entire 20 minutes in Switzerland’s zone and Czech goalie Blanka Skodova faced only one Swiss shot.

Sixteen-year-old Adela Sapovalivova, playing in her second Women’s Worlds, opened scoring 52 seconds in. Falling in the offensive zone, she was back on her feet in time to get open in front of Swiss goalie Saskia Maurer, control a flying puck, and get a shot off.

"It was a crazy goal," said Sapovalivova. "I fell, got up, and went to the net. I took a pass and had to catch it, and I shot quickly and somehow it went in. I don’t know how I scored."

Czechia’s second goal, a shot from the point by Michaela Pejzlova, with Tereza Vanisova in front of Maurer as a screen, was initially waved off, but then reviewed and declared a good goal.

It was then Czech captain Alena Mills’ turn to get on the board. The dynamic defence duo of Daniela Pejsova and Dominika Laskova worked together to get the puck on the net. Laskova spun around to avoid Swiss pressure and keep the puck onside, passing to Pejsova for a one-timer from the point. Mills bashed in the rebound with one minute left in the first period.

"I think we are doing really good job keeping possession of the puck." said Czechia's Katerina Mrazova. "We have so many skilled players on the team, and it’s really nice to see that we are not afraid to hold the puck, make the right play, make tape-to-tape passes."

It seemed like no goals would be scored in the second period, but the Czechs once again put the puck past Maurer as time was running out, with under a minute remaining on the clock. Klara Hymlarova received a pass up ice from Noemi Neubauerova, skating in wide before roofing the puck top shelf.

With two power play opportunities in the second period, the Swiss were able to add five more shots to their tally, but the Czech penalty kill was perfect. Czechia is the only team to not allow a single goal against while shorthanded in the preliminary round.

"I think we are really disciplined and we focus on the right things," Mrazova said of Czechia's penalty kill. "Whoever blocks a shot, the whole bench is cheering for it, so whoever does it gives us a lot of energy for the next shift. If we are on a PK we are excited for it because we know we are really good at it."

Switzerland opted to swap goalies for the third period, with Caroline Spies making her first career Women’s Worlds appearance. Two goals were scored in quick succession to kick off the final 20 minutes, one for each team. Swiss captain Lara Stalder scored 31 seconds in, shooting on Skodova after a nice give-and-go with Rahel Enzler.

"We came out sloppy and I’m glad that the third period we were able turn it around and I’m going to look at that and take that with me," said Stalder. "We finally battled again and worked hard. On the international level, you just have to fight out there every shift and for every centimetre."

Czechia responded less than two minutes later, with Tereza Plosova feeding the puck to Tereza Pistekova in front of the net for her first ever Women’s Worlds goal.

Alina Muller picked up her own rebound to score one more goal for Switzerland, but Czechia's strong first period proved to be enough to secure them a 5-2 win. This result means that Switzerland will face Japan in the quarter-finals, while Czechia will play Finland for the fourth tournament in a row.

"We are really excited for it," said Mrazova. "We are looking for good hockey with Finland and we know it’s going to be a good game—we want to play these games. It’s always a really good battle against them. Everyone’s so excited about it."