It was a day that did not play out as one might have thought, and as a result we have Japan and Italy facing off on Friday in a game that will decide promotion. But at the other end of the standings, Friday’s games won’t matter. With their loss today, Denmark will be demoted to WW18 Division I-B for 2025. Austria, Hungary, and France are all still vying for superior position in the final standings.

Hungary 2-Austria 1

After starting the tournament with two shutout losses, the Hungarians have found new life and posted their second straight victory today, edging the favoured Austrians in overtime. Austria was in second place in the standings, and a win today could have put extra pressure on frontrunners Japan and Italy and given themselves a chance for promotion. But the loss now eliminates them from movement up, and they will be back in I-A next year.
 
Austria scored first when Zoey Hobitsch notched her first goal of the tournament late in the opening period. Although Hungary failed to convert on two early power plays in the second, they tied the score soon after on a goal from Karina Karpati. The underdogs again had a chance to win the game with a late five-on-four in the third, but the Austrian penalty killers were up to the task, forcing overtime.
 
Just 61 seconds into the short fourth period, Reka Hiezl scored the winner to move Hungary into fourth place in the standings and send heartbreak through the Austrian dressing room.

Italy 4-Denmark 2

The Danes did two things essential to winning this game. They kept tournament scoring leader Matilde Fantin from scoring a goal, and they built an impressive 2-0 lead through two periods of play. But coach Massimo Federici got his troops to play an inspired third before the home crowd, and the result was a massive rally and 4-2 victory, moving Italy temporarily into first place in the standings.

Italy showed an uncharacteristic lack of discipline, incurring eight minor penalties to Denmark’s four. Although the opening period was scoreless, Italy took the only two minors but also limited the Danes to a single shot on goal.

In the second, the hosts weren’t as lucky, giving up two power-play goals and putting themselves in a deep hole. Olivia Ranum opened the scoring for Denmark just 58 seconds into the second on a five-on-four, and late in the period the Italians took two quick penalties to give the Danes a five-on-three. They converted, with just 44 seconds left in the period, when Nikita Bergmann beat Margherita Ostoni with a shot.
 
That hard-fought, 2-0 lead was wiped out with expedience by the Italians in the final period. Alessandra Weber, with her first of the tournament, and Manuela Heidenberger with her fourth, tied the game by the 2:13 mark, but three more minors slowed their momentum. Nevertheless, they went ahead for the first time in the game on a power play of their own, Giorgia Todesco scoring with only 4:30 remaining in regulation. Chiara Carioti added an empty netter, and with the win the Italians put themselves in a great spot for the grand finale on Friday, a game against Japan with promotion at stake.

Japan 6-France 2

Japan overcame a stubborn France to advance to what amounts to a gold-medal game on Friday. That is, the win puts Japan back in first place in the standings with 12 points, while Italy sits second with 10. The two teams face off Friday night with promotion on the line, but Japan has the advantage. If they can get that game to overtime, win or lose, they’ll move up to the top level for 2025. Italy will have to win in regulation, and if they do, they will be promoted.
 
Because France was in no danger of being relegated as a result of today’s game, coach Baptiste Arpin elected to give Liv Wegmuller her first start of the tournament. She was the busier of the two netminders, facing 30 shots to 20 sent on Haruka Kuromoru, who has played every minute in goal for Japan. But the star of the day was Kohane Sato, who scored two insurance goals just when it looked like France might rally.
 
The Japanese opened the scoring early in the first on an Azumi Numabe goal, but Alison Verleene tied it five minutes later. Japan scored two more later in the first, but that wasn’t enough to allow the team a breather. Ophelie Bontemps scored on a power play early in the second to make it 3-2 and putting a scare into Japan.
 
That’s when Sato went to work. She made it 4-2 midway through the second and 5-2 midway through the third to put the game out of reach. Umeka Odaira added a sixth goal, giving Japan those three critical points in the standings.
 
NOTES: The final day of round robin is Friday, starting with Austria-Denmark and France-Hungary. These games won’t have a bearing on promotion or demotion. The final game, Japan-Italy, will be for all the marbles, however, and the local Italian fans will no doubt be out in force to cheer on the home side.