photo: © International Ice Hockey Federation / Reiji Nagayama
Japan dominant in 7-1 rout of France in Olympic qualifier Japan relied on a relentless attack and solid defence to defeat France 7-1 in its opening game of the IIHF Group G Women’s Ice Hockey Final Olympic Qualification tournament.
Bidding for a fourth straight Olympic berth and fifth overall, the team known as “Smile Japan” was quick out of the gates at Nepia Ice Arena in Tomakomai, Hokkaido. Makoto Ito put the hosts up 1-0 just two minutes in when she took a pass from Akane Shige and beat France goaltender Justine Crousy Theode with a blistering wrister over the glove.
Taking advantage of their speed, Japan made it 2-0 just over five minutes later. Yumeka Wajima broke in and beat Crousy Theode with another wrist shot from the face-off circle, this time high on the stick side.
Wajima then made it 3-0 after she picked up a rebound off a shot by Ayaka Hitosato and fired it over the outstretched pad of Crousy Theode at 15:27 of the first frame.
That prompted France coach Gregory Tarle to call a timeout in which he urged his players to pick up the pace.
But Japan showed no sign of letting up after the break.
Diminutive forward Remi Koyama gave the hosts a commanding 4-0 lead at 2:04 of the second period when she pounced on a generous rebound off the pad of Crousy Theode and backhanded the puck into the net.
Tarle then elected to replace 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 the shutout bid 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 Masuharu.
Riri Noro and Kanami Seki added third period goals to complete the rout.
Japan coach Yuji Iizuka said before the tournament that one of his team’s main goal was to increase their offensive output and Japan certainly achieved that.
Japan was without injured Haruka Toko who has been the team’s most prolific scorer since the Beijing Olympics.
Having lost to China at last year’s 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 as the Player of the Game for Japan while Mesplede took the honours 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.
Earlier Thursday, Fang Xin scored in regulation and netted the game-winning goal in a shootout to lead China to a thrilling 3-2 win over Poland.
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 Wang Jiaxin 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 Liu Chunshuang 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 Zhan Jiahui 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.
China got on the scoreboard with 3:11 left in the first period when Hu Jiayi scored on a wrister from the face-off circle that beat Sass.
But Anna Kot equalized with just four seconds left in the opening frame. Wiktoria Dziwok won a face-off cleanly and got the puck back to Kot who ripped it past Zhan.
After a day off on Friday, Japan takes on Poland on Saturday while France faces China.
Bidding for a fourth straight Olympic berth and fifth overall, the team known as “Smile Japan” was quick out of the gates at Nepia Ice Arena in Tomakomai, Hokkaido. Makoto Ito put the hosts up 1-0 just two minutes in when she took a pass from Akane Shige and beat France goaltender Justine Crousy Theode with a blistering wrister over the glove.
Taking advantage of their speed, Japan made it 2-0 just over five minutes later. Yumeka Wajima broke in and beat Crousy Theode with another wrist shot from the face-off circle, this time high on the stick side.
Wajima then made it 3-0 after she picked up a rebound off a shot by Ayaka Hitosato and fired it over the outstretched pad of Crousy Theode at 15:27 of the first frame.
That prompted France coach Gregory Tarle to call a timeout in which he urged his players to pick up the pace.
But Japan showed no sign of letting up after the break.
Diminutive forward Remi Koyama gave the hosts a commanding 4-0 lead at 2:04 of the second period when she pounced on a generous rebound off the pad of Crousy Theode and backhanded the puck into the net.
Tarle then elected to replace 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 the shutout bid 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 Masuharu.
Riri Noro and Kanami Seki added third period goals to complete the rout.
Japan coach Yuji Iizuka said before the tournament that one of his team’s main goal was to increase their offensive output and Japan certainly achieved that.
Japan was without injured Haruka Toko who has been the team’s most prolific scorer since the Beijing Olympics.
Having lost to China at last year’s 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 as the Player of the Game for Japan while Mesplede took the honours 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.
Earlier Thursday, Fang Xin scored in regulation and netted the game-winning goal in a shootout to lead China to a thrilling 3-2 win over Poland.
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 Wang Jiaxin 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 Liu Chunshuang 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 Zhan Jiahui 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.
China got on the scoreboard with 3:11 left in the first period when Hu Jiayi scored on a wrister from the face-off circle that beat Sass.
But Anna Kot equalized with just four seconds left in the opening frame. Wiktoria Dziwok won a face-off cleanly and got the puck back to Kot who ripped it past Zhan.
After a day off on Friday, Japan takes on Poland on Saturday while France faces China.