U.S. Defeats Finland 7-1 in Women’s World Championship Opener

ČESKÉ BUDĚJOVICE, Czechia – April 9, 2025 – The U.S. Women’s National Team made a strong start at the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship by defeating Finland 7-1 in their preliminary round match on Tuesday at Budvar Arena.

Head coach John Wroblewski from Nennah, Wisconsin, expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, stating, “It’s always nice to get the opening win under our belts. We got scoring from all areas of the ice today. We’ll use this game as a foundation as we move through the tournament.”

The U.S. was quick to take control of the game, scoring its first goal just 2:44 into the match. Hayley Scamurra from Buffalo, New York, found the net by pushing a loose puck under Finnish goaltender Sanni Ahola. Scamurra followed up with her second goal of the night just over two minutes later, sending a wrist shot through the five-hole, thus doubling the U.S. lead.

Kelly Pannek from Plymouth, Michigan, contributed to the scoring when she received a pass from Abbey Murphy of Evergreen Park, Illinois, and shot it past Ahola, bringing the score to 3-0. In the dying moments of the first period, Aerin Frankel from Chappaqua, New York, blocked back-to-back Finnish shots, preventing Finland from getting on the scoreboard.

Continuing its offensive momentum, Team USA scored again in the second period. Lee Stecklein of Roseville, Minnesota, added to the tally just 55 seconds into the middle frame, capitalizing on a pass from Taylor Heise of Lake City, Minnesota, and sliding the puck into the net to extend the lead to 4-0. Finland managed to break the shutout when Petra Nieminen scored on a power play, cutting the U.S. lead to 4-1 with 11:56 remaining in the second period. However, Team USA responded swiftly, with Hilary Knight from Sun Valley, Idaho, scoring just 15 seconds later to reestablish a four-goal advantage.

The final period saw Team USA clamp down further on the score. Pannek and Heise scored goals within 22 seconds of each other, bringing the final score to 7-1. In net, Frankel made 19 saves, showcasing her skills and contributing significantly to the team’s success. Notably, the U.S. outshot Finland 24-20 and recorded their sixth goal as the 800th goal in Women’s World Championship history for the United States.

Next, Team USA will face the host country, Czechia, on Friday, April 11, with the puck dropping at 7 p.m. CET (1 p.m. ET). Fans can watch the match live on NHL Network.

Notes:

  • Hayley Scamurra was named the U.S. Player of the Game.
  • Team USA was 0-for-1 on the power play, while Finland went 1-for-2. With a strong start in the tournament, Team USA looks to build on their success as they aim for another championship title.