Australia wins Gold, Earns Promotion at IIHF Women’s World Championship
DUNEDIN, New Zealand – Australia secured the gold medal and promotion to Division II, Group A at the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship, Division II Group B, after a dominant performance highlighted by stellar goaltending and timely scoring.
King’s Dominance in Net Leads Australia to victory
Goaltender Sasha King anchored Australia’s success,posting a remarkable 0.79 goals-against average and a .952 save percentage. King recorded three shutouts, the only ones in the tournament, and backstopped the team to a crucial shootout victory over host nation New Zealand.
julien’s Scoring Prowess Propels Australian Offense
Forward Christina Julien led the Australian offensive charge with 8 points (5 goals, 3 assists), including the decisive shootout goal against New Zealand.
Australia finished the tournament with a record of 4-1-0-0, improving upon their second-place finish from the previous year.
New Zealand Claims Silver on Home Ice
Host nation new Zealand improved on their fourth-place finish in 2024, earning the silver medal with a 3-1-1-0 record. Katya Blong led the team in scoring with 9 points (7 goals, 2 assists). New Zealand had a couple of thrilling games during the week, including the shootout loss against the Australians.One of the highlights was Blong’s goal in the early in the third period to lift the team to a 4-3 victory over Ukraine. The forward also broke a 2-2 deadlock in midway through the third period of their final game of the tournament against Turkiye to help the team to a 3-2 win.
Ukraine Secures Bronze Medal
Ukraine captured the bronze medal with a 3-0-1-1 record.Valeria Manchuk led the tournament in scoring with 17 points (12 goals, 5 assists), including a 6-goal performance against Hong Kong.Teammates Daria Tsymyrenko (14 points), Tetiana Kyrychenko (10 points), and Polina Telehina (10 points) rounded out the top four scorers of the tournament.
Other Notable Performances
Belgium finished fourth with a 1-0-1-3 record, led by Anke Steeno’s 7 points. Goaltender Charlotte Swinnen faced a tournament-high 227 shots.
Hong kong placed fifth with a 1-0-0-4 record, with goaltender Hei lam Mok facing 45 shots in their game against Australia.
Turkiye finished in sixth place with a 0-1-0-4 record. Elis Savas scored the overtime winner in their 4-3 victory over Belgium, and led the team in scoring with 6 points. Goaltender Erva Kanat faced 56 shots against Ukraine.
What was Sasha King’s goals-against average and save percentage during the tournament?
Australia wins Gold, Earns Promotion at IIHF Women’s World Championship
DUNEDIN, New Zealand – Australia secured the gold medal and promotion to Division II, Group A at the 2025 IIHF women’s World Championship, Division II Group B, after a dominant performance highlighted by stellar goaltending and timely scoring.
King’s Dominance in net Leads Australia to victory
Goaltender Sasha King anchored Australia’s success,posting a remarkable 0.79 goals-against average and a .952 save percentage. King recorded three shutouts, the only ones in the tournament, and backstopped the team to a crucial shootout victory over host nation New Zealand.
julien’s Scoring Prowess Propels Australian Offense
Forward Christina Julien led the Australian offensive charge with 8 points (5 goals, 3 assists), including the decisive shootout goal against New Zealand.
Australia finished the tournament with a record of 4-1-0-0, improving upon their second-place finish from the previous year.
New Zealand Claims Silver on Home Ice
Host nation new Zealand improved on their fourth-place finish in 2024, earning the silver medal with a 3-1-1-0 record.Katya Blong led the team in scoring with 9 points (7 goals, 2 assists). New Zealand had a couple of thrilling games during the week,including the shootout loss against the Australians.One of the highlights was Blong’s goal in the early in the third period to lift the team to a 4-3 victory over Ukraine. The forward also broke a 2-2 deadlock in midway through the third period of their final game of the tournament against Turkiye to help the team to a 3-2 win.
ukraine Secures Bronze Medal
Ukraine captured the bronze medal with a 3-0-1-1 record.Valeria Manchuk led the tournament in scoring with 17 points (12 goals, 5 assists), including a 6-goal performance against Hong Kong.Teammates Daria Tsymyrenko (14 points), Tetiana Kyrychenko (10 points), and Polina Telehina (10 points) rounded out the top four scorers of the tournament.
Other Notable Performances
Belgium finished fourth with a 1-0-1-3 record, led by Anke Steeno’s 7 points. Goaltender Charlotte Swinnen faced a tournament-high 227 shots.
Hong kong placed fifth with a 1-0-0-4 record, with goaltender Hei lam Mok facing 45 shots in their game against Australia.
Turkiye finished in sixth place with a 0-1-0-4 record. Elis Savas scored the overtime winner in their 4-3 victory over Belgium, and led the team in scoring with 6 points. Goaltender Erva Kanat faced 56 shots against Ukraine.
Q&A: Diving Deeper into the IIHF Women’s World Championship – Division II,Group B
Q: What does “Division II,group A” and “Group B” mean in the context of the IIHF Women’s World Championship?
A: The IIHF Women’s World Championship is structured with several divisions. Division II is a tier below the top division, and Group A and B are sub-divisions within this level. Australia’s promotion means thay’ll compete against tougher teams in the next tournament. It’s a step up in competition.
Q: How significant is Sasha King’s performance?
A: King’s stats (0.79 GAA, .952 SV%) are exceptional. Three shutouts in a tournament is a remarkable feat, showcasing her impact on Australia’s gold medal win. This is a goalie to watch!
Q: What’s the impact of christina Julien’s performance?
A: Julien’s 8 points, including the crucial shootout goal, where pivotal in Australia’s offensive success.A clutch player can make all the difference in tight games!
Q: How did New Zealand perform relative to their previous year?
A: New Zealand improved, moving from fourth place in 2024 to silver in this tournament. This shows a steady progression for the team.
Q: Why is Valeria Manchuk’s 17-point performance so extraordinary?
A: Leading the entire tournament in scoring by a significant margin is a testament to Manchuk’s skill and consistency. her 6-goal game highlighted her dominance.
Q: What’s next for Australia?
A: Australia will compete in Division II, Group A in the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship. They will face tougher opponents and aim to continue their upward trajectory.
Q: any trivia about the shot counts?
A: Charlotte Swinnen of Belgium faced the most shots.That is a lot of action for a goalie! Hei lam Mok faced 45 shots in one game, emphasizing the pressure on goalies.
Australia’s golden performance is a story of dedication and skill.Keep an eye on these teams as they continue their journey through the hockey world!
