German women to Sochi

08 Feb 2013 | Henrik Lundqvist

After wins against Kazakhstan and Czech Republic the German players have already secured the group win and a place at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi. The other group surprisingly has Denmark on top and their upcoming game against Japan will decide who gets to Sochi.

Czech Republic-Germany 1-3
Germany is the top ranked (#8 on the IIHF ranking) team of Group D and managed to secure the group win with the game against Kazakhstan still to play.

Against Czech Republic Monika Bittner scored the opening goal in the sixth minute but Aneta Ledlova tied if for the Czechs on the first power play goal of the game two minutes later. Germany scored twice in a minute and a half in the middle of the second period to gain a 2-goal lead that Czech Republic couldn't reply to. The captain Susann Götz scored 1-2 and Manuela Anwander 1-3.

Kazakhstan - China 1-2
Kazakhstan lost for the second time. Yesterday to Czech Republic and today to the Chinese women. The Chinese team would still have had a chance for Sochi if Czech Republic had beaten Germany. Ben Zhang scored 1-0 for China. Rui Sun 2-0. Galina Shu scored Kazakhstan's only goal. All goals were scored in the second period.

Norway - Denmark 1-2 SO
Denmark continues to impress. Today they beat Norway in a shootout game. Norway outshot Denmark 42-20 but only managed to beat the goalie Kamilla Lund Nielsen once when Ingrid Morset scored 1-0 at 33:35. Emma Russel tied the game at 44:41. The shootout only saw one goal. Julie Gregersen beat Jorid Dagfinrud to win the game for Denmark.

Hege Ask played her 75th game for the Norwegian national team. No other woman has played more games for Team Norway. The Norwegian Federation, NIHF, gives her a golden watch.

Japan - Slovakia 0-1 SO
Slovakia got away with a shootout win after a scoreless game. But the chance to qualify for the Olympics is gone. The winner in the game Japan-Norway can start preparing for an adventure in Sochi. The best player of this game was without a doubt the Slovak goalie Zuzana Tomcikova. The saved 62 shots to earn a shutout and then she saved all for shouts in the shootout. Jana Kapustova scored the only goal.

The last games of the Olympic qualification will be played on Sunday. Germany already made it to Sochi. Now remains to see if Japan or Denmark joins them.