Austria’s U18 women celebrate a 4:0 win over Great Britain in their World Championship opener

Head Coach Arto Sieppi’s team have made a perfect start to the 2026 IIHF Women’s U18 World Championship Division IB. After a scoreless first period, the ÖEHV selection stepped up a gear, taking a 1:0 lead through Florentina Rumpl 20 seconds into the second period. Emma Lintner made it 2:0 in the 32nd minute, before the two players made the result emphatic in the final period. They continue against China at 13:00 on Three Kings’ Day.

05 January 20261 min read

“It is always good to win the first game at a World Championship. Everyone is excited – the players and us coaches – regardless of who the opponent is. It took us a little while to get into the game, but then we had a perfect start to the second period. The players followed our instructions and our goalkeeper recorded a shutout. We are very pleased and now ready for China,” summed up Head Coach Arto Sieppi after the World Championship opener.

Although they created more scoring chances than their opponents in the opening 20 minutes, they had to wait until shortly after the first break for the deserved opening goal to come.

Florentina Rumpl provided it after exactly 20 seconds, following an assist from Johanna Sintschnig. Austria played with more freedom from then on, controlled the puck and made it 2:0 through Emma Lintner on the power play in the 32nd minute. This time, Florentina Rumpl provided the assist before adding her name to the scoresheet again in the 45th minute. Emma Lintner then made it 4:0 in the 59th minute, even while shorthanded.

They continue against China on Tuesday lunchtime.

2026 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women's World Championship Division IB

05 January 2026 – 11 January 2026, Katowice (POL)
Participants: Austria, Poland, Spain, China, Australia, Great Britain
Event website

Great Britain vs. Austria 0:4 (0:0, 0:2, 0:2)
Mon, 05 January 2026, 13:00, Katowice
Austria goalscorers: Florentina Rumpl (21, 45), Emma Lintner (32/PP, 59)
Game Summary

Austria vs. China
Tue, 06 January 2026, 13:00, Katowice

Austria vs. Australia
Thu, 08 January 2026, 13:00, Katowice

Spain vs. Austria
Sat, 10 January 2026, 20:00, Katowice

Austria vs. Poland
Sun., 11 January 2026, 20:00, Katowice

Back to news