Women’s World Cham­pi­onship in China: Strong opening win for Austria against Denmark

This meant they took maximum points in their opening game against one of the two teams relegated from the Top Division, and therefore one of the favourites for promotion. After a strong opening period from the Austrians, the Scandinavians grew into the game in the second period, but it was the red-white-red side that got on the scoresheet.

Defender Annika Fazokas took matters into her own hands in the 39th minute and blasted the puck into the net for 1:0. In the final period, the two PWHL players based abroad, Anna Meixner and Theresa Schafzahl, also got on the scoresheet. Meixner was set up perfectly by Schafzahl in the 46th minute and slotted the puck home from close range for 2:0. In goal, Selma Luggin stood firm against the Danish shots, stopping all 30 attempts to record a shutout.

Denmark pulled their goaltender as early as two and a half minutes before the end of the game, and Theresa Schafzahl capitalised 24 seconds before the siren to seal the win for Austria, scoring into the empty net for 3:0.

Goaltender Selma Luggin, Best Player: "It is great to be back here. I am proud of the entire team. I hope we take away from this game that we should never doubt ourselves, but always believe in ourselves. We showed that today."

Theresa Schafzahl: "This is a superb start to the World Championship for us, not just in terms of the result. We played strongly, every line impressed on the ice; we could not have imagined it any better. We have to take that into the next games, but we must not get too high now. We have to stay grounded and focus on the next game straight away."

And on Monday, they face the second team relegated from the Top Division, World Championship hosts China. ORF SPORT + will broadcast live at 14:00.

2025 IIHF Ice Hockey Women´s World Championship Division I, Group A

13th - 19th April 2025, Shenzhen, China

Austria vs. Denmark 3:0 (0:0,1:0,2:0)
Sun, 13th April 2025, 10:30 (16:30 local time)
Austria goalscorers: Annika Fazokas (39th minute), Anna Meixner (46th minute), Theresa Schafzahl (60th minute/EN)

Austria lined up with:

Goaltenders: 25 Luggin Selma, 1 Adamitsch Anja (backup)

Line 1: 23 Matzka Antonia, 12 Fazokas Annika; 10 Meixner Anna, 7 Schafzahl Theresa, 2 Picka Vanessa

Line 2: 5 Nagy Laura, 17 Wittich Charlotte; 24 Trummer Anja, 6 Lintner Emma, 21 Dauböck Lena

Line 3: 18 Billa Anna Marlene, 9 Schröfl Lisa; 16 Kutzer Leonie, 13 Grascher Tamara, 18 Obermayer Hanna

Line 4: 15 Leitner Laura, 19, Tekin Artemis; 3 Schwarzer Hanna, 14 Schall Tamina, 4 Linzbichler Marja

Further matches:

China vs. Austria
Mon, 14 April 2025, 14:00 ( 20:00 local time) live on ORF SPORT +

Slovakia vs. Austria
Wed, 16 April 2025, 07:00 ( 13:00 local time) live on ORF SPORT +

Austria vs. Netherlands
Thu, 17 April 2025, 10:30 ( 16:30 local time) live on ORF SPORT +

France vs. Austria
Sat, 19 April 2025, 10:30 ( 16:30 local time) live on ORF SPORT +