Ice Hockey 09 February

Bakuriani 2025 EYOF: Ice Hockey Semifinals Overview

On February 9, 2025, the Tbilisi Ice Arena hosted a pair of highly anticipated semifinals in the girls’ ice hockey tournament at the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) in Bakuriani. The Czech Republic faced Sweden in a dominant display, while Finland battled Slovakia in a closely contested match.

Czech Republic vs. Sweden: A One-Sided Affair
Czechia secured their place in the final with a resounding 10-2 victory over Sweden. The match began strongly for the Czechs, who took an early lead and never looked back.

In the first period, Czechia established a commanding 4-0 lead with goals from E. Jarabkova, L. Sindelarova, E. Rosenbaumova, and A. Mynarikova. The Czech team showcased their offensive prowess, outshooting Sweden 10-8 while also capitalising on their power plays, scoring one power play goal during the period.

Sweden managed to mount a response in the second period, netting two goals from E. Hessellvall. However, Czechia maintained their momentum, scoring three more times and ending the period 7-2 in their favour. The final period saw Czechia add three more goals, with a standout performance from E. Rosenbaumova, who finished the game with four goals, demonstrating her exceptional skill and positioning throughout the match.

The final statistics highlighted Czechia’s dominance, with 39 shots on goal compared to Sweden’s 23. Goalkeeper Lili Chmelarova made 21 saves, further solidifying the Czech defence.

Match Summary: CZE 10 – 2 SWE
– Period Scores: 4-0, 3-2, 3-0
– Shots on Goal: CZE 39, SWE 23

Finland vs. Slovakia: A Battle to Remember
In a more tightly contested semifinal, Finland and Slovakia ended the match in a 2-2 draw after three periods, leading to a tense battle in overtime.

The first period was scoreless, but Slovakia took the lead in the second with goals from M. Letasi and N. Cellarova, putting them ahead 2-1 after Finland initially opened the scoring with K. Junnila’s goal. Finland responded with a late equaliser from E. Loponen in the third period, forcing the match into overtime.

The game statistics reflected a balanced contest, with Slovakia slightly outshooting Finland 21-14. Both goalkeepers, Aino Maattanen for Finland and Sofia Hajnalova for Slovakia, performed admirably, making crucial saves to keep their teams in contention.

Match Summary: FIN 2 – 2 SVK (FIN wins in OT)
– Period Scores: 0-0, 1-2, 1-0
– Shots on Goal: FIN 19, SVK 21

With these results, Czechia will face Finland in the gold medal match, while Sweden and Slovakia will compete for bronze. The stage is set for an exciting conclusion to the ice hockey tournament at the Bakuriani 2025 EYOF.

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