Reid Lemker here from The Ice Garden, wishing you a happy World Championships Hockey Friday! I hope you’ve enjoyed the World Championships as much as I have.
The group stage of the tournament wrapped up on Wednesday, and it provided some incredibly compelling hockey. After an off day on Thursday, the knockout round begins on Friday.
Let’s take a look back at some of the top performers during the group stage.
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Forwards
Taylor Fox (Team USA): Fox hasn’t scored a goal in this tournament, but she led all players with eight assists in the group stage. Fox’s play-making has been a big part of Team USA’s offensive domination in this tournament. She tallied at least one assist in all four group-stage games. Fox had multiple assists in three of the four games.
Jessie Eldridge (Team Canada): I’m not sure many expected Jessie Eldridge to lead Canada in scoring in the group stage, but she was one of Canada’s most consistent forwards in the first four games. Eldridge had a point in all four group stage games, and she had two goals and an assist in Canada’s 5-1 win over Sweden. In total, Eldridge scored three goals and seven points in the group stage, top among Canadian forwards.
Hilary Knight (Team USA): Team USA boasts plenty of young stars up front, but Hilary Knight proved why she’s still an important piece for the Americans in the group stage. Knight scored six goals in four group-stage games, including a hat trick in the finale against Czechia. She scored in three of Team USA’s four games. Knight also picked up an assist in the only game she didn’t score in. She finished the group stage with a +9 rating, top among American forwards.
Honorable Mention: Alina Müller continues to elevate her game when Switzerland needs her most. Müller scored twice in Switzerland’s 4-2 win over Austria. She also had two points, including an overtime game-winner, in Switzerland’s 2-1 win over Czechia.
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Defenders
KK Harvey (Team USA): What more is there to say about KK Harvey? Through four group stage games, the 2026 first-overall pick led the tournament in points. Harvey scored a whopping three goals and nine points in four group-stage games. She scored a hat trick in Team USA’s rout of Austria. Harvey has had three multi-point games already in this tournament. She also led the tournament with a plus-12 rating. Did I mention she’s a defender?
Mira Jungåker (Team Sweden): Harvey’s group stage has been impressive, but I think you could make the argument that Mira Jungåker has been the best defender at this tournament. Jungåker’s Swedish team doesn’t have the offensive firepower that Team USA has, but Jungåker is still putting up video game-esque numbers. She led Sweden in scoring in the group stage, tallying one goal and seven assists. Her +6 rating is the best among Swedish defenders. She also led Sweden in time on ice in the group stage. Jungåker’s performance is a big reason Sweden finished a surprise second place in Group B.
Honorable Mentions: Kendall Cooper (Team Canada) was Canada’s top-scoring defender in the group stage, tallying three goals and five points across the four games. She also led all Canadian players in plus-minus with a +8 rating. Nina Jobst-Smith (Team Germany) also deserves a shout out for her timely goalscoring. Jobst-Smith scored both of Germany’s goals in the 2-0 win over Austria. She also scored the game-winner in Germany’s 3-1 win over Switzerland.
Goalies
Sandra Abstreiter (Team Germany): Abstreiter is a big reason Germany pulled off a couple of upsets and finished second in Group A. She made 14 saves in a shutout victory over Austria in Germany’s first game. Against Czechia, Abstreiter made 29 saves in a 2-1 shootout victory. In the final game of the group stage against Switzerland, Abstreiter made 20 more saves in a 3-1 Germany win. All told, Abstreiter faced 103 shots in the group stage, the third most by any goaltender. She finished with a .932 save percentage.
Honorable Mention: I’m adding Emma-Sofie Nordström (Team Denmark) here for her performance against Japan. In a game Denmark had to win to avoid the relegation game, the Danes were outshot 32-15. Nordström kept Denmark in the game, making 30 saves across regulation and overtime. Nordström gave Denmark a chance in the shootout, and the Danes won the game 3-2. The win over Japan was enough for the hosts to advance to the knockout stage and avoid relegation.
More from around the hockey world
Welcke twins lead Germany to shootout stunner over Czechia: By Natalia Rachman
Team USA blows out Austria in their first-ever international face-off: By LJ Bachenheimer
Minnesota’s Chloe Primerano is ready to level up: by Giselle Velazquez
NCAA Women’s Hockey: How to Watch, November 12 – November 17: By Nicole Haase
Three goalie invites, two roster spots at Vegas Vanguards training camp: By Melissa Burgess
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