Haley Winn scored twice while Hilary Knight had a goal and two assists, and the United States opened its title defence with a 4-0 win over Switzerland at the 2024 world women’s hockey championship on Wednesday.
Knight is the tournament’s all-time points (103) and goals leader (62).
Kendall Coyne Schofield, with her first international goal since returning from maternity leave, also scored for the U.S.
Aerin Frankel made 11 saves to earn a shutout.
WATCH | CBC Sports’ Hockey North previews women’s hockey worlds:
Host Rob Pizzo is joined by Karissa Donkin to preview the upcoming IIHF women’s hockey world championship in Utica, New York.
Switzerland’s Andrea Braendli stopped 51 shots against a high-flying United States offence.
After a scoreless first period, Wynn got the Americans on the board 5:23 into the second.
Coyne Schofield doubled the lead later in the second before Knight and Wynn gave the U.S. a commanding lead in the third.
The U.S. beat Canada 6-3 in the final to win gold last year in Brampton, Ont.
Canada plays its first game Thursday against Finland.
Sweden opens with win over Denmark
Lina Ljungblom scored the winning goal as Sweden opened with a win over Denmark.
Ljungblom’s goal came late in the second period with Sweden on a power play. Sofie Lundin’s shot pass found an unmarked Ljungblom, whose shot beat Danish goaltender Emma-Sofie Nordstrom.
Sweden’s Felizia Wikner-Zienkiewicz opened the scoring around the midway point of the second period.
Nicoline Jensen scored for Denmark with eight and a half minutes remaining.
Swedish goaltender Emma Soderberg faced just five shots.
Nordstrom made 36 saves for Denmark.
Czechs blank Finland
Adela Sapovalivova, Klara Hymlarova and Natalie Mlynkova each had a goal and an assist to lead the Czech Republic to a convincing 4-0 win over Finland.
Tereza Plosova also scored for the Czech Repubic.
Klara Peslarova made 21 saves to earn the shutout for the Czech Republic, which won the bronze medal at the last two tournaments.
Ahola stopped 29 shots.
