Spectacle alarm before the U18 World Cup in Zug: two puck tricksters appear

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As a 14-year-old, she made history a year ago: at the U18 World Championships in Östersund (Sd), Nela Lopusanova was the first woman at an IIHF tournament to score with a sky hook. The teenager’s goal in the 1-1 quarter-final draw against the Swedes was Slovakia’s only goal in their 6-1 defeat, but it went viral and sent the internet into a frenzy. Now on the Bishoph Kearny Selects high school team in Rochester, New York, Lopusanova has more and more tricks up her sleeve.

Lopusanova (15) will take part in the U18 Women’s World Cup in Zug from Saturday. The Slovakian will compete in her group against the USA, Sweden and Switzerland – and therefore against another player who has already successfully sunk an airhook: Nati and EVZ striker Ivana Wey. The 17-year-old scored 28-0 in the Cup Round of 16 against Thun by taking the puck on her kick behind the goal and lifting it past the surprised goalkeeper into the net. Ultimately, the Zug women won 33-0.

At the U18 World Cup in Zug, the two puck tricksters only meet in the last group match. The Swiss want to provide a surprise. The Slovaks are within their reach. The US and the Swedes, who sensationally knocked the American girls out of the semi-finals a year ago, are harder to crack.

This year, the top four teams in the world rankings – Canada, USA, Sweden and Finland – were not packed into one group, but rather divided. The manner of the relegation battle has also changed: the two countries at risk will now only duel in one match for the exit from the A group, and not in a best-of-3 series as before.

The Swiss Women’s Games (Bossard Arena, Zug): Saturday, January 6: Sweden – Switzerland, 4:00 PM Monday, January 8: USA – Switzerland, 8:00 PM Wednesday, January 10: Switzerland – Slovakia, 4:00 PM

Source : Blick