Day one of the IIHF women’s World Championships in Czechia is in the books. Sweden, Czechia and USA won their opening games in dominant fashion. We selected one player from each of the winning rosters to make up Dub Hockey’s Three Stars of the Day from the opening 24 hours of the World Championships.
Here’s Dub Hockey’s Day One Three Stars:
- Krystina Kaltounkova, Czechia – The highlight was Kaltounkova’s first period power play goal for Czechia, but she asserted herself across the ice in Czechia’s opening shutout win over Switzerland. During a third period Swiss power play, Kaltounkova blocked shot after shot, a skill she showcased throughout the game. Named Czechia’s player of the game in her first ever IIHF appearance at the senior national level is an accomplishment in itself. Her physicality, goal scoring, and two way presence were evidence, as was her ability to win draws. It was quite the debut for Kaltounkova
- Lee Stecklein, USA – The veteran savvy and PWHL experience of Lee Stecklein was clear in her first game back in the USA jersey in more than a year. USA has a lot of high flying defenders who risk it all on the rush. They also have a dearth of defensive defenders. Many, like Caroline Harvey can do both, but Stecklein’s combination of size, her reach, and her willingness to stay home, showed. She shut down Finland’s counter attacks and closed lanes with her stick effectively. Stecklein also found an open lane in the game walking in from the blueline before cutting net front on her backhand to score her first oft he tournament. To beat Canada for gold, Stecklein will need to be at her best.
- Mira Hallin, Sweden – Sweden’s future is now, and Mira Hallin is a major part of that. Hallin generated several chances and played a fearless style in the game. She also scored her first ever World Championship goal and added an assist to match her point total from last season in the opening game. Doing it against Germany who was the other favourite to come out on top of Group B held extra importance. Hallin is a future star for Sweden, and this tournament could be her coming out party despite being only 18-years-old.
