MILAN, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Sweden won its third straight game to book a berth in the last eight of the women's ice hockey competition on Sunday, while the Czech Republic recorded its first victory at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
In Group B, Sweden defeated Olympic debutant France 4-0 to clinch a spot in the quarterfinals.
The Swedes asserted control early with a three-goal first period, featuring strikes from Thea Johansson, Sara Hjalmarsson and Hanna Thuvik, before Lisa Johansson added the fourth in the second period.
Sweden's cohesive play and sharp finishing underlined its status as one of the leading contenders in the women's event, while France faces an uphill battle as only the top three teams in the group progress to the last eight.
Sweden has long been a competitive force in women's ice hockey at Olympic level, having made regular appearances since the sport was introduced to the Winter Games in 1998. The Nordic side reached the pinnacle of its Olympic campaign at Turin 2006, where it captured a historic silver medal, and has since remained a consistent quarterfinal contender.
At Milan-Cortina 2026, Sweden fielded a balanced roster combining experienced international players and emerging talent. With a strong group-stage performance, the team is widely regarded as a podium contender.
"The chances are big, but we are trying to focus on the group stage," said Johansson of the team's medal hopes. "We can't think too far ahead."
In Group A play at the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena, the Czech Republic beat Finland 2-0. Tereza Pistekova and Natalie Mlynkova found the net in the opening period, and goaltender Klara Peslarova stood tall to preserve the shutout.
The result marked an important step forward for the Czech Republic after earlier setbacks in the group, and added valuable points as the teams vie for favorable positioning heading into the quarterfinals. ■
