Germany and Hungary have set up a must-win clash for Sunday (9 February) with a women’s ice hockey quota spot at Milano Cortina 2026 on the line.
Hosts Germany are on the cusp from what has been a 12-year Olympic barren spell.
Germany trounced Slovakia 6-1 in Bremerhaven on Saturday (8 February) for their second win out of two in the Women’s Ice Hockey Final Olympic Qualification tournament.
Later on Saturday, Hungary rallied from a first-period deficit to beat Austria 3-2 in overtime.
The Träger der Adler – literally ‘the eagle carriers’ – sit atop having defeated neighbours Austria 2-0 in their opening match on Thursday.
Germany scored after just 85 seconds through Jule Schiefer. And long-range strikes from Charlott Schaffrach and Svenja Voigt beat Slovakia goalie Andrea Risianova to make it 3-0 with less than five and a half minutes played.
That was the end of the scoring for the first period, but Voigt found the net again eight minutes into the second frame to put the result beyond doubt.
A depleted Slovakia had the opportunity to regroup after the second period, a break extended by a faulty match clock at the Eisarena, scoring a consolation goal early in the final period thanks to Janka Hlinkova.
But Franziska Feldmeier made it 5-1 midway through the third before Lilli Welcke scored on the power play to ensure both Welcke twins registered points after Luisa had assisted on Voigt’s second goal.
In Hungary’s clash with Austria, they were behind 0-1 after the first period after a goal from Anna Meixner in the 18th minute. But Emma Kriesz and Lotti Odnoga netted goals in regulation, and then Reka Hiezl scored in overtime to secure that clash with Germany for the Hungarian squad.