Slovakia - Germany 0 - 8 (0 - 4 , 0 - 1 , 0 - 3) Game Sheet

INNSBRUCK – A first period hat trick from captain Valerie Offermann sparked Germany to a 8-0 win over Slovakia. Her team improves to 1W-1L while the Slovaks were held scoreless for the second game in a row. Both teams came into the game needing a victory to stay in the medal hunt, after being shut out in each of their opening games. The German ladies controlled the puck early on, holding Slovakia without a shot in the opening period. At 7:41 Offermann sneaked the puck past a Slovak defender at the goal line and beat goaltender Nikola Kaliska short side for Germany’s first goal. Offermann struck again two minutes later when her teammate Pia Szalowski threw the puck to the net from the blue line. After Kaliska made the initial save the puck slid from her pad and onto the stick of Offermann, who potted her second goal. Szalowski then scored one of her own after Kaliska gave up a rebound following another shot from the point. Her captain then completed the hat trick with under three minutes left. With Germany on the penalty kill, Offermann got the puck at centre ice and dangled another Slovak defenceman before closing on on Kaliska and slotting the puck stick side this time for the 4-0 lead. Offermann’s goal prompted a goaltender switch by Slovakia, but the Germans added another short-handed marker in the second period courtesy of Saskia Selzer. A pair of goals by defenceman Anna Fiegert and one by forward Nina Korff rounded out the scoresheet for Germany. “We felt we could win today with hard work, we want to get a medal and getting this victory today was a big step,” said Offermann. “I am happy that I scored three goals but it feels better that we won as a team.” The Germans will now face undefeated Austria on Monday, while Slovakia will try to get its first win versus Kazakhstan on Tuesday afternoon.

Sweden - Kazakhstan 17 - 0 (2 - 0, 10 - 0, 5 - 0 ) Game Sheet

Sweden continues to roll over the competition at the 2012 Youth Olympic Games, dominating Kazakhstan 17-0 in their second game. The Swedish ladies have 2 wins and no losses, and have outscored the opposition 28-0.

Tournament scoring leader Linn Peterson had four goals and an assist, while all but one player got at least one point in the game.

Sweden now has a day off before taking on Austria on Tuesday. Kazakhstan will also play later that day against Slovakia.

ADAM STEISS