MILAN, Italy – Germany’s women’s hockey team secured their spot in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Winter Olympics with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Italy on Wednesday, . The win, achieved at the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena, allowed Germany to finish second in Group B and avoid a potentially challenging matchup against the top team from Group A.
While qualification was already confirmed prior to the game thanks to Sweden’s win over Japan, the match against the host nation proved a physical and tightly contested affair. Italy, spurred on by a vocal home crowd of 3,898, initially took the lead through Justine Reyes in the 21st minute. However, Germany responded with goals from Emily Nix in the 33rd minute and a late winner from Laura Kluge with just 61 seconds remaining in regulation time.
The game was characterized by its physicality, with both teams battling fiercely for every puck. German goalkeeper Sandra Abstreiter noted the intensity, suggesting the Italian team may have been specifically prepared for her after both teams spent time training in Montreal. “They probably watched me and saw that I’m not that easy to overcome,” she said.
Germany’s path to the quarter-finals wasn’t without its challenges. Following an opening defeat against Sweden, the team rebounded with a 5-2 victory over Japan and a 2-1 overtime loss to France. The win over Italy demonstrated a resilience and improvement in performance throughout the group stage.
Despite securing the victory, Germany struggled to find consistent offensive rhythm against a determined Italian side. They managed only 11 shots on goal in the first period, and just three in the second. The equalizer from Nix, and ultimately Kluge’s late goal, proved crucial in overcoming a stubborn Italian defense.
Looking ahead, Germany now faces a daunting task in the quarter-finals, with either the United States or Canada awaiting them. Both nations have historically dominated women’s ice hockey, winning every Olympic title to date. This represents a significant step up in competition for the German team, who were eliminated in the group stage during the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
National coach Jeff MacLeod acknowledged the challenge but expressed confidence in his team’s ability to compete. “They’re just people, they play on the same ice,” MacLeod stated. “We have to believe in it. These are the Olympic Games, anything is possible.”
Abstreiter echoed MacLeod’s sentiment, pointing to recent competitive games against the USA as evidence of Germany’s progress. “We have shown against the USA twice recently that things are no longer as clear as they used to be,” she said.
The quarter-final match, scheduled for , will be a significant test for the German team. While the odds are stacked against them, their qualification for the quarter-finals represents a notable achievement and a sign of the growing strength of German women’s ice hockey. The team will need to elevate their performance and capitalize on any opportunities against either the USA or Canada to have a chance at reaching the semi-finals.
Italy’s journey at the Olympics continues despite the loss to Germany. Having secured their first-ever quarter-final berth with a 3-2 victory over Japan on , the host nation will now prepare for their next challenge, hoping to build on the momentum generated by their successful group stage performance.
Elsewhere in the tournament, the United States and Canada continued their unbeaten runs, further solidifying their status as the favorites for the gold medal. Canada beat the Czech Republic, while the US secured a third straight win against Switzerland. These results set the stage for a potentially thrilling quarter-final round, with several teams vying for a chance to compete for Olympic glory.
