Italy's women's ice hockey team has achieved a significant milestone, securing a spot in the Olympic quarterfinals for the first time. This historic advancement comes after a pivotal 3-2 victory over Japan in the preliminary round of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games. The win marks a landmark moment for Italian women's hockey, propelling them beyond the group stage in their Olympic competition. The outcome of this match was crucial, as both Italy and Japan entered the contest with identical 1-1 records, understanding that the victor would likely advance.
Road to the Knockout Stage
The path to this achievement for Italy involved a strategic preliminary round performance. The team began its Olympic journey with a win against France, a result that built early momentum. This was followed by a challenging loss to Sweden, a team considered of a higher caliber, which served as an important test and provided valuable experience. The crucial match against Japan was framed as a direct battle for a quarterfinal berth, with Sweden and Germany seen as likely to advance from Group B, which comprises the five lower-ranked teams. Italy's advancement means they have secured one of the three guaranteed quarterfinal spots in their group, irrespective of their final preliminary game against Germany.
Match Analysis: Italy vs. Japan
The deciding match between Italy and Japan unfolded on February 9, 2026, at the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena. Italy emerged victorious with a 3-2 scoreline.
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Key Performances:
Matilde Fantin was a standout for Italy, scoring two goals, including one on the power play. She also registered an assist, demonstrating her significant contribution to the offense. Fantin led Italy with five shots on goal and played 30:22 of ice time.
Kristin Della Rovere scored the game-winning goal for Italy in the third period.
Rui Ukita and Akane Shiga scored for Japan. Shiga's third-period goal required a lengthy video review to confirm it had crossed the goal line.
Goaltending: Italy's Durante made 27 saves, including crucial stops that preserved the lead and ultimately secured the win.
Special Teams: Italy capitalized on one of their two power-play opportunities, while Japan was unable to convert on any of their three chances. This difference in special teams efficiency played a role in the final outcome.
Group B Dynamics and Quarterfinal Implications
Group B at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics features five lower-ranked teams vying for advancement. Before the Italy-Japan game, both teams held a 1-1 record. Their earlier win against France also mirrored each other's performance in that regard. The landscape suggested that only one spot would be available for the winner of the Italy-Japan fixture, given the perceived strength of Sweden and Germany. Italy's win improved their record to 2-1, guaranteeing them a place in the quarterfinals. This historic achievement is particularly noteworthy given Italy's previous Olympic experiences in women's hockey.
Broader Olympic Context
The Italy-Japan game was part of a broader schedule of Olympic events. The women's hockey tournament is taking place alongside other disciplines such as Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard Big Air. The tournament's preliminary rounds are scheduled to conclude before the knockout stages, with teams like the United States and Canada also competing in other matches during the same period.
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Sources Used:
DailyFaceoff: Provides detailed analysis of standout players and game statistics from the Japan vs. Italy match. (https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/2026-olympic-womens-hockey-top-standouts-japan-italy-fantin-shiga-durante)
ESPN: Offers official game results and scoring details for the Italy vs. Japan contest. (https://www.espn.com/olympics-womens-ice-hockey/game//gameId/401845619/italy-japan)
Olympics.com: Serves as the official source for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic schedule and results. (https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/schedule/iho)
The Hockey News: Discusses the stakes of the Italy vs. Japan game in the context of quarterfinal qualification. (https://thehockeynews.com/womens/international/quarterfinals-at-stake-as-italy-prepares-for-key-contest-with-japan)
AP News: Reports on Italy's historic victory and qualification for the quarterfinals. (https://apnews.com/article/womens-hockey-olympics-us-canada-caa8c3a679f1506c242f6c649389b310)
The PWHL: Provides access to the Olympic schedule, including specific game times and results. (https://www.thepwhl.com/en/olympics/schedule)
