The U18 women's national team are in the WJC quarter-finals

In Saint Catharines, Canada, the junior women's Russian national team played their deciding group match of the 2016 IIHF World Championship against the Czech Republic.

Despite both teams having lost both of their games before this fixture, a quarter-final berth had already been guarenteed. There was just one question left to answer: who would Russia play against in the next round? Win and the team would take on Finland, while a loss would mean a match against Sweden.

It was a tense start to the first period, but after Russia got rid of their nerves they took a vital lead. Fanuza Kadirova got to her own rebound, and batted the puck into the net. That was the starting point from our team, and in the second period Elena Vodopyanova and Fanuza Kadirova extended the lead to three. The Czechs managed to get two back in a tough third period, but our team held on to claim their first tournament win in Canada!

Russia defender Nina Pirogova:

- We went up and then relaxed. We conceded two goals, but eventually managed to get it together. We need to improve defensively and remember that we are playing for the whole of our country.

Czech Republic - Russia - 2:3 (0:1, 0:2, 2:0)

Goals:

0:1 Kadirova (Beloglazova), 06.54

0:2 Vodopyanova (Kadirova), 24.51

0:3 Kadirova (Vodopyanova), 29.10

1:3 Hymlarova (Patockova), 47.39

2:3 Patockova (Martinu), 52.23

Goalkeepers: Zechovska - Tarakanova

Shots on target: 18 - 20

Penalty minutes: 8 - 14

12.01.2016. Meridian Centre, Saint Catharines, Canada.

Russian Ice Hockey Federation