USA women throttle Switzerland 7-0 to open hockey world championship defence

The United States opened the defence of their women's ice hockey world championship title with a 7-0 victory over Switzerland on Friday in Esbjerg, Denmark.

Hannah Bilka and Laila Edwards scored twice each, while Kirsten Simms, Hilary Knight and Casey O'Brien also found the net. Caroline Harvey contributed three assists.

Bilka broke the deadlock nine minutes into the game, but Switzerland goaltender Andrea Brändli kept the favourites at bay for the remainder of the first period.

The Americans took control in the second period, with O'Brien doubling their lead before Edwards converted a power play just 15 seconds after a Swiss penalty. The US outshot Switzerland 15-3 in the second period.

The United States added four more goals in the third period, including Bilka's second and a solo effort from Simms.

Hilary Knight, the team's longest-tenured player making her 16th world championship appearance, scored midway through the final period to extend her tournament records to 68 goals and 121 points in 88 games. The 37-year-old is the competition's all-time leader in both categories.

Aerin Frankel earned the shutout in goal, stopping all eight shots she faced, as the Americans improved to 14-0 all-time against Switzerland, bronze medallists at February's Olympics.

Canada opened their tournament by beating Sweden 5-1 in Herning on the same day. Goals from Eldridge, Emily Clark and Rebecca Leslie gave Canada a 3-0 lead in the opening period. Kendall Cooper added the fourth, Sweden's Hanna Thuvik pulled one back in the final period, and Eldridge completed the scoring with her second goal. Canada goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens stopped 13 shots.

In Group A, the Czech Republic rallied to beat Austria 4-1. Austria are playing in the top division for the first time. Katerina Mrazova led the Czechs with two goals and an assist.

The 11-day, 10-nation tournament is being played in the Danish cities of Esbjerg and Herning, with the final set for 16 November. The top four from each group qualify for the playoffs, and the bottom two will play a relegation game.

Canada and the US are wearing generic jerseys without their national logos, mandated by the International Ice Hockey Federation and designed by IIHF supplier True Hockey. Hockey Canada and USA Hockey have their own contracts with Bauer and CCM respectively, and the two federations are suing the IIHF over the dispute in a Swiss court.