Ice Fernz Battle Back For 4-2 Win Over Hong Kong China In Gritty Showdown At Dunedin Ice Stadium

The Ice Fernz showed resilience, heart, and a flair for the dramatic in their third game of the IIHF Women’s World Championship Division II Group B, overcoming a shaky start to secure a 4-2 victory over Hong Kong China in front of an electric home crowd at the Dunedin Ice Stadium last night.

The New Zealand side was dealt an early blow when Hong Kong China opened the scoring just 15 seconds into the first period, capitalising on a defensive lapse to silence the local fans. For much of the match, it seemed the Ice Fernz might struggle to find their rhythm. Riddled with penalties and turnovers, the Fernz spent the majority of the game chasing the lead and the pace.

But in a storybook third period, the home side flipped the script.

Down 2-1 entering the final stretch, the Fernz equalised through forward Lily Hansen, who found the back of the net thanks to a sharp pass from Katya Blong and some clever playmaking from Jaime Jones. That goal lit a fire under the Kiwis, who followed up with three unanswered goals in a stunning turnaround.

Katya Blong, who was in fine form all evening, struck twice—once to give New Zealand the lead off a brilliant setup by Anjali Mulari, and again to seal the win late in the period, combining once more with Jones and Mulari. Hope Gregory added the third goal during the flurry, assisted by Hannah Cross and Hannah Shields, showcasing the depth of the Ice Fernz’s offensive lines.

With under three minutes remaining, Hong Kong China pulled their goalie in a desperate push to even the score, but the Fernz stood tall under pressure. Goaltender Lachlan Hyde, who was named Player of the Game for New Zealand, turned away a barrage of late attempts and played a crucial role in holding the lead.

For Hong Kong China, forward Estelle Claudie IP was awarded Player of the Game, while teammates Renee Ng (#8) and Wing Yan Cheung (#11) were standout threats throughout the match with their fast transitions and strong forechecking.

On the Kiwi bench, Blong’s two-goal, one-assist performance was a clear highlight, while Jones and Gregory were instrumental in both setting up plays and applying relentless pressure in the offensive zone.

With the win, New Zealand remains undefeated in the tournament and now turns its attention to a much-anticipated trans-Tasman clash against Australia on Saturday. Both teams are unbeaten, and with gold medal implications on the line, a sell-out crowd and a fierce on-ice battle are guaranteed. Puck drops at 20:00—this is one you won’t want to miss.

Scorers for New Zealand:

#10 Lily Hansen (Assist: #19 Katya Blong, #9 Jaime Jones)

#19 Katya Blong (Assist: #7 Anjali Mulari)

#15 Hope Gregory (Assist: #21 Hannah Shields, #4 Hannah Cross)

#19 Katya Blong (Assist: #9 Jaime Jones, #7 Anjali Mulari)

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