Icelandic Women’s Championship: SR Wins with First Italian Goal
After the break for the U18 Division II, Group B World Championship in Turkey, which ended on January 23 with a prestigious second place for Iceland, the Icelandic women’s ice hockey league resumed with the tenth matchday. The Icelandic national team impressed in the tournament, with special mention for the young Fridrika Magnusdottir (born in 2009), the tournament’s top scorer with 7 goals and 8 assists, who plays for Skautafélag Reykjavíkur (SR).
As the league resumed, SR Reykjavik faced Fjölnir in an intense and thrilling match. The first period saw good play from both teams, but SR struck first. Just 2:39 minutes into the game, Alice Gasperini scored on an assist from Zuzana Sliacka, making history as the first Italian player to score in the Icelandic championship. The lead doubled at 12:28 when Gunnborg Johannsdottir capitalized on a rebound with assists from Magnusdottir and Gasperini.
Gasperini then received a two-minute penalty for tripping at 15:30, nearly completing a “Gordie Howe Hat Trick” (goal, assist, and penalty—the authentic version also requires a fight). The first period ended 2-0 in favor of the home team, which displayed excellent teamwork despite some defensive imperfections to correct.
The second period began with Fjölnir closing the gap at 21:28 thanks to Steinunn Sigurgeirsdóttir, but SR responded immediately. At 22:07, Ylfa Bjarnadóttir, assisted by Heidur Atladóttir, capitalized on a lightning-fast counterattack to restore the two-goal lead. The game intensified further when Kolbrún Garðarsdóttir received a severe penalty: five minutes for slew-footing and 20 minutes for game misconduct.
At 30:54, Alice Gasperini showcased another spectacular play, deceiving the opposing defense before scoring the 4-1 goal, assisted by Sliacka. Fjölnir pulled one back at 35:05, keeping their hopes for a comeback alive.
In the third period, two penalties (one per team) did not alter the score. Fjölnir made a final push by pulling their goalie for an extra skater, but SR defended well until the final buzzer, securing a 4-2 victory.
Head coach Miloslav Racansky, a Czech-Icelandic trainer, saw his team earn their first regulation-time win of the season—a morale-boosting result for the upcoming games. SR Reykjavik continues to show impressive growth despite having the youngest roster in the league.
Next Match:
Sunday, February 2, 18:45 (Italian time) – Skautafélag Reykjavíkur vs Skautafélag Akureyrar.
