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11/06 15:07 CST Knight scores as US rout Swiss in women's hockey worlds and Canada eases past Sweden Knight scores as US rout Swiss in women's hockey worlds and Canada eases past Sweden ESBJERG, Denmark (AP) --- Hilary Knight scored as the United States launched its title defense by routing Switzerland 7-0 at the women's world ice hockey championship on Friday. Playing at her 16th worlds, the 37-year-old Knight increased the U.S. lead to 6-0 halfway through the four-goal final period and improved her record worlds tally to 68 goals and 121 points in 88 games. Hannah Bilka and Laila Edwards scored twice each, Casey O'Brien and Kirsten Simms netted one apiece and Caroline Harvey recorded three assists. Aerin Frankel needed to save only eight shots for the shutout as the U.S. with 20 players from the Olympic gold medal team dominated the Group A game. The U.S. improved its record against Switzerland, which won bronze at this year's Olympics, to 14-0. In Group B, last year's bronze medalist Finland cruised past host Denmark 4-1.

Young Canada wins Earlier in Group B, Jessie Eldridge scored twice and added an assist as Canada opened the tournament by easing past Sweden 5-1. The youngest Canada team since 2013, with an average age of 26, jumped to 3-0 in the opening period with goals from Eldridge, Emily Clark and Rebecca Leslie. Kendall Cooper added the fourth on a power play midway through the second. Hanna Thuvik pulled one back for Sweden on a power play in the final period before Eldridge finished the scoring with her second. Canada goalie Ann-Rene Desbiens stopped 13 shots in the Group B game. In Group A, the Czech Republic had to rally to beat Austria 4-1. Austria is playing in the top division for the first time. Katerina Mrazova led the Czechs with two goals and an assist.

North America's rivalry The U.S. and Canada are the tournament favorites, continuing a long-standing cross-border rivalry. Canada has won 13 world titles followed by the U.S. with 11 spanning the previous 24 championships. The Americans have won 10 of the past 14 worlds and claimed the 2025 title in the Czech Republic and the Olympic gold medal at the Milan Cortina Games in February, beating Canada in overtime in both finals. Finland is the only other team apart from Canada and the U.S. to reach the final, doing so in 2019. The 11-day, 10-nation tournament in the Danish cities of Esbjerg and Herning is the first to take place in November after the IIHF moved it to open before the Professional Women's Hockey League. Rather than having the top five teams grouped together as before, the field has been split into two groups of five based on rankings, with the U.S. leading one group and Canada the other. The top four from each group qualify for the playoffs with the final set for Nov. 16. The bottom two will play a relegation game.

Jersey dispute Canada and the U.S. wear generic jerseys without their logos mandated by the International Ice Hockey Federation that were designed by IIHF supplier True Hockey. Hockey Canada and USA Hockey have their own apparel and jersey contracts with Bauer and CCM, respectively. The two have been suing the IIHF over the dispute at a Swiss court. ___ See AP's full women's hockey coverage here

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