Olympic champions the United States netted 12 goals in their Women's World Ice Hockey Championship quarter-final, as they beat Hungary ©Getty Images

The United States netted 12 goals in their Women’s World Ice Hockey Championship quarter-final as they thrashed Hungary in Herning, Denmark.

The US were utterly dominant in the knockout clash at the KVIK Hockey Arena, scoring nine times in the second period during a 12-1 win.

Taylor Heise for the US opened the scoring in the second minute of the match although Hungary kept it tight for the next 20 minutes before the floodgates opened in the second period.

Four goals in a four-minute spell put the match beyond Hungary, before five more came in the second half of period two, as the US were relentless.

Heise and Hannah Bilka both scored three times for the US, with Kelly Pannek, Abby Roque, Jincy Dunne, Lee Stecklein, Hannah Brandt and Hilary Knight also netting.

Regina Metzler scored for Hungary with seven minutes remaining but by this point the match was long over as a contest.

The day’s other knockout matches were much tighter affairs, with Switzerland edging past Japan 2-1 in a match that went to a shootout.

Makoto Ito gave Japan the lead in the second period, with Sinja Leemann levelling for Switzerland in the third.

Switzerland beat Japan in a shootout to reach the Women's World Ice Hockey Championship semi-finals ©Getty Images
Switzerland beat Japan in a shootout to reach the Women's World Ice Hockey Championship semi-finals ©Getty Images

There were no further goals, sending the match to a shootout, with Switzerland scoring two of their attempts.

Japan were unable to score any of their attempts either missing the target, losing the puck or in the case of the final effort, seeing it saved by Swiss keeper Andrea Braendli.

The third match of the day between Finland and Czech Republic was played at the Iscenter Nord in Frederikshavn with the Czech Republic coming out on top 2-1 after overtime.

Daniela Pejsova gave Czech Republic a second period lead before Noora Tulus levelled up proceedings in the third.

Aneta Tejralova was the Czech Republic hero in overtime scoring the winner just after the start of the additional period.

Finally, a goal in each period helped holders Canada, seeking a 12th title, win the fourth quarter-final 3-0 against Sweden in Herning.

Jocelyne Larocque, Sarah Potomak and Erin Ambrose were the scorers, as Canada set up a semi-final with Switzerland on Saturday (September 3), while the United States face the Czech Republic in the other last-four encounter.