A field full of familiar faces, and a few newcomers
A capsule look at the field for the women’s world hockey championship:
United States Eighteen returnees from the team that beat Canada 6-3 in last year’s final in Brampton, including the tournament leaders in goals (Hilary Knight), assists (Taylor Heise) and points (Caroline Harvey). Kendall Coyne Schofield returns from maternity leave.
Canada Sarah Fillier was last year’s tournament’s MVP with seven goals and four assists in seven games. Canada leans heavily on battle-tested Marie Philip-Poulin, Brianne Jenner, Sarah Nurse, Natalie Spooner and goaltender AnnRenée Desbiens.
Czechia The back-to-back bronze medallists are coached by Canada’s Carla MacLeod. Outside of Canada and the U.S., the Czechs have the largest PWHL contingent with four, including Ottawa’s leading scorer Katerina Mrázová.
Switzerland Alina Müller is the lone Swiss PWHLer, with Boston. Lara Stalder led the way with 11 points in seven games last year in Brampton. The Swiss lost the last bronze-medal game, 3-2 to the Czechs.
Finland Defender and captain Jenni Hiirikoski will extend her record for world championship appearances to 16.
Sweden Canada needed Nurse’s overtime goal to get by the Swedes in a quarterfinal last year. PWHL Boston’s Emma Söderberg made 51 saves in that game.
Japan Ottawa’s Akane Shiga is Japan’s lone PWHL player. Haruka Toko led the team at the last worlds with four points in six games.
Germany Defence is their strength. Twin sisters Lilli and Luisa Welcke are coached by former Canadian defender Tara Watchorn at Boston University.
Denmark Earned promotion after relegation on home ice in 2022.
China Lady Dragons return to the top tier for the first time since 2009.