2018 Olympic finish
Did not qualify. Beijing 2022 is Denmark's first Olympics!
2021 IIHF Women's World Championship finish
Tenth. While Denmark lost all four of their round robin games in Group B and finished the Worlds in last place, honestly, truly, it was an honor just to be nominated.
"In the standings it's disappointing, but you look at the way we played Japan, the sixth-ranked team in the world [0-1 loss], and the way we played and challenged Germany [1-3 loss]," Coach Peter Elander told the IIHF. "We think that we got a sniff of how it is to play here. The girls have a lot of will to improve and the first tournament is always hard."
This was Denmark's first appearance in the top tournament since 1992, and they carried that momentum into their Olympic qualification in November.
IIHF World Ranking
11th. Denmark knocked out Germany (currently ranked 8th) in a shootout to earn their spot in the Olympics at qualifications in Füssen.
Forwards
Silke Glud, Josefine Jakobsen, Mia Bau, Josefine Persson, Emma Russell, Michele Brix, Nicoline Jensen, Sofia Skriver, Maria Peters, Michelle Weis, Julie Oksbjerg, Lilli Friis-Hansen, Julie Ostergaard
Defense
Kristine Melberg, Malene Frandsen, Amanda Refsgaard, Amalie Andersen, Josephine Asperup, Sofie Skott, Simone Jacquet
Goaltenders
Cassandra Repstock-Romme, Emma-Sofie Nordstrøm, Lisa Sellberg Jensen
Coach
Peter Elander. In 2006, Elander coached Team Sweden to an Olympic silver medal – their highest ever ranking. He's been coaching Denmark since 2019, when Fredrik Glader stepped aside to pursue opportunities in men's hockey.
Keep an eye on
Josefine Jakobsen is Denmark's captain, and has played for her country since 2008 when she was still a teen. At the Worlds she scored two goals and one assist (Denmark scored a total of three goals all tournament, meaning Jakobsen had a hand in all of them), and she was only minus two despite her team being outscored 15-3 overall. Young goalie Cassandra Repstock-Romme and veteran defender Malene Frandsen (Denmark's top player at the 2019 Division 1A Worlds) bring strength and poise on the back end.
Prediction
Expect the Danes to be in the fight in all of their Group B round-robin games, and keep a close eye on their games against China and Japan for a potential victory. If Denmark avoids elimination and makes it to the knockout round, grab a pint of Carlsberg and raise a glass to their huge accomplishment.
(Photo: Laszlo Mudra/IIHF)
