2022 Olympic finish
6th
Lost 7-1 to Finland in the quarterfinals
2025 IIHF Women's World Championship finish
7th
Lost to Canada 9-1 in the quarterfinals.
IIHF World Ranking
7th
The IIHF uses results from four years (2022-2025) to determine these rankings. New rankings will be released after the Olympics.
Forwards
Rui Ukita, Suzuka Maeda, Haruka Toko, Mei Miura, Remi Koyama, Akane Shiga, Yumeka Wajima, Makoto Ito, Rio Noro, Riri Noro, Ai Tada, Umeka Odaira
Defense
Akane Hosoyamada, Shiori Koike, Ayaka Hitosato, Aoi Shiga, Kanami Seki, Shiori Yamashita, Kohane Sato, Nana Akimoto
Goaltenders
Rei Halloran, Miyuu Masuhara, Riko Kawaguchi
Head coach
Yuji Iizuka
He has been the head of the Japanese women’s team since the 2008 Women’s Worlds
Recent results against Olympic opponents (last two seasons):
v. Canada: L 9-1 (17 April 2025)
v. Sweden: L 2-0 (13 April 2025)
v. Germany: W 3-2 (OT) (31 January 2026), L 2-1 (28 August 2025), W 1-0 (15 April 2025)
v. France: W 3-2 (OT) (13 December 2025), W 5-2 (29 August 2025), W 7-1 (6 February 2025)
v. Italy: W 4-3 (25 August 2025), W 3-2 (23 August 2025)
(results in italics are from official IIHF tournaments)
Background & Analysis
There has been some turnover with this roster and some of the biggest leaders of the past are not in Milan. The average age of the three goaltenders is 23 and there are four teenagers on this roster. But I also think the young players could be some of the biggest impact players. Both Umeka Odaira (17) and Nana Akimoto (16) were standouts for Japan at the 2025 U18 World Championship in Vantaa, Finland when they were both underage. Japan was ultimatley relegated in that tournament despite giving Finland a scare and taking Sweden to overtime. They didn't have the stamina or depth, but skillwise, they weren't out of their depth.
Odaira is the offensive star of the future for Team Japan. Not only does she have incredible skating, puck-handling and shooting skills, but in Vantaa she was averaging more than 30 minutes of ice time a game. Akimoto showed incredible vision and instincts 13 months ago. The defender reminded me of Sophie Jaques in her ability to creep into offensive play without her opponent noticing until it was too late.
They are playing confidently after going undefeated in Olympic qualifying last year and dominating the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey Women's Asia Championship where they didn't allow a goal and averaged more than six goals a game, they're looking to find themselves in the top five when all is said and done. They've held their own against Germany, but will need to find another level if they're going to beat Sweden, but should be fine against Italy and France.
Most of the team plays domestically in Japan but four players - Akane Shiga, Haruka Toko, Ayaka Hitosato and Aoi Shiga - play in the SDHL while goalie Rei Halloran plays in Sweden's second division.
Team Germany
2022 Olympic finish
N/A
Germany last competed in the Olympics in 2014, where they finished 6th
2025 IIHF Women's World Championship finish
8th
Lost to the US 3-0 in the quarterfinals
IIHF World Ranking
8th
The IIHF uses results from four years (2022-2025) to determine these rankings. New rankings will be released after the Olympics.
Forwards
Anne Bartsch, Nina Christof, Franziska Feldmeier, Katharina Häckelsmiller, Nicola Hadraschek-Eisenschmid, Celina Haider, Mathilda Heine, Laura Kluge, Emily Nix, Jule Schiefer, Svenja Voigt, Lilli Welcke, Luisa Welcke
Defense
Daria Gleißner, Ronja Hark, Hanna Hoppe, Nina Jobst-Smith, Charlott Schaffrath, Tara Schmitz, Carina Strobel
Goaltenders
Sandra Abstreiter, Lisa Hemmerle, Chiara Schultes
Head coach
Jeff MacLeod
The Canadian took over the role in June 2023
Recent results against Olympic opponents (last two seasons):
v. USA: L 3-0 (17 April 2025)
v. Switzerland: W 3-2 (OT) (3 April 2025)
v. Sweden: L 5-2 (9 April 2025)
v. Japan: L 3-2 (OT) (31 January 2026), W 2-1 (28 August 2025), L 1-0 (15 April 2025)
v. France: W 3-2 (SO) (5 November 2025), W 6-3 (30 August 2025)
(results in italics are from official IIHF tournaments)
Background & Analysis
Back at the Olympics for the first time in 12 years, the Germans are looking to make a statement about their growth in the intervening period. They've felt on the verge of being able to do more, but haven't been able to be consistent.
They are a low-scoring team that needs to find more firepower to really be a contender for the top group. There's more international experience on this roster, but that long gap in qualifying does mean this is the Olympic debut for everyone here. They'll be hoping PWHL players like Laura Kluge and Nina Jobst-Smith can lead the way in bringing up the level of play. Jobst-Smith will need to be a stalwart on defense, but if she gets some support, she can be an offensive asset as well.
It's probably not overstating it to say that Germany's Games hinge on the play of goalie Sandra Abstreiter. She hasn't gotten a ton of playing time in the PWHL over the past few seasons, but she's still been an absolute game-changer for this team internationally. When you don't score a lot, you need your goalie to keep the game close and she does that again and again and again. Being able to trust her in net should give the skaters the confidence to push a bit more on offense, knowing she can help cover for any mistakes.
Presuming Abstreiter continues to do what she's always done for this team, their tournament will be decided on the performance of the young offensive group. Germany has to get productivity from their young NCAA-trained players like Svenja Voight and the Welcke twins. Having so many players in the NCAA or the SDHL has helped Germany step up their pace of play and get closer to the top tier of the international game. And it has built their confidence.
In the past there's been a very methodical (and honestly, very German) approach to things where there may have been a tendency to pass instead of shoot. If Germany is going to think about a top-five ranking, they have to be a little (and I do mean a little - do not go crazy) more free with the puck. They have players that can be gritty along the boards and in front of the net, but the puck can't go in if it's not near the net-front.
There's been a bit of tentativeness to Germany in recent years at the World Championships. At U18s, the team has gone up and down from the top division. The senior team has put itself pretty firmly in the top group, but then hasn't been able to push past that. I'm not sure they necessarily believe they can do more. This team needs a little swagger and a push to say "Why not us?" I fear they may play a little more reserved in this first Olympics back with an eye to staying here, learning and growing. But I think there's room for them to protect their positioning while also taking advantage of the young exuberance they have to make a bigger splash.
*Of note, Hanna Weichenhain was included on the defense in Germany's initial roster announcement. First, she's a forward and second, she's not listed on the team's roster on Olympics.com. Instead, Katharina Häckelsmiller, who was not in the initial announcement, appears to have taken her place.
(Team Japan Photo: Japan Women's Ice Hockey/FB
Team Germany Photo: Deutscher Eishockey-bund/FB)
