The IIHF Women's World Championship top division tournament begins Friday in Herning and Esbjerg, Denmark. It will no longer use weighted groups. The teams have been allocated to groups A and B in a serpentine system, with teams ranked 1, 4, 5, 8 and 9 in Group A and teams ranked 2, 3, 6, 7 and 10 in Group B.
In this tournament, Group A is United States (1), Czechia (4), Switzerland (5), Germany (8) and Austria. Group B is Canada (2), Finland (3), Sweden (6), Japan (7) and Denmark (10).
The top four teams in each group will advance to the quarterfinals and the bottom team in each group will play off in a relegation game. The quarterfinal pairings are A1-B4, A2-B3, A3-B2, A4-B1. Teams are reseeded after the quarterfinals.
As there are two host arenas, the schedule has games happening simultaneously in each city. All games of the tournament will be broadcast on TSN in Canada. It appears NHL Network in the US will show all US and Canada games and currently is scheduled to show two quarterfinals games.
Full tournament schedule (IIHF)
Team Canada
2025 finish: Silver;
Forwards: Emily Clark, Jessie, Eldridge, Sarah Fillier, Caitlin Kraemer, Rebecca Leslie, Emma Maltais, Sarah Manness, Hayley McDonald, Kristin O'Neill, Chloe Primerano, Danielle Serdachny, Laura Stacey, Rosalie Tremblay, Daryl Watts, Sarah Wozniewicz
Defense: Erin Ambrose, Kendall Cooper, Renata Fast, Nicole Gosling, Sophie Jaques, Ella Shelton, Kati Tabin
Goaltenders: Ann-Renée Desbiens, Ève Gascon, Kayle Osborne
Head coach: Kori Cheverie; this is her first major tournament as the head coach
Keep an eye on: line charts, chemistry and how they adapt. Kori Cheverie was named head coach for this tournament a mere six weeks ago. Now she was a longtime assistant coach on this squad so it's not like she's starting from scratch, but it has still been a short runway with a very different roster than took the ice in Milan. Between long-term injuries and new players, they take the ice with just 13 players who won silver in February. There are seven players making their senior national team debut, including five collegians, four of whom are still teenagers.
That being said, no one seems to have told the teenagers they should be nervous. Rosalie Tremblay has looked absolutely at ease as she seems prepared to step up and be Canada's best forward. Before she was named to this roster I asked her college coach about how she carried herself and he said she just never seems nervous or unsure of herself, even when playing much older or more experienced players at camps and showcases. That Marie-Philip Poulin is injured has created a hole in this lineup that needs filling and Tremblay seems completely unintimidated by the pressure that could bring.
With limited time together, injuries and debutantes on the roster, I'd imagine lines are a bit in flux for Canada. I'll be watching to see who works together well and what, if anything, gets shaken up as the tournament goes on. This is a team and program that overall operates on a very solid and well-earned belief that they are the best and what they are doing is always correct. I don't know that change is something they easily embrace. But change was forced upon everyone and I think some of their success this tournament hinges on how well they adapt.
I don't think anyone on this team has sat back and consciously eased up because they have Poulin, but I do think that the idea that no matter what, with a clock winding down there's no one better in the world with the puck on her stick if very comforting and grounding. She's been their guiding star for so long. I don't think it's very easy for anyone to consider what the team looks and performs like without her. It only takes looking back at Milan to see how differently the team carried themselves and performed when she was on the ice versus out of the lineup.
How are they going to do?: No matter how many question marks they have, this is still Canada and the roster is still chock full of talent. While I think the door to an upset is cracked slightly further than ever, I still expect them to make the gold medal game. And from there, anything can happen. Even after being dominated in the opening round in Milan, they pushed the Americans to overtime in the final.
I'd also say that while the gold medal is very much still the goal and not winning it is always a disappointment, I do feel like this is a program in transition and there are working in the pursuit of future goals. With a new coach and huge roster turnover, Canada is in year one of this Olympic quad and looking to build. I wouldn't at all be surprised if that comes at the expense of a gold or even a silver in this tournament.
Not to totally hedge bets, but basically I'm not often surprised by anything either the US or Canada does at this level anymore. I don't put too much credence in pre-tournament results and I don't get too caught up in what happens in the preliminary rounds. And when it comes down to one or two games, I trust in the skill of the players on this roster to pull things together. So basically I'm no help at all because I could see them winning it all and I could see them losing a semifinal and neither would shock me. The most likely outcome feels like a silver at this point. They simply don't have the comfort, cohesion and chemistry as a group yet. History tells us a US/Canada final would be very close and it feels like the Americans have all the small details to push through that Canada simply hasn't been together enough to form yet.
Team Finland
2025 finish: Bronze; defeated Czechia 4-3 in overtime
Forwards: Elisa Holopainen, Sanni Vanhanen, Emmi Juusela, Petra Nieminen Jenniina Nylund, Sofia Nuutinen, Julia Schalin, Viivi Vainikka, Michelle Karvinen Sofianna Sundelin, Noora Tulus, Emma Nuutinen, Susanna Tapani, Julia Liikala
Defense: Siiri Yrjölä, Jenni Hiirikoski, Sanni Rantala, Nelli Laitinen, Oona Koukkula, Krista Parkkonen, Nella Berg, Tuuli Tallinen
Goaltenders: Sanni Ahola, Emilia Kyrkkö, Kerttu Kuja-Halkola
Head coach: Tero Lehterä; he coached Finland at the Olympics, but this is his first World Championship as head coach
Keep an eye on: preliminary round play. The Finns have been a late peaking team in recent years, so the new format could hit them the hardest. A trip to the quarterfinals is no longer guaranteed simply by dint of being in the top group. In 2024 they did not win a preliminary round game and in 2025, they lost their first two games before eking out a one-goal win over Sweden in the quarterfinals and outlasting Czechia 4-3 in overtime in the bronze medal game. They simply can't do that this year if they want any hope of returning to the medal stand.
I know they won bronze last year but the Finns have left me feeling like they're surviving their way through the tournament and then they may or may not be able to steal a win or two. That's not to say that they're not talented, but I really think they've been the team that most took advantage of the prevoius group set up and it allowed them to kind of sleepwalk through the first few games and then several days into the tournament they wake up. I don't think it's about skill, but preparation. And that's on the coach and staff, not the players.
(I may be being unfair, but as outlined below, I don't have a lot of empathy for this federation right now).
How are they going to do?: I can't say I'm feeling particularly hopeful for this squad. Their Federation has failed them in developing new talent and then hired them a coach that said he is "not very well informed about women's ice hockey."
Great.
They were relegated at the U18 Worlds Championships in January and those cracks have begun to show here. There are plenty of familiar names, but they're the same ones that have been there for awhile. They have a number of players currently in the PWHL or scheduled to join the league after this tournament, but there hasn't been much infusion of new blood.
Maybe they surprise us all, but right now I think they're at the bottom of the traditional top teams and even succeptible to losing a really great game from a team like Germany.
Team Sweden
2025 finish: Sixth; lost the fifth place game to Switzerland 3-2
Forwards: Josefin Bouveng, Tilde Grillfors, Nicole Hall, Mira Hallin, Ebba Hedqvist, Sara Hjalmarsson, Lisa Johansson, Thea Johansson, Lina Ljungblom, Michelle Löwenhielm, Sofie Lundin, Wilma Sundin, Hilda Svensson, Hanna Thuvik
Defense: Lova Blom, Josefine Holmgren, Mira Jungåker, Ida Karlsson, Anna Kjellbin, Maja Nylén-Persson, Jenna Raunio
Goaltenders: Ida Boman, Emma Söderberg, Ebba Svensson Träff
Head coach: Erika Holst; this is her first major tournament as head coach
Keep an eye on: poise, chemistry and execution. Sweden is frankly too talented to continue to be ranked sixth. They spent a lot of time in Group B in the weighted group format. They seemed to struggle in the knockout rounds after having dominated their preliminary round games. They went untested and then found themselves floundering when the level of play elevated so much higher. That's the been the story anyway. With this new format the burden of proof is on the Swedes to show better in the quarterfinals and placement games.
On paper, this is a very good, young, talented squad. Now they have to show that they can maximize that talent and turn it into action and a place on the podium. There is no reason they shouldn't be fighting for a bronze, if not more. Opposite of their Baltic Sea neighbors, Sweden has done a spectacular job bringing up and developing their young players. Three of their young core - Mira Jungåker, Hilda Svensson and Jenna Raunio - play together at Ohio State and will be joined next year by Tilde Grillfors. Svensson was last year's NCAA Rookie of the Year. This season, Jungåker leads the NCAA in assists, leads all defenders in points and is third overall in points. Both play smart, clean, fast hockey that's more mature than their years. They are veterans of this team even though Svensson is just 20 and Jungåker is 21. They've both played in multiple World Championships and an Olympics at this point.
That's not even getting into what Josefin Bouveng and Nicole Hall got up to in the NCAA last year or the at least six PWHL players that also make up the roster. The talent is here, but they've been unable to put it together. They took Canada to overtime in the 2023 quarterfinals and the 2023 U18 team pulled a massive upset of the Americans in that semifinal. With no group-related excuses, this feels like a big turning poing for this program. You've developed the talent, now show it off.
How are they going to do?: I waffle between picking them and Czechia as favorite to win bronze (and also as which team could possibly pull a semifinal upset). I'm impressed with so many players on each team that I couldn't possibly choose. But the moral of the story is this is a young but veteran team with a bunch of very talented players who are used to the pace of play, bring the physicality and complement each other well. Not playing in the bronze medal game should be out of the question.
I know it's not at all in their nature, but this team could do with some swagger. Not cockiness, but a good solid belief in themselves and how good they are. It was a brutal overtime loss to Switzerland in the Olympic bronze medal game, but I'd like to see them play with some confidence and also maybe a little chip on their shoulder. Take that frustration and use it.
Team Japan
2025 finish: Seventh; lost their quarterfinal game to Canada 9-1
Forwards: Makoto Ito, Remi Koyama, Wakana Kurosu, Hinata Lack, Marin Nagaoka, Rio Noro, Riri Noro, Umeka Odaira, Akane Shiga, Ai Tada, Yumeka Wajima, Hikaru Yamashita
Defense: Natsuki Okumura, Kohane Sato, Kanami Seki, Aoi Shiga, An Shinoda, Kika Terauchi, Ayaka Tomiuchi, Shiori Yamashita
Goaltenders: Rei Halloran, Riko Kawaguchi, Miyuu Masuhara
Head coach: Tomohito Okubo; this is his first major tournament as head coach
Keep an eye on: where the offense comes from. Noticably missing from this roster is Mei Miuri who led this team in scoring at the 2026 Olympics and 2025 World Championships.
Generally Japan tends to have the speed and stick-handling to match other teams in this tournament, but their decision-making cab slower than the pace of play and they struggle a bit with the physicality. Time and space is at a premium at this level. However, Japan's game tends to be tenacious and do a great job of staying in a game and being opportunistic when chances arise.
They have to play smart and not get pulled into wall battles or a style of play that does not suit them. Many of the players stay playing domestically and the jump in style of play from there to here is a big one. They do have a few more players in Europe and North America than they have in previous years. Akane Shiga is set to return to the PWHL this year after rounding out her game in the SDHL the past two seasons. Umeka Odaira has been a standout at U18s and she is at prep school in Canada and is committed to continue her career with Maine in the NCAA.
How are they going to do?: This team is remarkably resilient in that they are almost never in the conversation for relegation nor are they in contention for a medal. They're solidly in the middle of things, usually finishing seventh. The change in format means they're looking to ensure they don't finish last in the group and they should be able to do that with a win over Denmark.
That being said, I think the relegation game is probably closer than it ever was over the past couple of years. The tournament lends itself to chaos and volatility and I just would not rest easy if I was any of the bottom five teams. There's so much less room for error and it's going to be much harder to recover from mistakes.
Team Denmark
2025 finish: Second in the Division I A Tournament and was promoted
Forwards: Nikita Bergmann, Michele Brix, Teresa O. Christensen, Frederikke Foss, Silke Lave Glud, Julie Røder Henriksen, Nicoline Søndergaard Jensen, Frida Mia Kielstrup, Alma Madsen-Mygdal, Julie Oksbjerg, Maria Holm Peters, Olivia Ranum, Mille Kunnerup Sørensen, Sarah Stauning
Defense: Josephine Asperup, Sofie Skott Dahl, Freya Ekberg, Sille Flygenring, Klara Holm, Silja Franksdottir Engel Rasmussen, Lærke Søndergaard
Goaltenders: Caroline Bjergstad, Emma-Sofie Nordström, Aya Juhl Petersen
Head coach: Björn Edlund; this is his fourth year as head coach
Keep an eye on: a hometown boost and if they can take advantage of opportunities when they arise. This is a team that consistently shows they are the best of the D1A group, but have not been able to take the next step to be more competitive at the top level. There does not seem to be a concerted effort toward development here as we've seen in most of the other European countries at this tournament. It's a fairly veteran-laden roster, but that also means there's not a lot of young and exciting new talent. Danish players don't tend to head to North America for the NCAA or USports (Emma-Sofie Nordström and Frederike Foss aside) and as such, they don't really have any top-end forwards who can be relied upon to put the puck in the net.
How are they going to do?:
The likelihood is relegation will come down to Austria and Denmark - they were the two teams promoted here. If it comes down to a final relegation game between the two, Austria has had the advantage over Denmark including a 3-0 win in the 2025 D1A tournament where they finishe five points ahead of the Danes.
I've seen them play far less than other teams in this group and the last time they hosted this tournament in 2022, they were also relegated, so I tend to think the hometown boost might not exist. But I like an underdog and I don't like to write anyone off. I'd love to be suprised by the hosts and see them stay up, so I think the preliminary game against Japan is super important. I'd like to think they also have a chance to shock the Finns, especially if they have a great performance in net. To some extent this is a team with nothing to lose and I'd love to see them play like it. You're at home, you have the fans backing. Go big and take some risks. Otherwise I think they're just going to be stuck in the promotion/relegation merry-go-round.
