United States aims to defend gold on home ice, April 3-14 in Utica, NY
TORONTO, ON (April 3, 2024) – The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) will be well represented when the puck drops at the 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship with 39 players competing for eight different countries. The top division tournament begins today in Utica, NY, with games scheduled at Adirondack Bank Center through Sunday, April 14.
“Representing your country at the highest level is one of an athlete’s greatest honours,” said Jayna Hefford, PWHL Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations. “We’re very proud to support all PWHL players who have earned this opportunity and will gain valuable international experience competing in the tournament.”
The 39 PWHL players listed on tournament rosters includes 19 representing Canada, 11 from the United States, four from Czechia, and one from Finland, Germany, Japan, Sweden, and Switzerland. Ottawa leads all PWHL teams with 11 players competing, followed by Boston and Toronto with seven players each, Minnesota with six, Montréal with five, and New York with three players. All 39 PWHL players have previous World Championship experience and have won a combined 178 medals, including 77 gold.
Boston captain Hilary Knight will be playing in her 14th World Championship for the U.S. National Women’s Team and has won nine gold medals and four silver medals in 13 events since 2007. She’s also been recognized twice as Tournament MVP and Best Forward in 2015 and 2016 and is a four-time All-Star. Montréal captain Marie-Philip Poulin is Canada’s most experienced and decorated player with three gold, seven silver, and one bronze medal in 11 appearances since 2009. She was named Tournament MVP and Best Forward in 2013 and is a three-time All-Star.
A number of PWHL team staff are also representing their countries at the event. Team Canada staff consists of general manager Gina Kingsbury (TOR), head coach Troy Ryan (TOR), assistant coaches Kori Cheverie (MTL) and Courtney Kessel (BOS), goaltending consultant Brad Kirkwood (TOR), strength and conditioning coach Vicki Bendus (MTL), and equipment manager Alana Goulden (TOR). Czechia’s head coach is Carla MacLeod (OTT) with assistant coach Cassea Schols (OTT), and USA support staff includes athletic trainer Katie Homan (MIN) and equipment manager Sis Paulsen (MIN).
The tournament’s ten competing countries are divided into two groups for preliminary round games. Group A consists of Canada, Czechia, Finland, Switzerland, and the host United States. Group B teams include China, Denmark, Germany, Japan, and Sweden. Medal round games will begin April 11. Fans can watch the action on TSN/RDS in Canada, and NHL Network in the U.S. Team USA won its tenth gold medal at the 2023 tournament in Brampton, ON, with a 6-3 win over Canada. Czechia captured a second straight bronze medal last season with a 3-2 victory over Switzerland. The first official Women’s World Championship was played in 1990. For more information visit iihf.com.
39 PWHL PLAYERS IN 2024 IIHF WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
PWHL BOSTON:
Canada (1)
Jamie Lee Rattray (F)
Finland (1)
Susanna Tapani (F)
Sweden (1)
Emma Söderberg (G)
Switzerland (1)
Alina Müller (F)
United States (3)
Aerin Frankel (G)
Megan Keller (D)
Hilary Knight (F)
PWHL MINNESOTA:
Czechia (1)
Denisa Křížová (F)
United States (5)
Kendall Coyne Schofield (F)
Taylor Heise (F)
Nicole Hensley (G)
Kelly Pannek (F)
Grace Zumwinkle (F)
PWHL MONTREAL:
Canada (5)
Erin Ambrose (D)
Ann-Renée Desbiens (G)
Kristin O’Neill (F)
Marie-Philip Poulin (F)
Laura Stacey (F)
PWHL NEW YORK:
Canada (2)
Jaime Bourbonnais (D)
Ella Shelton (D)
United States (1)
Alex Carpenter (F)
PWHL OTTAWA:
Canada (4)
Ashton Bell (D)
Emily Clark (F)
Brianne Jenner (F)
Emerance Maschmeyer (G)
Czechia (3)
Kateřina Mrázová (F)
Aneta Tejralová (D)
Tereza Vanišová (F)
Germany (1)
Sandra Abstreiter (G)
Japan (1)
Akane Shiga (F)
United States (2)
Savannah Harmon (D)
Hayley Scamurra (F)
PWHL TORONTO:
Canada (7)
Kristen Campbell (G)
Renata Fast (D)
Jocelyne Larocque (D)
Emma Maltais (F)
Sarah Nurse (F)
Natalie Spooner (F)
Blayre Turnbull (F)
Visit thepwhl.com to purchase tickets and merchandise, and subscribe to the PWHL e-newsletter to receive the latest league updates. Follow the league on all social media platforms @thepwhlofficial plus all six team accounts @pwhl_boston, @pwhl_minnesota, @pwhl_montreal, @pwhl_newyork, @pwhl_ottawa, and @pwhl_toronto.