The PWHL is on break for the next few weeks as many players head to represent their countries at the 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championships in Utica, NY. So, I made a guide for PWHL fans who want to keep up with players from their favorite teams over the break.
Overall, 39 PWHL players (25% of the league) are heading to the Worlds. All but one healthy non-North American skater whose country is playing at the Worlds is going, with only New York’s Johanna Fällman (Sweden) left off a European roster. Montréal’s Domika Lásková (Czechia) is also not going due to injury. She has not played for Montréal since January 27 and is currently on the team’s LTIR.
Without further ado, here’s a look at which PWHL players are off the Worlds and what country they’ll be representing. Full previews (including schedules) written by our talented TIG staff members are linked to each country.
Boston
Kicking things off with Boston, they’re sending seven players (four forwards, one defender, and two goalies) from five different countries to Utica. They’re tied for second with Toronto in terms of players going to the Worlds, and given Boston is tied with Ottawa for the most nationality-diverse team in the PWHL, with players from six different countries, that isn’t surprising. That said, the only country with more than one Boston skater rostered is the USA.
- Jamie Lee Rattray (F)
- Susanna Tapani (F)
- Emma Söderberg (G)
- Alina Müller (F)
- Hilary Knight (F)
- Megan Keller (D)
- Aerin Frankel (G)
Minnesota
Minnesota is sending six players (five forwards and one goaltender) to the Worlds. They’ll be the best-represented PWHL team on Team USA, with five of their players going to wear the stars and stripes. Additionally, in a fun coincidence, all six of their skaters will be in red, white, and blue, as their lone non-US representative plays for Czechia.
- Denisa Křížová (F)
- Kendall Coyne Schofield (F)
- Taylor Heise (F)
- Nicole Hensley (G)
- Kelly Pannek (F)
- Grace Zumwinkle (F)
Montréal
Montréal is sending five players (three forwards, one defender, and one goalie) to the Worlds. They are one of two PWHL teams only sending players to one country, with the other one being Toronto. With seven of their rostered players coming from outside of Canada, that’s a little surprising. However, there’s only one non-North American skater and she’s currently injured (Lásková), so, in context, it makes a bit more sense.
- Kristin O’Neill (F)
- Marie-Philip Poulin (F)
- Laura Stacey (F)
- Erin Ambrose (D)
- Ann-Renée Desbiens (G)
New York
New York is sending the least players to Utica out of the six PWHL teams. Only three skaters (two defenders and one forward) are going, although two countries are still represented. New York is the only team without a goaltender going to the Worlds this year.
- Jamie Bourbonnais (D)
- Ella Shelton (D)
- Alex Carpenter (F)
Ottawa
As mentioned earlier, Ottawa is tied with Boston for the PWHL’s most nationality-diverse team. with six countries represented on the roster. However, where Boston only has one skater from each of their non-North American countries, Ottawa has three from Czechia. Thanks to that extra diversity, they’re sending the most players to the Worlds, with 11 players representing five countries.
- Emily Clark (F)
- Brianne Jenner (F)
- Ashton Bell (D)
- Emerance Maschmeyer (G)
- Kateřina Mrázová (F)
- Tereza Vanišová (F)
- Aneta Tejralová (D)
- Sandra Abstreiter (G)
- Akane Shiga (F)
- Savannah Harmon (F)
- Hayley Scamurra (F)
Toronto
Last but not least, Toronto has seven players (four forwards, two defenders, one goalie) heading off to the world championships. All will represent Canada, making them the best-represented PWHL team wearing the maple leaf. Given Toronto only has two rostered players not from Canada, and both of them are from the US, it’s not overly surprising that they’re one of the two teams only sending players from one country. However, what is surprising (and impressive) is despite that, Toronto is tied for second with Boston in most players going to the Worlds.
- Emma Maltais (F)
- Sarah Nurse (F)
- Natalie Spooner (F)
- Blayre Turnbull (F)
- Renata Fast (D)
- Jocelyne Larocque (D)
- Kristen Campbell (G)
