2024 U18 World Championship Preview

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The 2023 U18 World Championship’s were an absolute blast and chockfull of memorable moments. Nela Lopušanová burst into the spotlight like few we’ve ever seen before. Caitlin Kraemer beat Marie-Philip Poulin’s single-tournament goal record. Felicia Frank and Sweden forced the USA to miss the Gold Medal Game for the very first time. Finland took Canada to overtime in the semi-final. Czechia came one controversial non-goalie interference call away from making it to the semi-final.

The best part is so many of the players that made last tournament great are coming back to the 2024 edition and are bringing a lot of talent with them to make this tournament even better. The storylines this tournament are the best we’ve see at this level with two potential generational players in Nela Lopušanová and Chloe Primerano, Canada going for the three-peat, Sweden looking to build upon last year’s success, Czechia looking to make the same jump at the U18’s they have already done at the senior tournament, and Slovakia being a huge wild card in what they’ll do this tournament.

Before digging into the storylines of the tournament we need to do some housekeeping first.

• The 2024 U18 WJC tournament will be taking place in Zug, Switzerland. This holds special significance as this is also the first year that Zug has seen significant women’s hockey in a decade and a half.
• Zug has it’s first women’s pro team featuring Swiss star Lara Stalder in addition to the U18 World Junior Championships (U18 WJC).  
• The tournament starts January 6^th, 2024 and ends January 14^th, 2024.
• Pool A features Canada, Finland, Czechia, Germany.
• Pool B featurs USA, Sweden, Slovakia, Switzerland
• In Canada, all Canada, USA, Slovakia games plus all playoff games will be shown on TSN.
• In the US, NHL Network has the three US group games on the schedule.
• Nicole Haase (The Victory Press, USCHO, The PodKaz) will be on-site for the tournament and doing a daily journal for The Victory Press

Canada

• Charlotte Pieckenhagen (F)
• Mackenzie Alexander (F)
• Claire Murdoch (F)
• Reese Logan (F)
• Sara Manness (F)
• Sienna D’Alessandro (F)
• Jessie Pellerin (F)
• Jessica MacKinnon (F)
• Maxine Cimoroni (F)
• Morgan Jackson (F)
• Caitlin Kraemer (F)
• Abby Stonehouse (F)
• Stryker Zablocki (F)
• Gracie Graham (D)
• Chloe Primerano (D)
• Jessica Cheung (D)
• Avery Pickering (D)
• Rosalie Breton (D)
• Emma Venusio (D)
• Makayla Watson (D)
• Rhyah Stewart (G)
• Marilou Grenier (G)
• Hannah Clark (G)

If you’re going for the three-peat like Canada is, you’d have a hard time choosing a better roster.

This is the type of roster with the potential where in a decade from now, people will look back and say that this team contributed so much talent to Canada’s run of Gold. Canada is bringing back nine members from the 2023 U18 WJC’s that won Gold: Emma Venusio, Hannah Clark, Avery Pickering, Gracie Graham, Abby Stonehouse, Caitlin Kraemer, Morgan Jackson, Mackenzie Alexander, and Charlotte Pieckenhagen.

It’s a group of returnees that’s played big roles internationally already. Kraemer led the 2023 U18’s in goals, breaking a Canadian single tournament record set by Marie-Philip Poulin. Hannah Clark was the no. 1 goalie for Canada in 2023 putting up a 0.952 SV% to help bring home Gold. Abby Stonehouse and Charlotte Pieckenhagen each tied for 4^th in points on the 2023 U18 Canadian team.

The reinforcements they’re bringing in aren’t too shabby either. Claire Murdoch and Sara Manness are looking to continue their incredible success so far. Both Murdoch and Manness were standouts at the 2023 Canada Games as well as the U18 Nationals. As teammates in the U22 OWHL on the Burlington Barracudas they’re having incredible seasons, in 18 games Murdoch has 54 points and Manness has 52 points.

Arguably the biggest addition Canada will be seeing is generational talent Chloe Primerano. In her first year in the U18 CSSHL as a 15 year old, Primerano was named MVP after putting up 48 points in 30 games. It’s looking like she’s going to be named MVP again this season as Primerano in 15 games has 57 points as a defender. Canadian Head Coach Tara Watchorn is essentially a kid with every Lego piece imaginable. Any line-up she wants to create will be possible with the talent at her disposable.

Czechia

• Daniela Nováková (G)
• Sara Valerie Sevcikova (G)
• Aneta Senkova (G)
• Adéla Fromová (F/D)
• Veronika Hujová (D)
• Ellen Jarabková (D)
• Aneta Paroubková (D)
• Klaudie Slavickova (D)
• Johanna Tischler (D)
• Lucie Velinská (D/F)
• Anezka Cabelova (F)
• Madlen Chladová (F)
• Magdaléna Felcmanová (F)
• Tereza Gildainová (F)
• Julie Jebousková (F)
• Viktorie Jílková (F)
• Barbora Jurickova (F)
• Adéla Pánková (F)
• Tereza Plosová (F)
• Barbora Proskova (D/F)
• Adela Sapovalivova (F)
• Karolina Skorepova (F)
• Linda Vocetková (F)

Czechia is entering the tournament as the 3^rd youngest team but looks poised for at least a Bronze Medal win.

This is a team ready to do what the Czech Senior National Team has done the past two years and cement themselves as a top team in the tournament. They came close in the 2023 U18 WJC’s as they barely lost to Finland in the quarterfinal 3-2. It’s hard to imagine them being denied this time around as they are coming loaded despite the young roster.

Leading the way is Adéla Šapovalivová who has quietly been one of the best U18 players in the sport. She’s 2^nd in scoring on a top 3 SDHL in MoDo with 22 points in 23 games and at the 2023 U18 WJC’s Šapovalivová finished 6^th in tournament scoring (6 points in 5 games). Šapovalivová most certainly won’t be alone as she wasn’t the only Czech player to finish 6^th in tournament scoring in 2023. Tereza Plosová will be making her return to the U18’s and she’s having a very good season of her own. Plosová with Djurgårdens of the SDHL, currently 5^th out of 10 teams, has 19 points in 23 games which is good enough for 2^nd in team scoring.

In the Naisten Liiga, the top Finnish women’s league, Magdaléna Felcmanová and Barbora Jurickova are both having very fine years themselves. Felcmanová has 15 points in 22 games with Roki which puts her tied for 2^nd in team scoring and Jurickova has 17 points in 22 games with HPK which puts her at 5^th in team scoring.

Last year Czechia had Michaela Hesová but this time around the goaltending position is completely open. Keep an eye on Sára Valérie Ševčíková though who is playing goalie in Canada for Stanstead College. She had a 11-1-0 record and 0.900 SV% last season in the same program that had Arianne Leblanc.

Apart from the obvious names that we’ve discussed who are having very good seasons in top European women’s leagues there’s a few intriguing ones who can shine in bigger minutes on the big stage. First that comes to mind is defender Barbora Prošková who has spent this season in the Brynäs club system. The other defender we should be keeping an eye on is Johanna Tischler. The Czech defence only has two 2006 birth years so they’re going to need the younger players to set up. Tischler has been in Canada this season with the Ontario Hockey Academy. I know she’s only 15 year old but the opportunity is going to be there.

Finland

• Emilia Piekkari (G)
• Lilia Huovinen (G)
• Kerttu Kuja-Halkola (G)
• Nelly Andersson (D)
• Heidi Holmberg (D/F)
• Jennika Ojala (D)
• Ilona Palin (D)
• Elli Pohjanaho (D)
• Tuuli Tallinen (D)
• Nanna Timonen (D)
• Abigail Byskata (F)
• Emma Ekoluoma (F)
• Amanda Julkunen (F)
• Erika Kankkunen (F/D)
• Julia Kuusisto (F)
• Eva Lamberg (F)
• Aino Lehikoinen (F/D)
• Emmi Loponen (F)
• Vilma Nurmisto (C/D)
• Eerika Siekkinen (F)
• Senja Siivonen (F)
• Jannika Sten (F)
• Tinja Tapani (F)

There are two teams coming into the 2024 U18 WJC’s looking to put the 2023 tournament in the past, the USA and Finland. The Fins were one loss away from total disaster of a tournament and one win away from a miracle tournament. They’re entering this tournament with a clean slate looking to remind the hockey world how good Finland is at hockey.

They’re coming into this tournament with an interesting roster. It’s the 4^th youngest roster in the tournament but it’s because they have a forward line-up featuring three 2009-born players and two 2008-born players. The forward expected to lead the charge back to the Bronze Medal Game is Emma Ekoluoma. She didn’t play in the 2023 U18 WJC’s but she made sure she was picked this year as she has 22 points in 23 games for Kärpät in the Nasiten Liiga which leads the team.

The other forward Finland will be looking to help in big moments is Julia Kuusisto. With the Finnish U18 team in the tournaments leading up to the 2024 U18 WJC, Julia Kuusisto finished 2nd on the team in points with nine points in nine games behind only Ekoluoma. Finland’s strength has usually rested in its defenders and goaltenders.

Two of the defenders of interest this year are Nelly Andersson and Tuuli Tallinen. Andersson is the 4^th highest scoring defender on the 3^rd place HIFK and that’s as a 2007-born. Tallinen isn’t having a productive year in the Naisten Liiga, however with the Finnish U18 team internationally this season she’s put up six points in nine games for 3^rd on the team.

The biggest x-factor on Finland is goalie Kerttu Kuja-Halkola. If you look up her stats she didn’t have a good 2023 U18 WJC and her Naisten Liiga stats aren’t much better. The reason she’s an x-factor is she was the no. 1 goalie as a double underager at the 2023 U18 WJC on a bad team and plays for a bad team in the Naisten Liiga while still posting ok numbers. Play that typical tight defensive Finnish hockey and she’ll frustrate a lot of teams.

Germany

• Milana Lutz (G)
• Hannah Loist (G)
• Miriam Siebert (G)
• Emilija Birka (D)
• Lara Georgi (D)
• Hanna Hoppe (D)
• Anna Kindl (D)
• Annabell Manns (D)
• Elisa Pietschmann (D/F)
• Amy-Michelle Plaumann (D/F)
• Martina Schrick (D)
• Felicitas Bergmann (F)
• Riley Del Monte (F)
• Anastasia Gruß (F)
• Emmi-Lee Hanack (F)
• Mathilda Heine (F)
• Felina Klare (F)
• Charleen Poindl (F)
• Anna Rose (F)
• Amelie Rosenstock (F)
• Anabel Seyrer (F)
• Hanna Weichenhain (F)
• Theresa Zielinski (F)

Say hello to the youngest team in the 2024 U18 WJC, the recently promoted Germans.

When teams get promoted their no. 1 goal is don’t get relegated. Germany was relegated at the 2022 U18 WJC’s but only stayed in Division 1A for the 2023 tournament. Before the puck even drops for the 2024 U18 WJC’s its mission accomplished for the Germans who will not be relegated no matter (the IIHF hasn’t released it’s tournament format but based on the schedule and teams participating, we can safely assume no relegation will happen this tournament). So that means Germany can take advantage of that and prepare for next tournament which looks to be the plan as, mentioned above, they’ve brought a very young team. Out of the 23-player roster only 10 players won’t be eligible to return for the 2025 U18 WJC’s.

This tournament isn’t just preparation for 2025 but it’s also a chance to see what this group of young players can potentially offer the German Senior National Team.

There’s a few players of interest that Germany is hoping to show they’re going to push for a roster spot. Anastasia Gruß led the Germans in points with five points in five games at the U18 D1A WJC’s in 2023 to earn Germany a promotion and they’ll be looking for her to be an offensive leader again.

Riley Del Monte didn’t have a productive U18 D1A WJC but she’s currently playing in the U22 OWHL where she leads her team in points (12 points in 14 games). In the interest of success in 2025 Germany will be looking for a 2007-born or younger to give the team hope for next year and a name to keep an eye on is Hanna Weichenhain. She hasn’t seen much time in the top German women’s hockey league (four games, one point) but at the 2023 U18 D1A WJC’s she scored three points in five games which is promising considering she was 14 year old at the time.

Slovakia (Roster Unconfirmed)

• Livia Debnarova (G)
• Sandra Haluskova (D)
• Mariana Sumegova (G)
• Bianka Kostkova (D)
• Hana Krakorova (D)
• Bianka Maslakova (D)
• Alexandra Mateickova (D)
• Livia Nogova (D)
• Nela Tischlerova (D)
• Liana Tomastikova (D)
• Lilien Benakova (C)
• Tatiana Blichova (F)
• Michaela Fenikova (F)
• Alica Jurikova (F)
• Lenka Karkoskova (F)
• Nikola Komlos (F)
• Ema Lackova (F)
• Gabriela Lacna (F)
• Nela Lopušanová (F)
• Michaela Sophia Paulinyova (F)
• Kristina Taricsova (F)
• Ema Tothova (F)

Slovakia is so obviously the team to watch this tournament TSN is going to broadcast all their round robin games along with Canada and the USA.

That’s the star power of Nela Lopušanová who was the 2023 U18 WJC’s MVP and human highlight reel. She’s coming into this tournament coming off strong tournament play with the Bishop Kearney Selects 19U AAA team that only plays in tournaments. In the three tournaments we have stats on, Lopušanová has 13 goals in 15 games. Safe to say she’s still a goal scoring monster.

Lopušanová isn’t going to be able to get her team to the semis all by herself though as we saw in 2023. Slovakia is in a tough Pool B as they’re going to be matched up with the Silver and Bronze Medal winners from 2023 along with the hosts Switzerland. The realistic goal for Slovakia is finish 3^rd in Pool B so as to avoid Canada and get a better match-up in Finland or Czechia.

Zuzana Dobiasova provided five goals for Slovakia in 2023 and took some of the offensive pressure off of Lopušanová, but Dobiasova. They’re going to need someone to fill that role this time around and the obvious choice is Ema Tothova. She recorded six assists at the 2023 U18 WJC’s but no goals. Tothova has been lights out though in the EWHL with 10 goals and 23 points in 14 games.

If they need another goal scorer they’re going to probably need Lenka Karkoskova to step up. Five goals in five games in the Slovakian U16 league and did score a goal at the 2023 U18 WJC’s. The X-Factor for Slovakia is having a legitimate no. 1 defender like a Mira Jungåker and the candidate for that role is Alexandra Mateickova. The 5’ 8”, 165lbs defender plays in the Naisten Liiga for Roki and is 4^th in her team as points among all skaters, not just defenders.

 Sweden

• Lovisa Lundström (G)
• Lia Leiderö Palmlöv (G)
• Maja Helge (G)
• Meja Andersson (D)
• Wilma Georgny (D)
• Sanna Halsius (D)
• Rebecka Hollström (D)
• Linnea Natt och Dag (D)
• Jenna Raunio (D)
• Nellie Svensson (D)
• Elsa Åberg (D)
• Evelina Arvidsson (F)
• Anna Brenkle (RW)
• Edit Danielsson (LW)
• Lovisa Engström (C)
• Emilia Hallbeck (LW/RW)
• Mira Hallin (LW)
• Ebba Hedqvist (C/W)
• Ella Hellman (LW/RW)
• Moa Johannesson (C)
• Isabelle Leijonhielm (C)
• Emma Rehn (C)
• Hilda Svensson (F)
• Tilde Utbult (C/W)

While TSN might not declare Sweden to be the team to watch, to anyone who watched the 2023 U18 WJC’s they are the team to watch.

Every so often a team will upset Canada or the USA, cause chaos for that tournament, and then next year it’s back to being the shooter tutor for Canada/USA. The eyes on Sweden are so looking on so hopefully because of how great Sweden played, until they ran into an emotional wall (put there by Caitlin Kraemer) in the Gold Medal Game.

Sweden made it clear they were on Canada and the USA’s level in the round robin then followed through with it. Two massive parts from that team are gone in Mira Jungåker and Felicia Frank, which is concerning. They’re getting back some massive pieces though, Hilda Svensson and Jenna Raunio as the biggest examples.

Svensson led Sweden with six points in six games in 2023 and currently has 16 points in 22 games with HV71 in the SDHL, leaving her 2^nd in team scoring. Ebba Hedqvist is going to be leaned on to play a big role and she’s showing significant promise with MoDo putting up 15 points in 23 games so far this season.

On defence Sweden is looking for big performances from Linnea Natt och Dag and Jenna Raunio. Neither one has to be Jungåker but it would go a long way that Raunio takes the no. 1 role which she has the potential to do. As mentioned above the Swedes will be without 2023 U18 WJC Top Goalie Felicia Frank so they need someone who won’t lose them games at least. They have decent options in Maja Helge who is the no. 2 in Frölunda having a good year, Lia Leiderö Palmlöv in Djurgårdens having a fine year herself, and finally is Lovisa Lundström who is in Luleå’s system.

Switzerland

• Alisha Berger (G)
• Talina Benderer (G)
• Valentina Camenzind (G)
• Miriana Bottoni (D)
• Mélissa Capezzali (D)
• Sonja Inkamp (D)
• Rebecca Langenegger (D)
• Ilana Leibundgut (D/C)
• Laure Mériguet (D)
• Julia Näf (D)
• Alena Lynn Rossel (D/F)
• Lorena Nora Wrann (D)
• Xenia Balzarolo (F)
• Leoni Balzer (F)
• Elisa Dalessi (F)
• Naemi Herzig (F)
• Tanja Kunz (F)
• Jael Manetsch (F)
• Norina Müller (F)
• Sarina Ochsner (F)
• Giulia Romerio (F)
• Gina Strnad (F)
• Ivana Wey (F)

The now tournament hosts managed to avoid relegation at the 2023 U18 WJC’s and thankfully they won’t need to avoid relegation this time around.

Unfortunately for Switzerland they’re stuck in a pool with the USA, Sweden, and Slovakia. Switzerland is in a weird place on the international stage. They spent years close to the edge of relegation, managed to get into Pool A, play in multiple Bronze Medal Games but have yet to cement themselves as a hockey power at the U18 and senior level. Zug starting a women’s hockey program – Lara Stalder being a huge part of it – and Zug hosting the 2024 U18 WJC’s shows a commitment to wanting to support the women’s program. First step will be giving the fans a good show.

The exciting part of the local Zug fans is two of the players the Swiss team will be relying on play for Zug in the Swiss B League: Ivana Wey (53 points in 11 games) and Naemi Herzig (37 points in 11 games). The Swiss might be able to be a surprisingly productive team offensively as their scoring depth doesn’t stop there. They have three players in the Swiss A League that are all being good seasons: Leoni Balzer, Elisa Dalessi, and Tanja Kunz.

This team isn’t going to be have a lot of hype behind it but it’s not lacking in well trained Swiss talent. The best of whom probably won’t even get on the scoreboard in goaltender Talina Benderer. She flat out saved the Swiss from relegation in 2023 ensuring this tournament would be possible. Benderer is going to be put to the test though as she’ll be facing three teams all capable of running up the score.

USA

• Nora Hannan (G)
• Layla Hemp (G)
• Natalia Dilbone (G)
• Maggie Averill (D)
• Molly Boyle (D)
• Ellie Dimatos (D)
• Rose Dwyer (D)
• Lauren Goldsworthy (D)
• Rachel Gorbatenko (D)
• Megan Healy (D)
• Taylor Senecal (D)
• Caroline Averill (F)
• Haley Box (F)
• Kassidy Carmichael (F)
• Mary Derrenbacher (F)
• Alanna Devlin (F)
• Kendra Distad (F)
• Bella Fanale (F)
• Morgan McGathey (F)
• Jordyn Petrie (F)
• Macy Rasmussen (C)
• Maggie Scannell (F)
• Josie St. Martin (F)
• Quinn Taylor (F)
• Ava Thomas (F)

Finland isn’t the only team looking to send a message to the hockey world that they’re still a top two hockey team. The USA is looking for revenge for being put into the Bronze Medal Game.

They’ll most certainly get an early crack at revenge as they’ll be playing Sweden in Pool B. That’s a small part of their goal of course as ending up back in the Gold Medal Game is going to be their main driving factor. This is a largely new team as the US will only be seeing seven returning players: Maggie Scannell, Megan Healy, Kendra Distad, Layla Hemp, Bella Fanale, Rose Dwyer, and Josie St. Martin.

While Canada is going for a three-peat, Maggie Scannell is trying to make the old adage “third times the charm” come true. This will be Scannell’s 3^rd U18 WJC’s and so far she has a Silver and Bronze. Scannell had eight points in five games at the 2023 U18’s and she’s going to need a repeat performance of that to give her team a good chance.

We all know how important defence is and the USA usually has a great no. 1 defender to make an important impact. Rose Dwyer was good last year and is looking better this year with her 12 points in 15 games on the tournament circuit with the Bishop Kearney Selects 19U AAA.

There’s a chance the best player on the USA didn’t even make the team last year, Ava Thomas. She has 30 points in 19 tournament games this season, 19 of those being goals as well. If the USA plans on succeeding in their goals you can bet Ava Thomas is going to be playing a large part in that endeavour.

To wrap it all together we’re all about to get a good luck at the next good American goalie in Layla Hemp. This isn’t going to be a team lacking in the ability to score goals, they just need to ensure they can create the opportunities for goals to be score otherwise they’re risking a repeat of 2023.

Tournament Schedule (Time in EST)

Pool A

Pool B

Playoff Schedule