USA's Hilary Knight #21 skates on during warmups prior to USA vs Switzerland Preliminary Round - Group A action at the 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship at Adirondack Bank Center on April 3, 2024 in Utica, New York, USA. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/IIHF)
The best in the business are coming to play – and that means elite skills and new chapters in women’s hockey history. Take a look at 10 of the likely headline makers ahead of the opening action in Czechia next week.
Canada – Marie-Philip Poulin
Hockey’s a team game and “Captain Clutch” has done more than most to bring glory to Team Canada with game-winners in Olympic and World Championship gold medal games. But this year’s Worlds could see her set individual records: Poulin, 32, needs 10 points to become Canada’s all-time scoring leader ahead of Hayley Wickenheiser. She’s also five goals shy of Jayna Hefford’s record haul of 40, and seven assists behind Wickenheiser at the top of the charts. Poulin’s posted double figures in two previous Worlds – can she do it again to reach a new milestone?
USA – Hilary Knight
Nobody has more than Hilary Knight’s 14 World Championship medals. Only Danielle Goyette can match her nine golds. She’s the first and only player to compile 100 points in Women’s Worlds play and in 2023 she was the winner of the inaugural IIHF Female Player of the Year award. Like Poulin in Canada, America’s Knight is synonymous with hockey excellence – and a key part of elite success. After she was slowed by an ankle problem last season, the 35-year-old bounced back to lead the PWHL in scoring with 28 points from 27 games – putting her in prime form for Ceske Budejovice.
Finland – Michelle Karvinen
By the end of this tournament, Karvinen is likely to be Finland’s all-time leader in points and goals. At present, she’s tied on 60 points with Riikka Sallinen (now retired) and Jenni Hiirikoski (unavailable for this tournament). She’s also just two goals behind Sallinen’s 25 World Championship tallies. A serial winner, with seven Women’s World Championship medals and three Olympic bronzes, plus national titles from four countries, Michelle, 35, is fresh from helping Frolunda win the SDHL playoffs alongside Finnish team-mate Elisa Holopainen.
Czechia – Tereza Vanisova
An outstanding season with the Ottawa Charge has Vanisova firmly in the conversation for the MVP award in this year’s PWHL. And it’s all about impact. Although she just makes the league top 10 for points, she’s tied for second in goals with Hilary Knight. And those 15 goals came at a rate of 2.07 per 60 minutes ice time, the highest ratio in the league. That’s the kind of contribution that can drag Ottawa into the playoffs. But now the challenge is to lift the Czechs to success on home ice – and add to the bronze medal she won in 2023.
Switzerland – Alina Muller
The only Swiss player in the PWHL, Muller is second in scoring for the Fleet. Yet she waited until Jan. 23 for her first goal and second point of the season. Since then, she’s exploded at just the right time and is up to 19 (7+12) with only Hilary Knight producing more in Boston. After winning Olympic bronze as a 15-year-old, Muller has not yet added World Championship hardware in nine attempts. But she’s coming to Czechia in red hot form and the Swiss will hope she can power them to a first medal since 2012.
Germany – Laura Kluge
It’s been another big season for Laura Kluge. Last year’s five-point tournament in Utica saw her become Germany’s all-time World Championship scoring leader. Then the 28-year-old Berliner helped her country qualify for the Olympics and, days later, made her PWHL debut for Toronto in front of 17,000 fans in Edmonton. Kluge is taking that step up in her stride and, back on international duty, she’ll expect to be among the leaders on an ambitious German roster in Ceske Budejovice.
Sweden – Lina Ljungblom
Two years ago, Lina Ljungblom was the breakout star at the Women’s Worlds. With 10 (7+3) points in seven games, including a memorable strike in a tight QF loss to Canada, the MoDo Hockey starlet announced herself on the big stage. Since then, she’s stepped up to play alongside the likes of Poulin and Erin Ambrose with Montreal in the PWHL. That experience seems set to make her an even more potent threat in this year’s championship as the Swedes look to get to the medal games for the first time since 2009.
Japan – Yumeka Wajima
We’re used to seeing Rui Ukita and Akane Shiga among Japan’s leading scorers, but this season has brought the rise of 22-year-old Yumeka Wajima. She’s matured steadily during the past three Women’s Worlds, and played a big role as Japan won the Asia Women’s Championship in the autumn, then secured qualification for the 2026 Olympics. In that qualifying event, she had a tournament-leading five goals in wins over France, Poland and China. Can she bring that form to Czechia?
Norway – Andrea Dalen
For 32-year-old centre Andrea Dalen, the 2024/25 campaign was vindication. The pandemic had the HC Frolunda forward contemplating the end of her career: on-going health complications made it hard for her to train and play at her accustomed level. Happily, improved health persuaded her to keep going – and the reward was a spectacular season. Andrea led the SDHL playoffs in scoring, with 13 (5+8), as she helped Frolunda to its first ever title. Next up, as Norway makes its long-awaited World Championship return, Dalen gets to write another chapter in a career that was close to ending prematurely.
Hungary – Aniko Nemeth
Guarding the Hungarian net since the country was battling its way out of Division IIA, Aniko Nemeth has seen just about everything during her country’s rise to the top table. Pitched into senior international action back in 2012, having played that year’s U18 Worlds as well, the 28-year-old has played every tournament since – and each time with her twin sister Bernadett in front of her on defence. A stellar performance last year – allowing just 0.77 goals per game and stopping 95.5% of shots faced – helped secure a return to the elite division, where she’ll need similar stats to help Hungary stay.
Canada – Marie-Philip Poulin
Hockey’s a team game and “Captain Clutch” has done more than most to bring glory to Team Canada with game-winners in Olympic and World Championship gold medal games. But this year’s Worlds could see her set individual records: Poulin, 32, needs 10 points to become Canada’s all-time scoring leader ahead of Hayley Wickenheiser. She’s also five goals shy of Jayna Hefford’s record haul of 40, and seven assists behind Wickenheiser at the top of the charts. Poulin’s posted double figures in two previous Worlds – can she do it again to reach a new milestone?
USA – Hilary Knight
Nobody has more than Hilary Knight’s 14 World Championship medals. Only Danielle Goyette can match her nine golds. She’s the first and only player to compile 100 points in Women’s Worlds play and in 2023 she was the winner of the inaugural IIHF Female Player of the Year award. Like Poulin in Canada, America’s Knight is synonymous with hockey excellence – and a key part of elite success. After she was slowed by an ankle problem last season, the 35-year-old bounced back to lead the PWHL in scoring with 28 points from 27 games – putting her in prime form for Ceske Budejovice.
Finland – Michelle Karvinen
By the end of this tournament, Karvinen is likely to be Finland’s all-time leader in points and goals. At present, she’s tied on 60 points with Riikka Sallinen (now retired) and Jenni Hiirikoski (unavailable for this tournament). She’s also just two goals behind Sallinen’s 25 World Championship tallies. A serial winner, with seven Women’s World Championship medals and three Olympic bronzes, plus national titles from four countries, Michelle, 35, is fresh from helping Frolunda win the SDHL playoffs alongside Finnish team-mate Elisa Holopainen.
Czechia – Tereza Vanisova
An outstanding season with the Ottawa Charge has Vanisova firmly in the conversation for the MVP award in this year’s PWHL. And it’s all about impact. Although she just makes the league top 10 for points, she’s tied for second in goals with Hilary Knight. And those 15 goals came at a rate of 2.07 per 60 minutes ice time, the highest ratio in the league. That’s the kind of contribution that can drag Ottawa into the playoffs. But now the challenge is to lift the Czechs to success on home ice – and add to the bronze medal she won in 2023.
Switzerland – Alina Muller
The only Swiss player in the PWHL, Muller is second in scoring for the Fleet. Yet she waited until Jan. 23 for her first goal and second point of the season. Since then, she’s exploded at just the right time and is up to 19 (7+12) with only Hilary Knight producing more in Boston. After winning Olympic bronze as a 15-year-old, Muller has not yet added World Championship hardware in nine attempts. But she’s coming to Czechia in red hot form and the Swiss will hope she can power them to a first medal since 2012.
Germany – Laura Kluge
It’s been another big season for Laura Kluge. Last year’s five-point tournament in Utica saw her become Germany’s all-time World Championship scoring leader. Then the 28-year-old Berliner helped her country qualify for the Olympics and, days later, made her PWHL debut for Toronto in front of 17,000 fans in Edmonton. Kluge is taking that step up in her stride and, back on international duty, she’ll expect to be among the leaders on an ambitious German roster in Ceske Budejovice.
Sweden – Lina Ljungblom
Two years ago, Lina Ljungblom was the breakout star at the Women’s Worlds. With 10 (7+3) points in seven games, including a memorable strike in a tight QF loss to Canada, the MoDo Hockey starlet announced herself on the big stage. Since then, she’s stepped up to play alongside the likes of Poulin and Erin Ambrose with Montreal in the PWHL. That experience seems set to make her an even more potent threat in this year’s championship as the Swedes look to get to the medal games for the first time since 2009.
Japan – Yumeka Wajima
We’re used to seeing Rui Ukita and Akane Shiga among Japan’s leading scorers, but this season has brought the rise of 22-year-old Yumeka Wajima. She’s matured steadily during the past three Women’s Worlds, and played a big role as Japan won the Asia Women’s Championship in the autumn, then secured qualification for the 2026 Olympics. In that qualifying event, she had a tournament-leading five goals in wins over France, Poland and China. Can she bring that form to Czechia?
Norway – Andrea Dalen
For 32-year-old centre Andrea Dalen, the 2024/25 campaign was vindication. The pandemic had the HC Frolunda forward contemplating the end of her career: on-going health complications made it hard for her to train and play at her accustomed level. Happily, improved health persuaded her to keep going – and the reward was a spectacular season. Andrea led the SDHL playoffs in scoring, with 13 (5+8), as she helped Frolunda to its first ever title. Next up, as Norway makes its long-awaited World Championship return, Dalen gets to write another chapter in a career that was close to ending prematurely.
Hungary – Aniko Nemeth
Guarding the Hungarian net since the country was battling its way out of Division IIA, Aniko Nemeth has seen just about everything during her country’s rise to the top table. Pitched into senior international action back in 2012, having played that year’s U18 Worlds as well, the 28-year-old has played every tournament since – and each time with her twin sister Bernadett in front of her on defence. A stellar performance last year – allowing just 0.77 goals per game and stopping 95.5% of shots faced – helped secure a return to the elite division, where she’ll need similar stats to help Hungary stay.