There’s everything to play for in the IIHF Women’s World Championship Group B. The top three teams will advance to the quarterfinals and have a shot at playing for a medal. But the bottom two face relegation to Division IA. With seeding and survival at stake, every game counts. Check out our guide to the teams coming to Ceske Budejovice for this year’s tournament.

Germany

 Typically, Group B teams set their sights on making the quarterfinals. But Germany’s head coach Jeff MacLeod is setting greater goals: “We want a medal,” he said when announcing a roster almost unchanged from the successful Olympic Qualification tournament in February.

That ambition is a natural response to a good showing last year. After winning all four group games, allowing just two goals in the process, Germany went down 0-1 to the Czechs in the quarterfinal then took Switzerland to overtime in a placement game. This team proved it’s close to Group A standard.

The 2025 roster is largely unchanged. That means Laura Kluge and Emily Nix will be expected to lead the scoring again, supported by the Welcke twins Lilli and Luisa. Kluge recently took her first steps in the PWHL with Toronto, while Nix had a consistent season in Sweden with SDE. And confidence is high after edging Group B rival Hungary to a spot at next year’s Olympics.

Hungary

The Germans are confident, but promoted Hungary knows it can match them. After returning to the elite division last season, the Hungarians gave Germany a real battle in Olympic qualification. The 1-2 loss in the decisive game was tight – and Hungary even had the puck in the net right after the hooter, just a fraction of a second too late to save the game.

Don’t expect flamboyant offence from the Magyars: in last year’s Division IA campaign Hungary never scored more than twice in a game. But it played 154 minutes before allowing its first goal, giving a clear indication of where its strengths lie. A tournament-leading GAA of 0.77 for the vastly experienced Aniko Nemeth tells its own story.

At the other end, Fanni Gasparics and Alexandra Huszak are the team’s all-time scoring leaders in IIHF play. Gasparics, 30, has 60 (28+32) points while 29-year-old Huszak’s 34 goals are a national record. Both have been involved since the Division IIA days and bring a wealth of experience. But a new generation is emerging, with 15-year-old Reka Hiezl leading the way. She made her senior international debut in February and scored a superb individual goal to seal an overtime win over Austria.

Japan

Ahead of February’s Olympic qualification tournament, Japan talked about the need for more scoring. In Tomakomai, it delivered: 17 goals through three games, and only two allowed. For head coach Iizuka, the sight of players who had not been part of the previous Olympic cycle getting on the scoresheet was especially pleasing.

In particular, the emergence of Yumeka Wajima caught the eye. The 22-year-old stepped up to the senior team back in 2022 but failed to register a point in three World Championship campaigns. That changed this season: Wajima was among the scoring leaders as the Japanese won the inaugural Asia Women’s Championship early this season and then scored five goals in three games to secure a fourth successive trip to the Games. Makoto Ito, 20, chipped in with 5 (2+3) points in qualifying, joining established names like Akane Shiga and Rui Ukita at the top of the scoring charts.

Now, the question is whether Japan’s rising stars can repeat that success against stronger opposition in Ceske Budejovice.

Norway

After a 27-year absence, Norway is back in the elite thanks to a perfect performance in Division IA last season. Hopes of making an impact in Czechia are enhanced by the recent form of Andrea Dalen. The 32-year-old centre is fresh from helping Frolunda win its first ever SDHL championship, and she was the playoff scoring leader with 13 (5+8) points in 11 games.

Her experience will be crucial here, not least in the absence of defensive duo Ingrid Morset and Madelen Haug Hansen. Those two returned to shore up last year’s promotion push but have since retired. Without them, a youthful Norwegian D-core finished third in Olympic qualification behind Group B rival Sweden and a Denmark team relegated from the top division last season.

Against that backdrop, staying up will be a big ask. Nonetheless, head coach Andre Lysenstoen is hopeful that his team can learn from losses against its Scandinavian neighbours ahead of the World Championship.

Sweden

 This season has already brought success for Sweden’s women with victory in Olympic qualification on home ice back in February. Stellar defence in Gavle meant no goals allowed in three games against the Netherlands, Denmark and Group B rival Norway. Emma Soderberg and Ida Bowman shared goaltending duties there, and they represent an interesting choice for the coaching staff. Soderberg, 27, has the experience and the prestigious role with Boston Fleet in the PWHL, but Bowman, 22, played far more hockey this season as starter for Djurgardens in the SWHL.

PWHL blue-liner Anna Kjelbin, back for her sixth Worlds, brings tournament know-how to a defence in transition: Emma Forsgren, Ida Karlsson, Mira Jungaker and 18-year-old debutant Jenna Raunio are all aged 22 and under and represent the next generation of Swedish talent. Additionally, Annie Silen, 23, is recalled to the roster in the absence of Maja Nylen Persson.

It’s a similar story on offence, with Lisa Johansson and Sara Hjalmarsson leading the team in scoring in Olympic qualification. Both of them have seen it all at this level, and bring the experience for the likes of teenagers Mira Hallin, Ebba Hedqvist and Hilda Svensson. Montreal Victoire’s Lina Ljungblom is another one to watch: in 2023 she had 10 (7+3) points at the Worlds and a season alongside the likes of Marie-Philip Poulin in the PWHL can only elevate her game.