2023 Worlds Preview: Team Canada

It’s familiar territory for Team Canada as they look to go for the three-peat on home ice.

One Olympic Gold. Two World Championships. 20 months. That’s been the resume of Team Canada as of late. Their dominance has been historic and a true treat to watch. This year Canada will look to complete the golden three-peat in front of a packed Canadian crowd. And they will do it with a very familiar looking group.

Roster

Forwards: Emily Clark, Sarah Fillier, Brianne Jenner, Rebecca Johnston, Emma Maltais, Sarah Nurse, Kristin O'Neill, Marie-Philip Poulin, Jamie Lee Rattray, Natalie Spooner, Danielle Serdachny, Laura Stacey, Blayre Turnbull.

Defenders: Erin Ambrose, Jaime Bourbonnais, Renata Fast, Jocelyne Larocque, Ella Shelton, Claire Thompson, Micah Zandee-Hart.

Goaltenders: Ann-Renee Desbiens, Kristen Campbell, Emerance Maschmeyer.

Three Players to Focus On

Natalie Spooner

When Spooner laces up her skates for Canada at this year’s worlds, she will have the power of new mom strength on her side.

After giving birth to her son Rory not even four months ago, Spooner looks to make her return to international play just a quick 40-minute drive away from her hometown of Scarborough, Ontario. Natalie Spooner has been one of the strongest forwards in the world and plays a huge core role on Team Canada. Her return makes Canada much stronger than it already is.

This will be the 9th World Championships Spooner has played in and this year she has a new fan in the stands to make it the most special yet. In her career at Worlds, she has scored 20 goals and will look to continue filling the net for Canada in Brampton.

Sarah Fillier

Despite being one of the youngest players on Canada’s roster, Fillier has made a household name for herself while donning the red and white. She has played a massive role for Canada and their success over the last 2 seasons with her speed, knack for scoring and her elite play making abilities.

The Princeton captain is coming into Worlds following an “off” year for her standards where she had a career low in points with 19 goals and 18 assists in just 37 games. Not only will Fillier be looking to make an impact on a deep Canada roster, she will be looking to impress the home crowd in Brampton where her hometown of Georgetown, Ontario is just 20 minutes away.

Ann-Renée Desbiens

Ann-Renée Desbiens has been Canada’s No. 1 goaltender for the last few years and deservingly so.

Dating back to 2015 Worlds, Desbiens has yet to lose a game for Canada. In 3 Worlds and 2 Olympics, she has started in 19 games putting up a .942 SV%, 1.13 GAA and 4 shutouts. The true definition of video game numbers.

Canada will continue to put their trust in Desbiens and Desbiens will continue to prove to the hockey world that there isn’t a single goaltender in the world who is better than her.

Rising Star

Danielle Serdachny

In a year where Canada has made little to no changes to their roster, a new rising star gets the call up to the senior team.

Danielle Serdachny is a Patty Kazmaier finalist, ECAC Forward and Player of the Year, Captain at Colgate University and now the newest member of Team Canada.

Prior to this tournament, the last time Serdachny wore the maple leaf was at the U18 WWC back in 2018-19. Following a career-high year at Colgate where she had 71 points in 40 games played, the Edmonton born forward finds herself on an already deep and star-studded roster. Playing time might be limited for Serdachny but she will be looking to make the most out of every opportunity.

Home Sweet Home

With barely any changes to their roster, it’s pretty evident how much confidence Canada has in this team. And let’s be real, can you blame them?

This Team Canada squad will go down in history as one of the best Canadian teams the sport has ever seen. Since Worlds in 2021, Canada has dominated at every single level. They have constructed a roster of future Hall of Famers, record breakers, and winners. Not only is Canada heading into Worlds as the host, but they also head into Worlds as back-to-back Champions with pretty much the same roster they had in 2022.

The last time the Greater Toronto Area hosted a Women’s World Championship Sarah Nurse was five years old. Sarah Fillier wasn’t even born yet. And the new millennia was just beginning. Brampton being the host city plays a larger role for these players than most might know. On Canada’s roster, there are 11 players who grew up within an hour of Brampton, Ontario. Imagine playing for your country in front of a packed hometown crowd? Yeah, as if the reigning champs needed any more motivation.

What Does Success Look Like?

Gold or bust, baby.

Schedule

April 5 - Canada v. Switzerland, 7 p.m.

April 7 - Czechia v. Canada, 7 p.m.

April 8 - Japan v. Canada, 7 p.m.

April 10 - Canada v. USA, 7 p.m.