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2025 Worlds

A PWHL Fan's Guide to the 2025 Worlds

Your one-stop shop for everything you need to know about the PWHL at the 2025 IIHF Women's World Championship.

A PWHL Fan's Guide to the 2025 Worlds
Montréal and Boston face off at the Bell Centre on March 1. Photo courtesy of the PWHL.

The 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championships are nearly here! Premilinary action kicks off tomorrow in České Budějovice, Czechia and goes until April 15, with the knockout rounds set for April 17-20. The PWHL is on break to allow its members to play in the tournament, with 57 players and 15 staff members set to represent their countries. They'll fan out across seven national teams, with only Hungary, Japan, and Norway participating in the tournament without a PWHL player. Toronto sent the most representatives to Worlds (17), and they're tied with Boston and Montréal for the most countries represented (5).

With so many moving parts, I put together a one-stop shop guide for PWHL fans looking to keep up with their favorites overseas! Below you’ll find a team-by-team breakdown of who is representing which country, those countries' schedules, and finally, the links to previews by our talented TIG staff so you know what to expect from each team.

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Boston Fleet

Pejšová stands just outside the crease to Frankel's right. Frankel is on the left side of the net, watching a play off to her left behind the goal line. They are both wearing white away uniforms.
Aerin Frankel and Daniela Pejšová track a play during their Feb. 14 game in Toronto. Photo courtesy of the PWHL.

The Fleet have nine representatives (eight players, one staff member) spread across five countries. The United States has the most Boston representation with three players and one staff member hailing from the Fleet.

Czechia: 

  • Daniela Pejšová (D)
  • Klára Peslarová (G)

Finland:

  • Susanna Tapani (F)

Sweden:

  • Emma Söderberg (G)

Switzerland:

  • Alina Müller (F)

United States:

  • Players:
    • Hilary Knight (F)
    • Megan Keller (D)
    • Aerin Frankel (G)
  • Staff:
    • Head athletic trainer Amanda Kelley (U.S. athletic trainer)

Minnesota Frost

Heise jumps at the boards in celebration as two of her teammates skate to give her a hug. They are wearing purple home uniforms.
Taylor Heise celebrates a goal during the Frost's March 30 game against Toronto. Photo courtesy of the PWHL.

The Frost have 13 representatives (ten players, three staff members) over at Worlds divided between three countries. The United States has the most Minnesota representation with six players and three staff members donning the red, white, and blue.

Canada:

  • Sophie Jaques (D)
  • Claire Thompson (D)

Czechia:

  • Klára Hymlárová (F)
  • Denisa Křížová (F)

United States:

  • Players:
    • Kendall Coyne Schofield (F)
    • Britta Curl-Salemme (F)
    • Taylor Heise (F)
    • Kelly Pannek (F)
    • Grace Zumwinkle (F)
    • Lee Stecklein (D)
  • Staff:
    • East Coast/International scout Haley Skarupa (U.S. head scout)
    • Head athletic trainer Katie Homan (U.S. athletic trainer)
    • Head equipment manager Sis Paulsen (U.S. equipment manager)

Montréal Victoire

Three Montréal players celebrate a win with a group hug. They are wearing maroon home uniforms.
Montréal players celebrate their March 4 win over Minnesota. Photo courtesy of the PWHL.

The Victoire have 14 representatives at Worlds (11 players, three staff members), spread across five countries. Canada leads the way with six players and three staff members from the Victoire.

Canada:

  • Players:
    • Jennifer Gardiner (F)
    • Kristin O’Neill (F)
    • Marie-Philip Poulin (F)
    • Laura Stacey (F)
    • Erin Ambrose (D)
    • Ann-Renée Desbiens (G)
  • Staff:
    • Head coach Kori Cheverie (assistant coach for Canada)
    • Assistant coach Caroline Ouellette (same role)
    • Director of performance Vicki Bendus (Canada’s strength and conditioning coach)

Czechia:

  • Dominika Lásková (D)

Germany:

  • Sandra Abstreiter (G)

Sweden:

  • Lina Ljungblom (F)

United States:

  • Cayla Barnes (D)
  • Anna Wilgren (D)

New York Sirens

Shelton smiles and points at Carpenter, who is skating toward her. They are near the blueline and wearing white away uniforms.
Ella Shelton and Alex Carpenter celebrate a goal against Toronto on Jan. 25. Photo courtesy of the PWHL.

The Sirens sent the fewest members to Worlds, with six representatives (five players, one staff member) across three countries. Canada features the most with three players.

Canada:

  • Players:
    • Sarah Fillier (F)
    • Ella Shelton (D)
    • Micah Zandee-Hart (D)

Finland:

  • Noora Tulus (F)

United States:

  • Players:
    • Alex Carpenter (F)
  • Staff:
    • Assistant coach Josh Sciba (same role)

Ottawa Charge

Phillips is at the top of her crease, crouched into the ready goalie position with her stick down and glove low. She is wearing a white away uniform.
Gwyneth Phillips tracks the play during their March 29 Takeover Tour game against Boston. Photo courtesy of the PWHL.

The Charge have ten representatives (nine players, one staff member) over at Worlds spread across four countries. Canada and Czechia are tied for the most Ottawa reps with four apiece, with the Canadains taking four players and the Czechs calling over three players and a staff member.

Canada: 

  • Players:
    • Emily Clark (F)
    • Brianne Jenner (F)
    • Danielle Serdachny (F)
    • Jocelyne Larocque (D)

Czechia:

  • Players:
    • Kateřina Mrázová (F)
    • Tereza Vanišová (F)
    • Aneta Tejralová (D)
  • Staff:
    • Head coach Carla MacLeod (same role).

Finland:

  • Ronja Savolainen (D)

United States:

  • Gwyneth Phillips (G)

Toronto Sceptres

Three Toronto players celebrate with a group hug at the blue line. They are wearing white away uniforms.
Toronto players celebrate a goal against Boston on March 26. Photo courtesy of the PWHL.

The Sceptres sent 17 representatives (13 players, four staff members) to Worlds, spread across five countries. Canada boasts the majority of their representatives, with 11 members donning the maple leaf.

Canada:

  • Players*:
    • Emma Maltais (F)
    • Sarah Nurse (F)
    • Natalie Spooner (F)
    • Blayre Turnbull (F)
    • Daryl Watts (F)
    • Renata Fast (D)
    • Kristen Campbell (G)
  • Staff:
    • General manager Gina Kingsbury (same role)
    • Head coach Troy Ryan (same role)
    • Goaltending coach Brad Kirkwood (Canada goaltending consultant)
    • Head equipment manager Alana Goulden (Canada equipment manager)

*Forward Hannah Miller was initially named to the Canadian roster, but was ruled ineligible by the IIHF due to it being less than two years since she first played a game in Canada following her stint with Team China.

Czechia:

  • Noemi Neubauerová (F)

Germany: 

  • Laura Kluge (F)

Sweden: 

  • Anna Kjellbin (D)

United States:

  • Jesse Compher (F)
  • Hayley Scamurra (F)
  • Savannah Harmon (D)

Schedules

Below is the complete schedule for every country with a PWHL representative, plus the knockout round schedule. All games will be played at Budvar Arena in České Budějovice, Czechia.

How to watch

Canada

  • Thursday, April 10 at Finland- 1 p.m. ET/7 p.m. local
  • Friday, April 11 vs Switzerland- 9 a.m. ET/3 p.m. local
  • Sunday, April 13 at United States- 1 p.m ET/7 p.m. local
  • Monday, April 14 vs Czechia- 1 p.m. ET/7 p.m. local

Czechia

  • Wednesday, April 9 at Switzerland- 1 p.m. ET/7 p.m. local
  • Friday, April 11 vs United States- 1 p.m. ET/7 p.m. local
  • Saturday, April 12 vs Finland- 1 p.m. ET/7 p.m. local
  • Monday, April 14 at Canada- 1 p.m. ET/7 p.m. local

Finland

  • Wednesday, April 9 at United States- 9 a.m. ET/3 p.m. local
  • Thursday, April 10 vs Canada- 1 p.m. ET/7 p.m. local
  • Saturday, April 12 at Czechia- 1 p.m. ET/7 p.m. local
  • Monday, April 14 vs Switzerland- 9 a.m. ET/3 p.m. local

Germany

  • Wednesday, April 9 vs Sweden- 5 a.m. ET/11 a.m. local
  • Saturday, April 12 vs Norway- 9 a.m. ET/3 p.m. local
  • Monday, April 14 at Hungary- 5 a.m. ET/11 a.m. local
  • Tuesday, April 15 at Japan- 9 a.m. ET/3 p.m. local

Sweden

  • Wednesday, April 9 at Germany- 5 a.m. ET/11 a.m. local
  • Thursday, April 10 at Hungary- 9 a.m. ET/3 p.m. local
  • Sunday, April 13 vs Japan- 9 a.m./3 p.m. local
  • Tuesday, April 15 vs Norway- 5 a.m. ET/11 a.m. local

Switzerland

  • Wednesday, April 9 vs Czechia- 1 p.m. ET/7 p.m. local
  • Friday, April 11 at Canada- 9 a.m. ET/3 p.m. local
  • Monday, April 14 at Finland- 9 a.m. ET/3 p.m. local
  • Tuesday, April 15 vs United States- 1 p.m. ET/7 p.m. local

United States

  • Wednesday, April 9 vs Finland- 9 a.m. ET/3 p.m. local
  • Friday, April 11 at Czechia- 1 p.m. ET/7 p.m. local
  • Sunday, April 13 vs Canada- 1 p.m. ET/7 p.m. local
  • Tuesday, April 15 at Switzerland- 1 p.m. ET/7 p.m. local

Knockout Rounds

All Group A teams (Canada, Czechia, Finland, Switzerland, United States) will automatically advance to the quarterfinals. The top three teams from Group B (Germany, Hungary, Japan, Norway, Sweden) will also advance. 

Quarterfinals:

  • Thursday, April 17
    • Game 1- 4 a.m. ET/10 a.m. local
    • Game 2- 7:30 a.m. ET/1:30 p.m. local
    • Game 3- 11 a.m. ET/5 p.m. local
    • Game 4- 2:30 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. local

Placement Game:

This game determines the fifth team in Group A next year, earning them an automatic berth into the quarterfinals. It will be played between the two highest-ranked teams that lose in this year's quarterfinals. The game will take place on Saturday, April 19 at 5 a.m. ET/11 a.m. local.

Semifinals:

  • Saturday, April 19
    • Game 1- 9 a.m. ET/3 p.m. local
    • Game 2- 1 p.m. ET/7 p.m. local

Medal Games:

  • Sunday, April 20
    • Bronze- 8 a.m. ET/2 p.m. local
    • Gold- 12 p.m. ET/6 p.m. local

Previews

A silver trophy with a cup on top, and then rings of engraved plates that feature the winning country. There is a puck in the center of the trouphy.
The IIHF World Championship Cup. Photo via the IIHF.

Last but not least, you know which of your favorites will be there, and you know when they’re playing, but what about how they’re supposed to fare? Learn all about their chances in our TIG preview series linked below!

And, just because who doesn’t like learning more about women’s hockey, here are the previews for the countries without PWHL reps:

The 2025 IIHF Women's World Championships will take place from April 9-20 at Budvar Arena in České Budějovice, Czechia.

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