2026 IIHF U-18 Women’s World Championship Preview: Players to watch on every team
Some of the best up-and-coming players in women’s hockey are set to represent their countries on the international stage, as the 2026 IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship is set to get underway in Cape Breton.
This year’s tournament will be just the third to be held in Canada, and the first since the United States beat the hosts to win gold in St. Catharines in 2016. The Canadians are looking for a second consecutive gold medal, and third in the past four years, while the U.S. is hoping to avenge its loss in the gold medal game in Finland last January.
The tournament serves as a chance for fans to see the next wave of players who are on their way toward the collegiate or pro ranks in Europe, carving out a potential path to the PWHL.
Here’s a look at every team in the tournament:
For the full schedule, visit IIHF.com
Group A
Canada
It’s going to be a much different-looking Canadian roster this time around. Gone is the U-18 legend Chloe Primerano, as are Sara Manness and Stryker Zablocki, with the latter leading the tournament with 12 points last season. Back for more is Caileigh Tiller who is the returning scorer from last year, scoring 10 points, along with the game-winner in the gold medal game. The Connecticut commit is having a great start with the OWHL’s Burlington Barracudas, having potted 35 points in 18 games. Her twin sister, Chelsea, joins a revamped blue line headlined by returners Anais Leprohon and Kate Viel.
Vicky Sunohara’s team has a trio from the dominant Etobicoke Dolphins. Maddie McCullough, Sofia Ismael and 16-year-old Megan Mossey sit 1-2-3 in the OWHL in scoring, and look to use their chemistry to help their country win it all. In goal, Canada has a future NCAA netminder in Rowan Houweling (Ohio State), along with talented backstops in Lea-Rose Charrois and Maija St-Pierre.
Hungary
Hungary is back in the top division for the first time since 2014 after going a perfect 5-0-0 in the D1A U-18s last year. While there’s a little bit of turnover in the roster, Magyar brings a couple of young scoring threats to Cape Breton. 16-year-old Reka Hiezl finished second on the team in scoring last year in Budapest, and is currently tearing things up on Shattuck’s St. Mary’s U19 AAA team. The Quinnipiac commit has 61 points in 29 games this season. Lindenwood signee Krisztina Weiler, a member of the OWHL’s OHA Mavericks, is having a great season thus far and is hopeful to add some more offensive punch.
Sweden
The Swedes have made it to the semifinals in three of the past four U-18s, including its Cinderella run to the final in 2023. Tre Kronor is hoping it can take home a medal this time around after another fourth-place finish last January. Of the returners from last year, Ebba Hesselvall will be worth keeping an eye on. In her time with Brynäs IF in the SDHL, she has three goals so far this season, and played well for the Swedes during 4 Nations competition in Tranas last month. Frolunda HC forward Moa Stridh also has the potential to wow some people.
On the back end, HV71 defender Malva Lindgren will be looked upon to lead a D-Corps that will go up against some potent offensive weapons. In net, Sweden has a couple of options. Meja Engelin was the team’s third-stringer last year, but MoDo Hockey 2 backstop Thea Holmberg was impressive during international competition last month.
Switzerland
The Swiss enter this year’s U-18s not a year removed from the best finish in the country’s history, a fifth-place result after being knocked out by Sweden in the quarterfinals. While they’re in a tough group again, Switzerland hopes it can grab a win or two in Canada. One player capable of creating havoc is Norina Müller. The HC Fribourg-Gottéron star is entering her third U-18s, and is having a great season in the SWHL A, the top women’s league in Switzerland. In 24 games, the 17-year-old has 28 points, good for 10th in the league.
Switzerland has a couple of returners on defense in Miriana Bottoni and Laure Mériguet. The team has a couple of options in net, as Fribourg-Gottéron backstop Anne-Eugénie Gendre and Lia Rubin from SC Langenthal Damen could see some action.
Group B
Czechia
Czechia won back-to-back medals for the first time in the program’s history last year, winning the bronze in 2025 after a memorable run to the silver the year before. While players like Linda Vocetkova and Magdaléna Felcmanová have aged out, there’s a strong core returning to the fold. Julie Jebousková, who finished second on the team in scoring with six points in Finland, has been an exciting player to watch at Shattuck’s this year, and is on her way to the University of Maine. She and Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 19U product and Northeastern commit Adéla Pánková will be looked at to carry the load.
In the crease, Anna Horakova is the lone returner from last year’s team, but might be the starter given her performance in the EWHL, the top women’s league in Austria.
Finland
The Finns were left licking their wounds last year. Despite being the hosts, Suomi bowed out in the quarterfinals for the first time since 2018, scoring just five goals in four games. Given how things played out in their latest bit of international play, losing to Finland, Germany and Czechia, it looks like goals might be tough to come by once again. Emmi Loponen and Aino Lehikoinen are going to be relied upon to generate offense. Loponen has 25 points in 25 games with Kärpät in Auroraliga, while Lehikonen has 14 points in 17 appearances with HIFK.
Eyes will be on 15-year-old defender Fanny Kyrkkö, who has the tools for becoming a national team star in the future. Finland has two goaltenders with top-tier experience. Pihla Ikonen has looked really good backing up Anni Keisala with HPK, while Eerika Kujala has seen action with Ilves this season.
Slovakia
This is Nela Lopušanová’s last kick at the can. The Wisconsin commit is entering her fourth appearance at the U-18s, having been named tournament MVP twice. Last year, she finished second behind Zablocki in scoring with 11 points. She sits seven points and six goals behind Kendall Coyne Schofield for the most points and goals in tournament history.
That said, Lopušanová would probably hope for some more team success this time around. Despite being named MVP in Finland last year, Slovakia had to beat Japan to avoid relegation. The nation has never made it beyond the quarterfinals. There was a lot of turnover from last year’s team, with Lucia Lipcakova being one of the few notable returners.
United States
The Americans have loads of familiarity, as 10 players are back from last year’s silver-medal squad. However, a lot of the team’s offense, including Minnesota star Bella Fanale, has aged out. Haley Box, who posted six points in 2025, is the team’s top returning scorer. The Wisconsin commit is another member of that strong team in Etobicoke, sitting sixth in the OWHL with 41 points thus far. Penn State commit Kylie Amelkovich and future Princeton star Christina Scalese are also going to be asked to carry the offense.
Defensively, the Americans are sitting pretty. Chyna Taylor and captain Maggie Averill lead a D-corps in front of the returning Morgan Stickney. Another future Nittany Lion, Stickney played all six games for the U.S. last year, and was named to the Media All-Star Team after posting a tournament-leading 0.67 goals-against average and .957 save percentage.