Fillier, Desbiens highlight Canada’s 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship roster
The crew set to don the maple leaf next month has been set.
On Monday, Hockey Canada released the 25-player roster set to compete in the 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship in Denmark next month.
It’s going to be a very different-looking Canadian roster in action, as new general manager Daniele Sauvageau has made some tweaks to fill some holes. Marie-Philip Poulin will not be playing this year, as she’s recovering after undergoing knee surgery over the summer. Also, national team regulars Sarah Nurse, Jocelyne Larocque, Emerance Maschmeyer Natalie Spooner, Claire Thompson and Blayre Turnbull are also not on the roster. Thompson retired from hockey after last season, while Turnbull is stepping away from the game, as she’s set to become a mother in the near future.
Some returners from past national team rosters are looking to shine once again. With Poulin gone, Sarah Fillier will be asked to take an even greater role in leading Canada’s offensive attack. She’ll be flanked by Daryl Watts, who led Canada in scoring at last February’s Winter Olympics. As expected, Ann-Renee Desbiens, who has been Canada’s No. 1 since the 2021 Women’s Worlds, is expected to lead the team throughout the tournament, with youngsters Kayle Osborne and Eve Gascon behind her.
While other veterans such as Laura Stacey, Erin Ambrose and Renata Fast remain, there will be plenty of first-time participants at the Women’s Worlds. Caitlin Kraemer, Rebecca Leslie, Sara Manness, Hayley McDonald, Rosalie Tremblay and Sarah Wozniewicz look to be impact players.
Here’s Canada’s full roster for this year’s world championship:
Forwards: Emily Clark, Jessie Eldridge, Sarah Fillier, Caitlin Kraemer, Rebecca Leslie, Emma Maltais, Sara Manness, Hayley McDonald, Kristin O’Neill, Danielle Serdachny, Laura Stacey, Rosalie Tremblay, Daryl Watts, Sarah Wozniewicz
Defense: Erin Ambrose, Kendall Cooper, Renata Fast, Nicole Gosling, Sophie Jaques, Chloe Primerano, Ella Shelton, Kati Tabin
Goaltenders: Ann-Renee Desbiens, Eve Gascon, Kayle Osborne
Canada is seeking its first gold medal in a major international tournament since the 2024 Women’s Worlds. They have lost each of the last two events – 2025 Women’s Worlds and 2026 Winter Olympics – losing to the United States eight straight times as well. The Canadians will be in Group B, taking on Finland, Sweden, Japan and host Denmark. They begin play on Nov. 6 against the Swedes.