The United States is preparing for the upcoming women’s world hockey championship in the Czech Republic with a team featuring a blend of seasoned athletes and promising young talent. Leading the charge are Hilary Knight and Kendall Coyne Schofield, who bring experience and leadership to the squad.
Veteran defenseman Lee Stecklein, a three-time Olympian who took a break to focus on her Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) career, returns to the lineup, alongside forward Jesse Compher, who makes a comeback after missing the past two world championship rosters.
At 35, Knight is set to make her 15th world championship appearance. The Olympic veteran holds the tournament record for goals (65), points (111), and medals (14), underscoring her significant impact on the ice.
The team’s transition under Coach John Wroblewski, particularly in goalkeeping, is notably evident this year. Aerin Frankel, a returning starter, leads the goaltending squad, joined by 24-year-old Gwyneth Philips and University of Wisconsin sophomore Ava McNaughton, who will replace Olympic veterans Nicole Hensley and Maddie Rooney.
Among the youthful presence, nine players are aged 23 or younger. The youngest among them is 19-year-old Joy Dunne, a sophomore from Ohio State. Meanwhile, Anna Wilgren, a rookie defenseman in the PWHL, will make her national team debut after narrowly missing the 2022 Olympic roster.
“The depth of our player pool never makes these decisions easy,” stated Katie Million, director of the U.S. women’s national team. “But we’re excited to shift our focus on bringing a gold home.”
The 12-day, 10-nation tournament, commencing on April 9 in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic, serves as a key international showdown before the 2026 Winter Games in Italy. The U.S. and Canada are once again seen as frontrunners, continuing their longstanding rivalry. Canada, the reigning champion, secured its title with a 6-5 overtime victory over the U.S. last year in Utica, New York. The U.S. claimed the 2023 championship by defeating host Canada at the worlds in Toronto.
In the pre-world Rivalry Series, Canada narrowly prevailed in three of five contests, showcasing the intense competition between these two dominant teams.
The PWHL is well-represented with 16 players on the U.S. roster. Among them is Grace Zumwinkle, last season’s PWHL Rookie of the Year, who earned back her place on the national team after missing out last year. The roster also includes standout college players such as Wisconsin junior Laila Edwards, who leads the NCAA with 30 goals and has a total of 64 points. Edwards made a significant impact in her world championship debut with six goals and two assists, earning tournament MVP honors.
However, the roster will be without forward Hannah Bilka, who is recovering from an injury sustained during last month’s Rivalry Series.
