Canada’s 23-player roster for IIHF Women’s Worlds unveiled
Canada has officially announced its 23-player roster for the upcoming IIHF women’s world championship in April. The team consists of three goalies, seven defenders, and 13 forwards, all of whom will be representing their country at the prestigious tournament.
The roster is headlined by some of Canada’s most accomplished players, including captain Marie-Philip Poulin, Natalie Spooner, Sarah Fillier, and long-time starting goalie Ann-Renée Desbiens. Also making the cut is Ella Shelton, who leads the PWHL in scoring among defenders and scored the first goal in league history. Jocelyne Larocque and Renata Fast, Toronto’s top defensive pair, will also be part of Canada’s blueline.
Impressively, 20 players from the 2023 World Championships roster that won a silver medal have returned for this year’s tournament. However, there are two players making their tournament debuts – cousins Julia and Nicole Gosling. The inclusion of these talented players, coupled with the experience and leadership of the returning players, makes Canada’s roster formidable.
General manager Gina Kingsbury expressed her excitement and confidence in the selected players, highlighting their championship experience, veteran leadership, character, and youth. The team is eager to embark on their journey and compete for glory in the upcoming championship.
The 10-team tournament is scheduled to begin on April 3 in Utica, N.Y. Team Canada will open the tournament on April 4 against Finland, followed by matches against Switzerland on April 5 and Czechia on April 7. They will then face their biggest rivals, the reigning world champions, the United States, on the following day.
While Canada has finalized its roster, the U.S. team is yet to be selected. A final selection camp will take place from March 27-30 before the tournament starts, where 39 players have been invited to compete for a spot on the team.
Turnover from 2023
There aren’t many new faces on Team Canada this year, resulting in minimal significant cuts. Micah Zandee-Hart, who has been a consistent presence on Canada’s blue line since her debut in 2019, missed the start of the PWHL season due to surgery. As a result, she seems to have been surpassed on the depth chart by Ashton Bell and Nicole Gosling, both of whom will be representing Canada this year.
Julia Gosling, alongside her cousin Nicole, will be making her world championship debut. Julia had an impressive senior season with St. Lawrence in the NCAA, recording 51 points and ranking ninth in points-per-game nationally.
Claire Thompson, who attended medical school since the 2023 World Championships, has not been included in Canada’s 2024 roster. Similarly, Rebecca Johnston, who played last year but did not declare for the PWHL Draft, will also not be part of the team.
Patty Kazmaier finalists
Two players from Canada’s roster have been named finalists for the Patty Kazmaier Award, which recognizes the top 10 players in women’s college hockey. Sarah Fillier and Danielle Serdachny have both been recognized for their outstanding performances this season.
Fillier has been a star for Team Canada since her world championship debut in 2021. She is a two-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist, known for her speed, skill, and poise with the puck. Fillier had an exceptional season at Princeton, scoring a career-high 30 goals, which ranked second in the NCAA.
Serdachny made her world championship debut in 2023 and predominantly played a depth role. However, she had an impressive final season at Colgate this year, recording 57 points in 36 games, which ranked fifth in the nation. Serdachny also made an impact in the Rivalry Series games for Canada, scoring twice, including the overtime winner that helped secure Canada’s victory in the series.
Why Corinne Schroeder didn’t make the roster
Corinne Schroeder seemed to be on track to make her debut on Team Canada at a major tournament after being included in the Rivalry Series roster in February. However, she did not see any game action, and Kristen Campbell has since performed exceptionally well for PWHL Toronto, possibly closing the door for Schroeder.
It is a testament to the intense competition within Team Canada that a goaltender as talented as Schroeder has yet to crack the roster. She was named the PHF Goaltender of the Year in 2022-23 and has been outstanding in the PWHL this season, boasting the best save percentage and goals-against average among starting goalies in the league.
Canada has remained committed to its goalie depth chart of Desbiens, Emerance Maschmeyer, and Campbell, which has proven successful in recent years. Desbiens, in particular, has only lost one gold medal game as Canada’s number one goaltender.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances such as injury, retirement, or a significant drop in performance, it is unlikely that Canada will make any changes to its goalie core at this point.
As Canada unveils its roster for the IIHF women’s world championship, anticipation builds for a highly competitive tournament. With a blend of experienced veterans and promising newcomers, Team Canada is poised to make a strong push for gold. Fans will eagerly await the start of the tournament on April 3 and witness the battle for international women’s hockey supremacy unfold.