HERNING — Canada have unveiled a significantly younger 25-player roster for the women's world hockey championship in Herning and Esbjerg, Denmark, from 6-16 November, with the average age dropping to 25.8 after a 29.2-year-old side claimed silver at the Olympic Games in February following a 2-1 overtime defeat to the United States in the final in Milan, Italy.
Captain Marie-Philip Poulin will not play in Denmark as she recovers from knee surgery, while veteran forwards Natalie Spooner, Sarah Nurse and Blayre Turnbull and goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer were invited to selection camp but were unable to attend. Veteran forward Brianne Jenner and defender Jocelyne Larocque have been left off the roster.
The squad signals a clear generational shift, featuring 18-year-old forwards Rosalie Tremblay and Hayley McDonald and 19-year-old defender Chloe Primerano. Montreal Victoire's Kori Cheverie will coach Canada in Denmark, leading a group comprising three goaltenders, eight defenders and 14 forwards — 19 from the PWHL and six from the NCAA. The International Ice Hockey Federation has moved the tournament from its usual April slot to November to avoid conflict with the PWHL schedule.
Thirteen members of the roster were Olympic silver medallists and a dozen helped Canada win their most recent world title in 2024, with six set to make their world championship debut in Denmark. The United States, driven by a class of talented college players and first-overall PWHL pick Caroline Harvey, are expected to be strong for several years after their Olympic triumph.