What If There Was a Women's World Juniors?

Ian Kennedy digs deep into what rosters and results would like if there was a women's World Junior Championship.

What if there was a women’s World Junior Championship?

Let’s be honest – there should be one. It’s the only gap between IIHF tournaments for men and women that remains.

When the U-18 tournament is over for women, they need to wait until they can make a senior national team to once again compete in a best-on-best international competition. Some years, this led the public to exciting introductions to burgeoning international stars, such as Sarah Fillier and Taylor Heise. The women, however, shouldn’t have to wait, and a world juniors tournament would be another important step toward equity. It would also be a space for scouting opportunities for the growing professional opportunities in women’s hockey.

With that in mind, here is a mock look at what 2022-2023 women’s world juniors rosters for Team Canada and Team USA could look like. There’s also a rundown of the top players from six nations – Sweden, Czechia, Finland, Switzerland, Hungary and Japan – who could round out an inaugural women’s World Junior Championship.

Canada reclaimed the top spot at the Olympics, World Championship and U-18 tournament, so there is no reason they couldn’t repeat at the World Junior Championship. With Eve Gascon in the net and a talented mix of youth and NCAA veterans out front, this would be a competitive and balanced group.

Goaltenders: Eve Gascon (2003, Saint-Laurent Patriotes, QCHL) continues to play men’s junior hockey until she joins the NCAA’s University of Minnesota-Duluth next season. Last year, Gascon made international hockey headlines by going 1-0-1 in two appearances with the QMJHL’s Gatineau Olympiques. Behind Gascon, Hannah Murphy (2003, Colgate, NCAA) had a spectacular rookie season last year with Colgate recording an eye-popping 1.49 GAA and .930 save percentage. Mari Pieterson (2004), a U-18 gold medallist, is a solid third.

Defense: Named to the CHA All-Rookie team after a spectacular campaign with Mercyhurst, Sydney Peterson (2003), alongside Princeton defender Dominique Cormier (2003), who has been on Canada’s national radar for years, lead the way. From this summer’s U-18 roster, Sara Swiderski (2004, Clarkson, NCAA) was named to the all-tournament team, while U-18 captain Brooke Fisher (2004, Boston University, NCAA) was also a stalwart. Alyssa Regalado (2004, Cornell, NCAA) is outsourcing her U-18 teammates early as an NCAA rookie. Youngsters Ava Murphy (2005, Oakville, OWHL U22) scored a point per game from the blueline at the U-18 World Championship, and Piper Grober (2005, Durham West, OWHL U22) are deserving selections.

Forwards: Sarah Wozniewicz (2003, Wisconsin, NCAA) and Sarah Paul (2003, Princeton) represented Canada at the pre-pandemic U-18 World Championship and were named to Canada’s National Development team this summer for the Collegiate Select Series. Yet to crack a Team Canada roster, Abby Newhook (2003) will be getting those looks after being named the Hockey East Rookie of the Year scoring at a point-per-game rate with Boston College. Rounding out the forward group are 2003-born players Kira Juodikis (New Hampshire, NCAA), Sarah Marchand (Syracuse, NCAA), CHA Rookie of the Year Vanessa Upson (Mercyhurst, NCAA), Isabel Wunder (Princeton, NCAA), and Madison Primeau (Syracuse, NCAA). The rest of Canada’s forward group can be filled by U-18 gold medallists, including Jade Iginla (2004, Brown, NCAA) and Madison Chantler (2004, Quinnipiac, NCAA), among others.

If you’d like to cut and paste USA into the gold medal spot, it’s a coin toss between Canada and USA. USA’s U-18 roster was loaded with elite skill this past summer, and they have multiple players such as defender Haley Winn and forward Tessa Janecke who have already played with the senior national team.

Goaltenders: Hockey East all-rookie team member Callie Shanahan (2003, Boston College, NCAA) would likely start in net after winning gold with Team USA at the 2020 U-18 tournament and representing USA at the Collegiate Select Series this summer. She’d be pushed by Skylar Vetter (2003, Minnesota, NCAA) another member of USA’s 2020 gold medal-winning U-18 team. Youngster Annelies Bergmann (2005, Oakland, HPHL 18U) is a formidable third goalie.

Defense: Haley Winn (2003, Clarkson, NCAA) would be the backbone of this team, having already made her senior national team debut at the Rivalry Series in November. Winn has multiple U-18 medals and also played at the Collegiate Select Series. Sydney Morrow (2004, Ohio State, NCAA), who was named to the U-18 All-Tournament team, as well as Grace Dwyer, (2004, Cornell, NCAA) and Laney Potter (2004, Philadelphia, 19UAAA) would be key contributors. Emily Zumwinkle (Minnesota, NCAA), Grace Wolfe (St. Cloud, NCAA), and Brenna Fuhrman (Minnesota-Duluth, NCAA), all 2003-born players, would make for a formidable and mobile blueline.

Forwards: Laila Edwards (2004), MVP of the U-18 World Championship, showcased her elite playmaking skills and size, earning a spot on the Collegiate Select Series roster and as an NCAA rookie with Wisconsin. Tessa Janecke (2004) is another U-18 standout who plays an intense brand of hockey, is scoring a point per game as an NCAA rookie with Penn State and made her senior national team debut in the Rivalry Series. USA’s U-18 team was so skilled this year, they are a logical group to keep together, including the dynamic Kirsten Simms (2004, Wisconsin, NCAA), Danielle Burgen (2004, Minnesota-Duluth, NCAA), Elyssa Biederman (2004, Colgate, NCAA), Madison Kaiser (2004, Minnesota, NCAA), and Claire Enright (2004, Wisconsin, NCAA) among others. Peyton Hemp (2003, Minnesota, NCAA) and Tyra Turner (2003, Saint Anslem, NCAA) could also make an impact. Hemp won U-18 gold in 2020 and was the NCAA and WCHA Rookie of the Year last season, while Turner was the NEWHA Rookie of the Year.

Sanni Vanhanen (2005) is a veteran of the Olympics and multiple World Championships with Finland’s senior national team. She has speed, plays physically and is a deceptive shooter. Sofianna Sundelin (2003) is the other Finnish player eligible for a world juniors tournament and has already played in the Olympics and two World Championships. In net, Emilia Kyrkko (2004) was voted the top netminder at the U-18 World Championship, giving the Finns a chance to win every game while posting a 1.51 GAA and .959 save percentage.

Adela Sapovalivova (2006) is one of the most skilled players on the planet. This year, Sapovalivova was named to the U-18 all-tournament team and then helped Czechia’s senior national team win a shocking bronze at the recent World Championship. The leading scorer (10 points in five games) of the U-18 World Championship was another 2006-born Czechian forward named Tereza Plosova. If Czechia hopes to move to Group A in the future, this duo will be central in that quest. Andrea Trnkova (2004) is another player who competed at the World Championship with the senior national program, while Tereza Pistekova (2005) is an impact player. In net, Michaela Hesova (2005), although small, was almost unbeatable at the U-18 World Championship. She plays in the USA with Bishop Kearney Selects.

Mira Jungaker (2005) played well beyond her years, scoring five points in six games at the World Championships after starring at the U-18 tournament. The blueliner is one of the top players in the world at her position. Teammates on the U-18 team and with HV71 in the SDHL, Mira Markstrom (2005), would join Jungaker on Team Sweden. Tuva Kandell (2004) was voted the U-18 tournament’s top defender, and team captain Nicole Hall (2004) showcased her speed and two-way game. Finally, netminder Ida Boman (2003) represented Sweden at both the Olympics and World Championships and is starting in the SDHL this year. She could steal games for Sweden.

Alina Marti (2004), a catalyst for the Swiss at the U-18 tournament with seven points in five games, has already appeared in the Olympics and two World Championships, including this year, where Marti made history by scoring Switzerland’s first-ever goal against Canada. Laura Zimmerman (2003) is in her first year at St. Cloud State and was key for Switzerland at the World Championships. Alessia Baechler (2005) would be the cornerstone of the Swiss blueline after playing at both the World Championship and U-18s.

Five skaters and two of Hungary’s three netminders from their senior national team at the recent World Championship would be eligible for a World Junior Championship. Forwards Emma Kreisz (2003), who plays at Stanstead College and will join the University of Minnesota next season, and Mira Seregely, who plays in the NCAA with Maine, would be central players on a Hungarian team.

As an up-and-coming nation, Japan relied heavily on youth at the World Championship, dressing four U-20 players, headlined by Makato Ito (2004), who scored key points in Japan’s upsets, and 2006-born defender Kohane Sato, along with goaltender Riko Kawaguchi (2004). A stronger domestic league or more players moving overseas would jumpstart the foundation that exists with Team Japan.