Australia Names Roster For World Para Ice Hockey Women’s World Championships

Australia has named its roster for the second-ever World Para Ice Hockey Women’s World Championships, to be held in Newcastle, Australia, from November 24 to 30.

The group will include eight players from last year's team: forwards Ashlee Morton, Belinda Green, Noella Angel, and Rosa-Lee Principe; defenders Priya Cooper, Sonya Newman, and Lynda Holt; and goaltender Erika Gosney. Australia will also bring six new additions: Lisa Edmonds, Katie Luff, Megan Pascoe, Susan Seipel, Liesl Tesch and Latisha Tibbels. Natalie Mellors, a forward from last year's group, will also be included as a reserve for the tournament.

At last year's inaugural World Para Ice Hockey Women’s World Championships in Dolný Kubín, Slovakia, the Australians finished last after three consecutive shutout losses: first to the eventual gold-medal-winning United States, then to Norway, and then to Team World. As the team looks to score its first-ever World Championship goal, the group's goaltending will aim to continue its strong showing. Gosney faced 94 shots on goal in the team's three games last year, the most of any goaltender in the tournament, making 71 saves and finishing with the tournament's fifth-best save percentage (.755).

Australia will compete in Group A, alongside the United States and Great Britain. Group B will include Canada, which announced its roster yesterday, along with Norway and Team World.