The first stop on the Women's Euro Hockey Tour is set to drop the puck. Here's a look at how each of the four nation's rosters stack up.
The first stop on the Women's Euro Hockey Tour is set to drop the puck. Here's a look at how each of the four nation's rosters stack up.
The first stop on the Women's Euro Hockey Tour is set to drop the puck in Kloten, Switzerland with Sweden, Finland, Czechia, and Switzerland ready to compete. Here's a look at how each team stacks up against the competition.
Sweden
Minus Hanna Olsson, all of Sweden's top stars are set to compete including PWHL players Lina Ljungblom, Maja Nylen Persson, Emma Söderberg, and NCAA standouts Ida Karlsson, Thea Johansson, and Josefin Bouveng. Their next generation is coming into their own as well including Hilda Svensson, although defensive young-star Mira Jungaker won't be in the lineup. No nation has made the steps forward Sweden has and they're bolstered by SDHL veterans. It's almost time where Sweden starts to knock off Czechia and Finland from time to time, and it could begin at this event.
Czechia
Czechia continues to develop into one of the world's powerhouse teams. Their main hole remains scoring, but they have a group of burgeoning stars and there's hope on the horizon for their scoring to get a boost. No nation at this event has the depth of PWHL talent, a boost that will become more prevalent as the years go one. Aneta Tejralova, Denisa Krisova, Tereza Vanisova, Klara Hymlarova, Noemi Neubauerova, and Katerina Mrazova headline, while NCAA star Natalie Mlynkova is targeting top spot in the 2025 Draft and was already Czechia’s top player at the 2025 Worlds. With Klara Peslarova in net, the Czech roster has few weaknesses, and as young star Adela Sapovalivova continues to develop, and they gain other reinforcements, Czechia will only get better.
Finland
The 2024 World Championship bronze medalists look deep and experienced. Star studded veterans including Susana Tapani, Petra Nieminen, Michelle Karvinen, Noora Tulus, and Ronja Savolainen all hold their own against the best in the world. Unless one of their netminders finds a groove however, this group has one significant hole without Sanni Ahola that’s unlikely to be fixable and could cost them games. Can team defense overcome?
Switzerland
Switzerland enters this leg of the Women's Euro Hockey Tour as the decided underdog. Their best hope to steal games comes in MoDo netmidner Andrea Brändli who has emerged as one of the top goaltenders globally. Up front, the absence of Alina Muller will hurt her nation's chances for success. Scoring will rest in the lap of stalwart Lara Stalder and young star Ivana Wey. Switzerland's national development has lagged behind other nations recently, and they'll need the next generation including Wey, Naemi Herzig, and Alessia Baechler to all take significant steps forward. If the World Championships remain structured as they are, Switzerland looks destined to drop to Group B, soon to be replaced by Sweden or Germany.