Germany, Hungary, Japan and host France will line up from August 28-30 in Albertville to begin their national program preparations for the 2025-26 season, including for the 2026 Olympics.
France, Germany, and Japan will all take part in the Milano Cortina Olympics, making this event an important step to finalizing their rosters.
Germany, the highest ranked team in the 4 Nations event, knows this tournament is an important launchpad for their season.
"We are excited to be reunited as a team and start the Olympic season together," said head coach Jeff MacLeod in a translated comment. "Our players have worked hard over the summer and are entering the first training session with a high level of fitness and a lot of positive energy."
PWHL Presence Present For Germany
With the Olympics approaching, all of Germany's top players will be in attendance in Albertville including PWHL players Laura Kluge (Boston), Nina Jobst-Smith (Vancouver), and Sandra Abstreiter (Montreal). NCAA players Luisa Welke, Lilli Welcke, Svenja Voigt, and Nina Christof will also play. Ten members of Germany's roster will play in Memmingen this season building in chemistry. It's a group that includes many of Germany's top veterans including Daria Gleißner, Carina Strobel, and Ronja Hark. Emily Nix is also back, before heading to Sweden to play in the SDHL with Frolunda.
Germany will host the next 4 Nations tournament from November 5-9 in Landshut, Germany.
France Fielding A More North American Look
France will field a roster with ten players competing in North America, and only four still playing domestically in France, two of whom are goalies. NCAA players including Manon Le Scodan, Jade Barbirati, Julia Mesplede, Elina Zilliox, and Lucie Quatro will all play a major role moving forward. France will however, continue to lean heavily on veterans like Chloe Aurard of the Boston Fleet, Estelle Duvin who is the reigning MVP in Switzerland's PostFinance Women's League, Clara Rozier, and Lore Baudrit. Alice Philbert will be a key piece to their puzzle in net, behind France's blueline, which is their biggest question mark.
Shiga Not Ready To Return For Japan
Akane Shiga will be back on the ice competitively soon, and Japan likely has their hopes set on the Olympics for their best player. Haruka Toko also remains absent from Japan's roster, and they'll also play without Makoto Ito, one of Japan's best the past two seasons. It will be a hit to their attack, but will also allow some of the skilled up and comers to take their shot. 16-year-olds Umeka Odaira and Azuma Numabe are two players to watch. Mei Miura and Rui Ukita are back and will be their biggest names up front. On the back end, Japan's blueline remains a strength headlined by Aoi Shiga and Ayaka Hitosato. At the 2025 Worlds Miyuu Masuhara played every minute in the crease for Japan, but Japan could give a start to Rae Halloran who is making her senior national team debut.
Hungary Bringing Younger Roster
Hungary has the least on the line in this event with no Olympic tournament on the horizon. They've brought a less experienced roster than recent seasons with some of their top players absent. Captain Fanni Gasparics is pregnant and not competing, leading scorer Alexandra Huszak is attempting to make the Ottawa Charge as a free agent invite and is absent, as is defender Taylor Baker who played more than a season with the New York Sirens. They'll also play without Mercyhurst forward Regina Metzler and young offensive standout Reka Hiezl.
Instead Hungary will bring nine teenagers and 18 players 23 years old or younger.