Team-By-Team Preview Of 6-Nations Stop On Women's Euro Hockey Tour

Here's a team-by-team look at the six rosters heading into the December stop on the 2024-25 Women's Euro Hockey Tour, including Canada and USA's national development teams.

For the first time, the Women's Euro Hockey Tour will feature teams from Canada and USA. Both nations will send their national development team rosters, filled with the top NCAA players available from Canada and the USA.

With a mix of NCAA and European players attending the tournament, it will become one of the premiere scouting opportunities for PWHL teams to see the best NCAA prospects go head-to-head against the best European prospects and veterans. Speaking of the PWHL, almost all of the league's players pulled out of the event opting to stay in North America.

Here's a look at each roster, and players to watch:

After initially naming multiple PWHL players to their roster, Czechia will field a roster without their PWHL contingent of Katerina Mrazova, Tereza Vanisova, Aneta Tejralova, Noemi Neubauerova, Klara Hymlarova, Daniela Pejsova, Denisa Krizova, Dominika Laskova, and Klara Peslarova. 

In net, it will be youth on display for Czechia with Michaela Hesová (Dartmouth) and Clarkson commit Aneta Šenková likely to see action after Peslarova was removed from the roster due to PWHL commitments.

Without their pro defenders, RPI's Andrea Trnková will be asked to play a much larger role, as will Brynäs blueliner Sára Čajanová and Leksand's Tereza Radová. The remainder of Czechia's blueline will need to step up their games significantly, specifically the three playing in Czechia's weak domestic league.

Up front, Michaela Pejsova who plays in Switzerland, and NCAA stars Kristýna Kaltounková and Natálie Mlýnková will be the names to watch. All three are high PWHL Draft prospects with Kaltounková and Mlýnková projecting as potential first round picks. This is the first time we'll see Kaltounková representing her national team on a bigger stage, which will be a tremendous boost for Czechia. Adéla Šapovalivová who has been lighting it up in Sweden with MoDo, and who will come to the NCAA next season, is the other top name to watch. 

The main addition to Canada's roster from the one that played a three-game series this summer against USA is defender and senior national team member Nicole Gosling. She's Canada's lone senior national team member still in the NCAA, and she'll play a crucial role on Canada's blueline alongside fellow PWHL Draft prospect Kendall Cooper, who was Canada's best defender against the USA. Emma Venusio is another young defender to watch. Up front, Anne Cherkowski, Jenna Buglioni, Maya Labad and Sarah Wozniewicz all have PWHL Draft aspirations. Labad is an addition that did not play this summer for Canada, but should make an impact. Canada's top scoring threats however, might be Ohio State's Jocelyn Amos and Colgate's Emmalee Pais. Looking at young stars, Caitlin Kraemer and Claire Murdoch both deserve attention. 

In net, Canada brings a wealth of depth. Hannah Murphy and Eve Gascon are the likely pair to guide Canada in the crease. Either can steal games. 

Calling this a "development" team is a slight misnomer for USA. Their team consists heavily of players with senior national team experience and World Championship medals. On the blueline Rory Guilday (Cornell), Caroline Harvey (Wisconsin), Sydney Morrow (Minnesota), and Haley Winn (Clarkson) all fall into this group. Ohio State's Emma Peschel is one of the top blueliners in NCAA hockey and was spectacular for USA this summer outperforming some of these national team stalwarts. Up front Joy Dunne (Ohio State), Lacey Eden (Wisconsin), Laila Edwards (Wisconsin), Tessa Janecke (Penn State), Abbey Murphy (Minnesota), Kirsten Simms (Wisconsin), and Casey O’Brien (Wisconsin) all have senior national experience. They're joined by Emma Gentry (St. Cloud State), Peyton Hemp (Minnesota), Ella Huber (Minnesota), Skylar Irving (Northeastern), and Kiara Zanon (Ohio State) who are all in their PWHL Draft year. 

In net, Annelies Bergmann is the likely starter, although the addition of Ava McNaughton might give USA a second option.

Switzerland could have an incredibly difficult time scoring in this tournament without Lara Stalder or Alina Muller. With Andrea Brändli in net, the Swiss can steal games, but they are a nation on the decline internationally. Rahel Enzler is the top scoring Swiss national in the PostFinance Women's League this season, followed by Sinja Leeman who are both on the roster. Alongside Alina Marti and youngster Ivana Wey, Switzerland will need offense by committee if they hope to earn a win. On the back end, Alessia Baechler, Lara Christen, and Alena Lynn Rossel will do much of the heavy lifting. If Switzerland can stay out of last place in this event, it will be an accomplishment.

Much like the rest of the teams at this tournament, PWHL players will not be making an appearance for Finland which means they'll be without Ronja Savolainen, Noora Tulus, and Susanna Tapani. Finland however, will still have a significant talent pool to work with. In net St. Cloud State duo Sanni Ahola and Emilia Kyrkkö will backstop Finland. Ahola was Finland's starter last season at the World Championships, and Kyrkkö is off to a spectacular start to her NCAA career.

Along the blueline, veteran leader and Finnish legend Jenni Hiirikoski will not play. Instead, there will be a decided NCAA flavor to the blueline with Minnesota defenders Nelli Laitinen and Krista Parkonnen on board, along with St. Cloud State's Siiri Yrjölä. Sanni Rantala who plays with Frölunda looks like a player who could challenge for a PWHL roster spot in the coming seasons, and one of Finland's top young defenders, Tuuli Tallinen, is also slated to play.

Up front, the veteran presence of Michelle Karvinen and Petra Nieminen, alongside the SDHL's leading scorer Elisa Holopainen will keep the Finns dangerous. Jenniina Nylund has been climbing the PWHL draft board this season, and Viivi Vainikka is considered a top 10 prospect. Finland will also have several players competing at the NCAA level this season in Oona Havana (Vermont), Sofia Nuutinen (Mercyhurst), and Sofiana Sundelin (St. Cloud State), as well as recent Ohio State commit Sanni Vanhanen.

Sweden might have the only PWHL player in this tournament in netminder Emma Söderberg who the nation named to their roster. If she makes the trip, she'll be backed up by rising star Ebba Svensson Träff who has had an excellent season with Linköping in the SDHL.

On the back end Paula Bergström and Linnéa Andersson will be the veteran leaders with Minnesota-Duluth blueliner Ida Karlsson and Emma Forsgren as the other blueliners who represented Sweden at Worlds. Jenna Raunio, who will head to Ohio State next season was also named to the roster.

Up front, Sweden is not only without Lina Ljungblom, but Hanna Olsson who plays in the SDHL won't play either. Instead the team will rely on returnees like Hilda Svensson, Josefin Bouveng, Sara Hjalmarsson, Hanna Thuvik, and Thea Johansson to lead the way. Sweden has decent depth at the tournament including Elin Svensson who is having a breakout season in the SDHL, Nicole Hall, a rookie at Penn State, and several young members of their national team from the 2024 Worlds. Hjalmarsson and Svensson are two players to watch who could consider declaring for the PWHL Draft this year.