The IIHF U-18 women's World Championships are set to get underway January 10 in Sydney and Membertou, Nova Scotia. Canada enters as both the host and reigning World Champions after beating USA in the gold medal game last season, while Czechia returns as the bronze medalists from 2025, and silver medalists in 2024.

Here's a team-by-team preview.

Canada

There will be no Chloe Primerano or Stryker Zablocki this season, but Canada continues to reload with talent. Two newcomers to watch are Adrianna Milani up front and Megan Mossey on the back end who are considered two of the top young players in Canada. Top returnees for Canada include Caileigh Tiller and Hayley MacDonald up front, and Kate Viel on the back end. If there's one question on Canada's roster it's in net where they bring three rookies to the tournament.

Canada Announced Women's U-18 National Team For IIHF World Championships In Nova Scotia Hockey Canada has announced their 25-player roster for the IIHF U-18 women's World Championships scheduled to begin January 10 in Nova Scotia.

USA

USA has a talented group of returning players including Haley Box, Annabelle Lovell, Chyna Taylor, Sloane Hartmetz, Morgan Stickney, Jane Daley and more. It's a group that will enter as the gold medal favorites after beating Canada this summer at the U-18 Select Series. It will be a photo finish between these programs but USA has more experience across their roster and plenty of high-end skill that can put the puck in the net.

USA Announces U-18 National Team For World Championships USA Hockey named their 25 player roster for the IIHF U-18 women's World Championships scheduled to take place this January in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Finland

Finland is at a stage in national girls' and women's hockey development where they aren't seeing a ton of top talent coming through their U-18 program. Finland was an easy matchup last season getting ousted in the quarterfinals, and they'll have their work cut out for them to make it to a medal game again this season. Tinja Tapani and Emmi Loponen are a pair to watch up front, while Fanny Kyrkkö is one of the nation's top U-18 prospects on the blueline. There just isn't the star power here to carry this team, so they'll need to be a team built on work ethic, dirty goals, and team play.

Finland Names U-18 National Team For IIHF Women's World Championship Finland has named their final roster for the 2026 IIHF U-18 World Championships to be held in Nova Scotia next month.

Sweden

There's a cohort of players for Swedish fans to be excited about on this roster that will keep Sweden's sights set squarely on a medal. Ebba Westerlind will be Sweden's foundation on a blueline built primarily on players competing in the SDHL. Up front, however, is where Sweden's real hopes rest as they have a wealth of skill including Moa Stridh, Tilde Grillfors, Tilia Lindgren, Ebba Hesselvall, Inez Nygren, and Matilda Österman. Do not count out this team, as Sweden has proven at the U-18 tournament in recent seasons, and with their pipeline of players dominating at the NCAA level, that their development pathways continue to improve and are now a realistic threat to Canada and USA year after year.

Sweden Names U-18 National Team For Upcoming World Championships Sweden has unveiled their roster for the upcoming 2026 IIHF U-18 Women's World Championships in Nova Scotia and will enter as a medal favorite.

Switzerland

Senior national team defender Laure Mériguet, and forward Norina Müller, who made her national team debut at the Women's Euro Hockey Tour this season, will be Switzerland's top threats. Müller is the next Swiss star on the rise as she already sits in the top 10 in PostFinance Women's League scoring averaging more than a point per game and outscoring senior national team members from Switzerland and other European nations. Young blueliner Lou Krebs is a name to watch on the back end. The Swiss will be in tough, but their national program has shown growth through renewed investment in women's hockey nationally.

Switzerland Names Roster For U-18 Women's World Championships Switzerland named their U-18 women's national team for the IIHF World Championships coming next month in Nova Scotia.

Slovakia

It's the swan song for Nela Lopusanova where she can set the all-time U-18 World Championship scoring record, passing Kendall Coyne Schofield with eight points in the tournament. She's off to Wisconsin next season and is the reigning MVP at this event. Mariana Sumegova is one of the few returning starting goaltenders in the tournament. Slovakia has a lot of returnees and features more players who have come to North America this season seeking stronger competition. They were saved in relegation last season and will again find themselves in a tough spot to avoid another relegation contest.

Slovakia Names U-18 National Team For Upcoming IIHF World Championships In Nova Scotia Slovakia named their final U-18 national team roster ahead of the 2026 U-18 women's World Championships set to take place in January in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Hungary

Hungary features four members of their senior national team in Réka Hiezl, Lili Hajdu, Petra Polónyi and Krisztina Weiler and they'll be tough to face. Hungary's issue is depth, but they've certainly improved and the Quinnipiac-committed Hiezl will be one of the top forwards in the tournament. Starter Noémi Zoé Takács who helped Hungary earn promotion last year.

Hungary Announces Women's National Team For U-18 World Championships In Nova Scotia Hungary has announced their 2026 IIHF women's U-18 World Championship roster ahead of the tournament's opening on January 10 in Nova Scotia, Canada. It's Hungary's return to the top group after a 10 year absence.

Czechia

Czechia should find themselves playing for a medal again this year barring a significant upset. They have a group of NCAA-committed players including Julie Jebousková, Adéla Pánková, Tereza Gildainová, and Kateřina Pěnčíková, and others who will soon join that list. They have a long list of talented returnees, and also some newcomers to watch like 2011 born Adéla Křenková who plays boys' hockey in Czechia, and Adéla Mynaříková who is the top scorer in Czechia's top women's league despite being only 16.

Czechia Announces U-18 Women's National Team For Upcoming World Championships Czechia announced their U-18 women's national team roster for the upcoming IIHF World Championships scheduled for Sydney and Membertou, Nova Scotia beginning on January 10.