Top 10 U-18 Women's Players In The World

We count down the top ten U-18 women's hockey players in the world, led by the Slovakian phenom Nela Lopusanova.

With the Gretzky-Hlinka Cup underway on the men's side, the top men's U-18 players in the world are on international display, with games televised across the globe, and an avalanche of scouts descending on the games. Sadly, no such equivalent exists for women's hockey. That doesn't mean, however, that the best women's players in the world should be overlooked this summer.

With that in mind, here's a look at the top 10 U-18 women's hockey players in the world right now.

1. Nela Lopusanova, Slovakia

Last year's U-18 World Championship MVP, Lopusanova is as skilled as they come. She was a nominee for the IIHF's Player of the Year Award, and continues to show not only physical dominance, but elite puck skills and eye-hand coordination. As a 2008 born player, she still has three years of U-18 eligibility left. Lopusanova will cross the Atlantic this season to play for the Bishop Kearney Selects.

2. Caitlin Kraemer, Canada

Kraemer has emerged as Canada's top U-18 forward, and perhaps the closest thing this cohort has to a top six prospect for the national team. She scored 10 goals in only five U-18 World Championship games and was a force for the Kitchener-Waterloo Rangers. This year she'll receive significant reinforcement with the newly rebranded Waterloo Ravens as she'll be joined by Abby Stonehouse, a player who is verging on top ten status in the world herself. The 2006 born forward is committed to Minnesota-Duluth.

3. Hilda Svensson, Sweden

Perhaps Svensson belongs higher on this list, as she's excelled at every level. Svensson is the reigning SDHL Rookie of the Year and after scoring a point per game at the U-18 World Championships, Svensson took another step with the senior national team scoring 11 points in seven games for Sweden, including a late game tying goal against Canada to send their quarterfinal to overtime. Svensson will be a presence as the 2006 born forward plays her final U-18 tournament this year.

4. Adela Sapovalivova, Czechia

Sapovalivova is a slick forward who is elusive with the puck. She has silky hands and an ability to find space in the offensive zone. A lethal scorer, Sapovalivova had six points in five games at the U-18 World Championships, and scored a pair of goals for the bronze medal winning Team Czechia at the World Championships. On a rising Czechia squad, Sapovalivova is the future. She'll play in the SDHL this season.

5. Maggie Scannell, USA

When it's all said and done, Scannell could ascend the list as one of the top American players on the planet at any age group. The five-foot-ten forward was an assistant captain for Team USA at last year's U-18 World Championship, her second with USA. The Shattuck St. Mary's sniper who had 39 goals and 77 points in 48 games this season, recorded eight points in five games for Team USA. Scannell is committed to Wisconsin where she'll join the perennial powerhouse that continues to produce USA's best players.

6. Chloe Primerano, Canada

Placing Primerano this high before she's ever played a game for Team Canada is a gamble, but the odds are good Primerano meets and exceeds expectations. The 2007 born defender was selected by the Vancouver Giants in the WHL draft, the first woman ever selected as a skater. This year, Primerano won a national title with Team British Columbia finishing second in tournament scoring 10 points in six games, and was the top scoring defender in CSSHL with 48 points in 30 games for RINK Academy. There are few blueliners who play the game the way Primerano does.

7. Tereza Plosova, Czechia

Plosova led the 2022 U-18 World Championships in scoring, recorded more than a point per game at the 2023 tournament, and won a senior national World Championship bronze with Czechia. Alongside Sapovalivova, Plosova is giving the world reason for concern that a third international powerhouse is emerging. Plosova is also headed to the SDHL next year where she'll play for Djurgardens.

8. Megan Healy, USA

This is where the debate begins, as there is a larger group of players who could arguably house the next ten spots, but Healy stands apart as the top U-18 American blueliner at the moment. She's mobile, sees the ice well, and can activate offensively from the blueline to contribute. Currently at Bishop Kearney the 2007 born player still has two seasons of U-18 eligibility left, meaning she's only going to get better.

9. Charlotte Pieckenhagen, Canada

A group of Canadian players, whether it's Abby Stonehouse or defenders Emma Venusio and Gracie Graham, could stake their claim to another Canadian spot in the top ten. It's Pieckenhagen however, who combines size and scoring in a unique package. Pieckenhagen uses her five-foot-ten frame to her advantage both on the international stage and with the Mississauga Hurricanes in the OWHL where she notched 49 points in 35 games this year. 

10. Bella Fanale

As a 2007 born player, Fanale edges out the remaining contenders for this spot as the highly skilled prospect is still growing as a player, and her upside is limitless. Fanale has good puck skills, and will be part of strong team at Bishop Kearney this year, and will be a key feature of USA's U-18 roster, in all situations, for the next two years.

Other U-18 Players To Watch: Alena Lynn Rossel, Jenna Raunio, Rose Dwyer, Kendra Distad, Morgan Jackson, Josie St. Martin, Layla Hemp, Abby Stonehouse, , Mackenzie Alexander, Emma Venusio, Avery Pickering, Gracie Graham, Hannah Clark, Ebba Hedqvist, Linda Vocetková, Naemi Herzig, Ava Thomas, Morgan Stickney, Morgan Jackson, Maxime Tremblay.