Norway will be one of the team looking to earn promotion from the World Championship Division 1A tournament, although key losses will hurt those chances.
Team Norway has many advantages other nations in the World Championship Division 1A pool don't. Primarily, those advantages are built through the participation of Norwegian players in the world's top leagues.
The majority of Norway's roster plays in Sweden's SDHL, considered the best league in Europe. The nation also features top players excelling in North American colleges.
The absence of Ena Nystrøm is a stunning loss to Norway in net. Twice named Best Goaltender at the World Championship D1A tournament, the absence of the CHA Goaltender of the Year. Linnea Holterud Olsson is the probable replacement in net, but it's a massive loss for Norway.
On the blueline, Emma Bergesen is the reigning Best Defender from the World Championships, and was an All-Canadian for Mount Royal helping them win a USports national championship. She's one of the top international defenders in the world, and will again be the foundation of Norway's blueline. Norway will be without veteran Ingrid Morset, the longtime member of Linkoping in the SDHL and longtime captain of Norway. Instead, beyond Bergersen, the Norwegian blueline will rely on NCAA blueliner Thea Jørgensen who plays for Lindenwood and SDHL defender Lene Tendenes.
Up front, Norway's depth will show, where Andrea Dahlin is the leader offensively. She moved to play alongside Michelle Karvinen and Hanna Olsson with Frolunda lifting them from the NDHL to the SDHL scoring 86 points in only 21 games in the process. She'll receive support from SDHL players Mathea Fischer who had 20 points in 30 games for SDE, as well as SDHLers Marthe Pabsdorff Brunvold, Emilie Kruse Johansen, and Lotte Pedersen, and NCAA forward Millie Rose Sirum.
Norway has depth almost no other nation in the Division 1A bracket boasts, which will bode well for their promotion hopes.