Denmark will bring seven World Championship rookies from their U-18 program to the big team this year, and has made a noticeable youth movement in net as well.
Denmark will bring seven World Championship rookies from their U-18 program to the big team this year, and has made a noticeable youth movement in net as well.
When you're the team relegated from the top division, the expectation is for you to immediately bounce back up. That's the plan for Denmark who suffered demotion after hosting the 2022 World Championships.
Now in Division 1A, Denmark will be in the running for one of two promotion spots as France and Hungary are set to return to Division 1A next year.
Josefine Jakobsen is likely the best player Denmark has ever produced, serving as the longtime captain and leading scorer for the nation. She will play for Brynas in the SDHL this season after scoring 29 points in 30 games last season with Djurgardens. Josefine Hoegh Persson is a big, powerful forward to played a key role for the SDHL champions Lulea, and alongside Jakobsen, will be counted upon to take heavy minutes for Denmark up front. Youngster Sofia Skriver is a future key to Denmark's hopes. After winning an SDHL title with Lulea, she's headed to North America to play for Mercyhurst, who has been playing an exhibition series in Sweden against the Swedish national team this summer. Her game ready status should be a benefit to Denmark. Silke Lave Glud had a strong campaign in Sweden's NDHL this year scoring 73 points in 21 games for Malmo. She'll join Hvidovre this season, Denmark's only team to enter Sweden's NDHL.
On the blueline, Amalie Andersen was set to take a major step forward in her career signing with the PHF's Buffalo Beauts in the offseason before the league's acquisition cancelled that contract. She remains a core piece to Denmark's blueline, which is a weaker point for the nation. Teenager Lærke Søndergaard has a bright future on Denmark's blueline.
In net, it will be interesting to see if this is the season Emma-Sofie Nordstrøm takes over as starter, having recently completed her first NCAA season at St. Lawrence. Denmark took a complete departure in net not bringing their longtime goalies from World Championship or Olympic competition, instead choosing youth. Alongside Nordstrøm is U-18 standout Caroline Bjergstad who won gold with Denmark and was named the best player on her team at the 2023 Division 1B championships helping Denmark earn promotion.
Alongside Skriver, Denmark made a noticeable youth movement for this tournament bringing up multiple members of their U-18 program including Caroline Bjergstad, Frederikke Foss, Frida Kielstrup, Klara Holm, Lærke Søndergaard, Sarah Stauning, and Silja Rasmussen.