Denmark won't win a medal at the 2026 World Championships on home ice. The nation will hope, however, to win a game and avoid relegation to the Division 1A tournament. The last time Denmark hosted in 2022, that's exactly what happened.

Since that tournament, the nation has not made significant gains in their talent development, although young standouts including Nikita Bergmann, Olivia Ranum, Teresa Christensen and Freya Ekberg continue to provide hope.

Still, Denmark is extremely under-gunned in this tournament with no notable offensive threat on par with other nations in their group, and lack of overall skill. 

Netminder Emma-Sofie Nordström will face an onslaught against Canada, Finland, and Sweden in the group stage. Their most important game of the tournament comes on day two when they drop the puck against Japan. A win would save Denmark from relegation worries, but a lot destines them for a relegation game against either Austria or Germany.

Hockey just hasn't taken focus in Denmark, despite the nation's geographic proximity to strong hockey nations. 

PWHL Hamilton fans will want to see how Emma-Sofie Nordstrom manages high volume and likely high danger opportunities on repeat in the group stage. She enters Hamilton's camp with Kayle Osborne and Sandra Abstreiter ahead of her in the depth chart. 

Nikita Bergmann should be coming to the NCAA, but there has been no commitment yet for Denmark's top talent. The young forward is the best prospect the nation has, and her development is paramount to Denmark's future and present success. Veterans Silke Lave Glud, Nicoline Søndergaard Jensen, and Josephine Asperup are still the most important group for the nation's current success, but they're all nearing the end of their careers.

If oddsmakers were involved, Denmark would be the odds on favorite for relegation. It's not the end of the spectrum they want to find themselves at, but it's the reality for the hosts. Their best hope will come in a group stage game against Japan, where a win would keep them marked safe. Otherwise, it's a likely date with Austria in the relegation round, and Austria has had Denmark's number internationally recently including at the 2025 World Championships where Austria finished first, and Denmark second to earn promotion. This time around only one team is going down to Division 1A, and these two teams are the likely targets with France already booked to come up.

Goaltenders: Aya Juhl Petersen, Caroline Bjergstad, Emma-Sofie Nordström

Defenders: Josephine Asperup, Sofie Skott Dahl, Silja Franksdottir Engel Rasmussen, Klara Holm, Freya Ekberg, Lærke Søndergaard and Sille Flygenring

Forwards: Nicoline Søndergaard Jensen, Silke Lave Glud, Maria Holm Peters, Julie Oksbjerg, Julie Røder Henriksen, Mille Kunnerup Sørensen, Olivia Ranum, Sarah Stauning, Frida Mia Kielstrup, Nikita Bergmann, Teresa O. Christensen, Alma Madsen-Mygdal, Frederikke Foss, and Michele Brix.