Hannah Miller of the Toronto Sceptres is waiting to hear from the IIHF about her eligibility to play for Canada in the upcoming Women’s World Championship in Ceske Budejovice, Czechia from April 9-20.
Canada has not yet named its roster, but is expected to very shortly.
Miller, a North Vancouver, British Columbia native, first represented Canada at the 2013 and 2014 U-18 World Championships. However, she later joined China's national program as a dual-passport player ahead of the 2022 Beijing Olympics. However, China excluded all dual-passport players from their 2024 World Championships roster, leaving Miller without a national team to play for.
Miller, who currently has 10 goals and 23 points (third overall) in the PWHL, has applied to be reinstated for eligibility as a Canadian citizen. According to Sceptres’ and Team Canada coach Troy Ryan, “There's definitely a possibility. I know right now, the request or the ‘proposal’ is in the IIHF’s hands.”
“From what I understand, I think it would be highly possible that it would be approved, that she could compete for Canada, and then we'll be discussing whether she fits into that mix, if she were to be eligible for this world championship,
“If she was not eligible for this, or if we don't feel that she fits, I think we would always consider her for a ‘mini-centralization’ heading into the next phase.”
Miller’s play this season has been hugely impressive, after seven goals and seven assists for 14 points in 24 games in the league’s first season. Her two-way game and opportunistic scoring has made her one of the reasons the Sceptres leaped from last to third place.
“I think she deserves to be in that conversation [to play for Canada],” Ryan said.
“And if the IIHF makes her available, then we'll take that next step.”
When that might happen is still undetermined.
“I don't think it's something that comes with like a deadline to it,” added Ryan.
“I think everybody's aware of it now – Hockey Canada’s aware of it, and I think everybody's aware of, or possibly aware, that we have extra roster spots at this world championship. So you do have a 25-player roster.
”I think there are three scenarios. One, we just don't name her and we wait. One is we name her because it's been approved, and I think another scenario is we name her even though it's not approved, and we wait.”
Canada has not released its roster, but it is expected imminently. Miller’s name deserves to be on it, and if she does play, she will be a valuable asset for the team.