HERNING and ESBJERG, Denmark – The opening day of the 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship featured standout performances from several with Western Collegiate Hockey Association connections across four matchups.
Saturday's schedule includes Germany and Austria facing off with five WCHA players in action, along with Japan taking on host Denmark.
For complete information on the tournament schedule and results, please visit the
IIHF website.
RECAPS & BOX SCORES
Czechia - 4 vs. Austria - 1 | Box Score | IIHF Recap
- Katerina Mrazova (Minnesota Duluth) notched two goals and an assist for a three-point performance, while Natalie Mlynkova (Minnesota) recorded the game-winning goal and an assist for a multi-point game.
- Klara Hymlarova (St. Cloud State) scored the game-tying goal, kicking off four straight by Czechia, while Adela Sapovalivova (Wisconsin) added an assist.
- WCHA players ultimately had a hand in four of the game's five goals and was also officiated by WCHA referee Michaela Bahl.
Canada - 5 vs. Sweden - 1 | Box Score | IIHF Recap
- Wisconsin's Emily Clark recorded the game-winning goal for Canada.
- Ann-Renee Desbiens (Wisconsin) made 13 saves on her 14 shots faced, while WCHA players combined for five points for Canada.
- Current Ohio State Buckeyes Mira Jungåker and Jenna Raunio assisted on Sweden's lone goal.
United States - 7 vs. Switzerland - 0 | Box Score | IIHF Recap
- All seven goals from the United States were scored by players with ties to the WCHA, including a pair of goals from both Hannah Bilka (Ohio State) and Laila Edwards (Wisconsin). Bilka's opening goal stood as the game-winner.
- Six WCHA players had a multi-point game, led by Wisconsin's Caroline Harvey with a trio of assists.
- 17 of the game's 19 points were tallied by WCHA players.
Finland - 4 vs. Denmark - 1 | Box Score | IIHF Recap
- Players from former WCHA member North Dakota combined for Finland's game-winning goal, as Emma Nuutinen was assisted by Susanna Tapani and Michelle Karvinen.
- Current Minnesota Gopher Julia Schalin assisted on Finland's opening goal for her first point of the tournament.
- Netminder Sanni Ahola (St. Cloud State) earned an .833 save percentage backstopping Finland as she made five saves on her six shots faced.
ROSTER BREAKDOWN
UNITED STATES (16 Players, 1 Current, 6 Coaches/Staff)
Cayla Barnes, Ohio State
Hannah Bilka, Ohio State
Jesse Compher, Wisconsin
Joy Dunne, Ohio State *
Lacey Eden, Wisconsin
Laila Edwards, Wisconsin
Taylor Fox, Minnesota
Caroline Harvey, Wisconsin
Hilary Knight, Wisconsin
Abbey Murphy, Minnesota
Casey O’Brien, Wisconsin
Kelly Pannek, Minnesota
Emma Peschel, Ohio State
Kirsten Simms, Wisconsin
Lee Stecklein, Minnesota
Grace Zumwinkle, Minnesota
Katie Million - General Manager (Former WCHA Commissioner)
Shari Dickerman - Assistant Coach (Minnesota State Head Coach)
Molly Engstrom - Assistant Coach (Wisconsin alum, former St. Cloud State Assistant Coach)
Alli Altmann - Goaltending Coach (Minnesota State alum, St. Thomas Assistant Coach)
Kaela Colvard - Sports Dietitian (St. Thomas)
Sis Paulsen - Equipment Manager (Wisconsin alum, former Wisconsin Equipment Manager/Director of Hockey Ops)
FINLAND (13 Players, 6 Current, 1 Coach/Staff)
Sanni Ahola, St. Cloud State
Michelle Karvinen, North Dakota
Emilia Kyrkkö, St. Cloud State *
Nelli Laitinen, Minnesota
Emma Nuutinen, North Dakota
Jenniina Nylund, St. Cloud State
Krista Parkkonen, Minnesota/Minnesota Duluth
Julia Schalin, Minnesota *
Sofianna Sundelin, St. Cloud State *
Tuuli Tallinen, Minnesota Duluth *
Susanna Tapani, North Dakota
Sanni Vanhanen, Ohio State *
Siiri Yrjölä, St. Cloud State *
Satu Kiipeli - Team Leader (Minnesota Duluth alum)
CANADA (11 Players, 5 Current, 1 Coach)
Emily Clark, Wisconsin
Ann-Renée Desbiens, Wisconsin
Ève Gascon, Minnesota Duluth *
Sophie Jaques, Ohio State
Caitlin Kraemer, Minnesota Duluth *
Emma Maltais, Ohio State
Hayley McDonald, Ohio State *
Chloe Primerano, Minnesota *
Rosalie Tremblay, Wisconsin *
Daryl Watts, Wisconsin
Sarah Wozniewicz, Wisconsin
Caroline Ouellette - Assistant Coach (Minnesota Duluth alum and former Assistant Coach)
SWEDEN (9 Players, 4 Current, 3 Coaches)
Josefin Bouveng, Minnesota
Thea Johansson, Minnesota Duluth
Mira Jungåker, Ohio State *
Ida Karlsson, Minnesota Duluth *
Michelle Löwenhielm, Minnesota Duluth
Sofie Lundin, Ohio State
Jenna Raunio, Ohio State *
Emma Söderberg, Minnesota Duluth
Hilda Svensson, Ohio State *
Erika Holst - Head Coach (Minnesota Duluth alum)
Pernilla Winberg - Assistant Coach (Minnesota Duluth alum)
Ida Kyrilis - Strength & Conditioning Coach (Minnesota State alum)
CZECHIA (6 Players, 3 Current, 1 Coach)
Klára Hymlárová, St. Cloud State
Natálie Mlýnková, Minnesota
Katerina Mrázová, Minnesota Duluth
Daniela Nováková, St. Thomas *
Tereza Plosová, Minnesota *
Adéla Šapovalivová, Wisconsin *
Brian Idalski - Head Coach (Former North Dakota and St. Cloud State Head Coach)
SWITZERLAND (5 Players, 2 Current, 2 Coach/Staff)
Andrea Brändli, Ohio State
Saskia Maurer, St. Thomas
Lucie Tenenbaum, Minnesota State *
Nicole Vallario, St. Thomas
Laura Zimmermann, St. Cloud State *
Shannon Miller - Head Coach (Former Minnesota Duluth Head Coach)
Saara Kivenmäki - Assistant Coach (Minnesota Duluth alum)
GERMANY (3 Players, 1 Coach)
Nina Jobst-Smith, Minnesota Duluth
Laura Kluge, St. Cloud State
Svenja Voigt, St. Cloud State
Jennifer Harss - Strength & Conditioning Coach (Minnesota Duluth Alum)
AUSTRIA (2 Players)
Eva Beiter, Bemidji State
Annika Fazokas, St. Cloud State
OFFICIALS (Current WCHA Referees & Linesmen)
Michaela Bahl
Shannon Motzko
* active player