Team Canada heads to the 2026 IIHF Women’s World Hockey Championship in Denmark with a drastically overhauled roster, featuring seven debutants and notable absences among its veteran core. The tournament runs from November 6 to 16, 2026, in Herning and Esbjerg, following its permanent shift from April to align with professional leagues.
Fantasy & Market Impact
- Roster Turnover Value: Fantasy managers and hockey pool participants should target emerging NCAA standouts like Caitlin Kraemer and Rosalie Tremblay.
- Crease Stability: Ann-Renée Desbiens retains the primary workload in net, but backup minutes for young netminder Ève Gascon carry increased intrigue for tournament-long formats.
A Shift in the Hockey Calendar and a Fresh Roster
The annual tournament was moved permanently to November to better harmonize with North American and European women’s hockey schedules, including the PWHL. The Canadian team will feature a completely new look when competition opens in Herning. Seven players are set to make their senior World Championship debuts.
The squad aims to capture gold for the first time since 2024. At the previous tournament in Czechia, Canada fell 4-3 in overtime to the United States. Since the inaugural Women’s World Championship in 1990, Canada and the United States have contested every gold-medal game save for a single exception. The two powerhouse programs also contested the gold-medal match at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, where the Americans prevailed 2-1.
The Impact of Veteran Absences
Marie-Philip Poulin will miss the tournament after undergoing knee surgery over the summer. The 35-year-old forward had posted three goals and one assist in five games at Milano Cortina 2026, adding to her career total of 89 points in 72 World Championship contests. Alongside Poulin, veterans Brianne Jenner, Jocelyne Larocque, Blayre Turnbull, Claire Thompson, Sarah Nurse, Natalie Spooner, and Emerance Maschmeyer will also sit out after representing Canada at the Winter Games in February.
These vacancies open the door for a wave of emerging talent. Forwards Caitlin Kraemer, Rebecca Leslie, Sara Manness, Hayley McDonald, Rosalie Tremblay, and Sarah Wozniewicz are all slated for their first World Championship appearances at the senior level. Kendall Cooper joins them as the lone defensive debutant.
| Player | Position | Program / Team | Noteworthy Distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caitlin Kraemer | Forward | Minnesota Duluth (NCAA) | 2024-25 NCAA Rookie of the Year |
| Rosalie Tremblay | Forward | Wisconsin (NCAA) | Nine points in her first six games |
| Hayley McDonald | Forward | Ohio State (NCAA) | Former Captain of Canada’s U18 Team |
| Rebecca Leslie | Forward | Ottawa Charge (PWHL) | Senior national team debut at age 30 |
Group Stage Schedule and Preliminaries in Herning
Canada has been slotted into Group B and will base its preliminary matches in Herning. The schedule features a matchup against Sweden on November 6 at 9 a.m. (ET). Following a rest day, the team plays back-to-back fixtures against Japan on November 8 and Denmark on November 9. The preliminary round concludes on November 11 against Finland, the bronze medalist at the previous two World Championships.
Group A action will take place in Esbjerg, featuring the United States, Czechia, Switzerland, Germany, and Austria. The elimination rounds commence with four quarter-finals on November 13, leading into the semi-finals on November 15 and the medal games on November 16. RDS will broadcast all of Canada’s games.
Disclaimer: The fantasy and market insights provided are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute financial or betting advice.
