Canada Women’s Hockey: 19 PWHL players set for 2026 Worlds
Canada will feature 19 PWHL-affiliated players at the 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship in Denmark. The roster includes Sarah Fillier, Renata Fast and Ann-Renée Desbiens, with Kori Cheverie leading the team ahead of the new PWHL season.
Canada women’s hockey will have a strong professional presence at the 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship, with 19 players from Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) training camp rosters representing the national team in Denmark.
The tournament runs from November 7 to 16, bringing together 10 countries and 79 PWHL-affiliated players. Canada has the second-largest contingent from the league, behind the United States, which features 24 players.
The championship also comes at a busy time for women’s hockey. PWHL training camps are scheduled to open November 18, just two days after the tournament concludes, with the regular season beginning December 5.
Canada women’s hockey roster features 19 PWHL players
Canada’s contingent includes 10 forwards, seven defenders and two goaltenders, with players representing clubs across the expanding professional league.
The Montréal Victoire have the largest presence on the Canadian roster, contributing five players: Jessie Eldridge, Emma Maltais, Laura Stacey, Kati Tabin and goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens.
Toronto Sceptres defenders Renata Fast and Ella Shelton will also represent Canada, alongside Ottawa Charge forwards Rebecca Leslie and Sarah Wozniewicz.
PWHL Hamilton contributes three players: forward Emily Clark, defender Nicole Gosling and goaltender Kayle Osborne.
The Vancouver Goldeneyes will be represented by defenders Erin Ambrose and Kendall Cooper, while Sophie Jaques joins the national team from PWHL Vancouver.
Canada’s remaining selections include New York Sirens forward Sarah Fillier, San Jose’s Kristin O’Neill, Seattle Torrent’s Danielle Serdachny and Detroit’s Daryl Watts.
The group brings together established international talent and players continuing to develop their professional careers, giving Canada options across all three positions.
Kori Cheverie leads Canadian coaching staff
Canada’s PWHL connections extend beyond the playing roster, with 10 league-affiliated staff members involved in the national team’s operations.
Montréal Victoire head coach Kori Cheverie will lead the team behind the bench, supported by assistant coaches Caroline Ouellette and Kris Sparre, who serves as head coach of PWHL Hamilton.
Danièle Sauvageau, general manager of the Victoire, will oversee Canada’s roster as national team general manager. Ottawa’s Mike Hirshfeld and Detroit’s Manon Rhéaume will serve as assistant general managers.
The staff also includes Montréal goaltending coach Bruno-Pierre Guillemette, Toronto video coach Stefanie Thomson, Hamilton strength and conditioning coach Vicki Bendus and Vancouver equipment manager Matina Landstad.
Their involvement reflects the close relationship between Canada’s international program and the PWHL, particularly as players prepare to move directly from national team competition into their club seasons.
Canada faces strong international competition in Denmark
The United States enters the tournament as defending world champions and reigning Olympic gold medallists, with 24 of its 25 players coming from PWHL training camp rosters.
Beyond the two North American teams, Czechia and Finland each have eight PWHL representatives, followed by Sweden with seven and Germany with six.
Switzerland has four players affiliated with the league, while Austria, Denmark and Japan each have one.
All 12 PWHL clubs are represented at the championship. The New York Sirens lead with nine players, followed by Detroit, Hamilton and Montréal with eight apiece.
The tournament will also provide international experience for incoming professional talent. Seventeen participants were selected in the 2026 PWHL Draft, including seven unsigned prospects currently listed on training camp rosters.
Of the 79 PWHL-affiliated players competing, 67 have already signed contracts for the upcoming season.
For Canada women’s hockey, the championship offers an opportunity to compete for a world title before the focus shifts back to the professional season.
With 19 players and an experienced coaching staff drawn from the PWHL, Canada will be among the teams to watch as international competition gets underway in Denmark.
