'I want everyone to feel it': Schroeder hopes Worlds open door to Paralympics

Lena Schroeder has played Para ice hockey for over a decade, is one of the only three women to have competed in the Winter Paralympics. But she still is experiencing something new this week. Thursday’s game against USA in Dolny Kubin, Slovakia, was only her second-ever as a member of Norway’s national women’s team. 

Favourites USA triumphed 10-0, sending Norway to face Canada in the semi-final on Saturday. But these are games that, for most of her career, Schroeder was not even sure she would have the chance to play.

“Just looking back at where we started so many years ago and being here, in the Women’s World Championships, it’s kind of surreal,” the 32-year-old said. “Being here as Team Norway wasn’t something I was sure we’d be able to do. I’m really proud of what we’ve achieved.”

On Wednesday, she not only captained Norway in their first-ever World Para Ice Hockey game but also achieved some historic firsts in a 7-0 win over Australia. Schroeder scored the fastest goal of the tournament so far, in 12 seconds, and then completed a hat-trick in 94 seconds. 

Schroeder is proud of her individual achievements, but she is on the ice for something collective. In 2018, the Norwegian became the second female player to compete at the Paralympic Winter Games, after her compatriot Britt Mjaasund Oeyen in 1994. After that, China’s Yu Jing was part of her national squad at Beijing 2022.

“I have mixed feelings about people looking at me because I was part of a men’s team in the Paralympics. Right here, right now, the focus is on the women’s side of the sport. I’m really, really proud of what I’ve achieved. But, at the same time, it’s awkward getting that attention because there are so many other players that deserve it.” 

😮‍💨 Kelsey DiClaudio just can’t stop scoring! Another great goal for the American nº1️⃣1️⃣#ParaIceHockey #DolnyKubin2025 pic.twitter.com/ayYNrzKwSY

— Para Ice Hockey (@paraicehockey) August 28, 2025

Among them, she lists the players she faced on Thursday in the Group A closing day of the preliminary round at the Dolny Kubin Winter Stadium. 

“Several players in the USA and Canadian teams are so good. That’s one of the reasons why I hope that one day everyone will be able to get to the Paralympics and be able to feel how it is,” she added. “I really hope we will manage, so all women who truly deserve to be there will get the chance.”

“Having the Women’s World Championships will bring more players. People will know there is a possibility to play for their national team, it will make it more attractive,” Schroeder added. “It’s easier when you have a goal to try to achieve, you want to go to the World Championships, you want to be part of the national team, to win medals. You have something to work for.”

That is also why she made a comeback after a few years off the ice, a time during which she gave birth to her first child and worked on the front lines as a doctor during the COVID pandemic. 

“I never really quit, I just took a pause. I always knew I was going to go back, I just didn’t know exactly when or how. There are so many things happening on the women’s side of the sport, I just felt I had to come back. I want to be part of this.”

For now, the next mission will be to face Canada on Saturday. On Thursday, Team USA showed their strength and experience to open a 6-0 lead in the first period.

Katie Ladlie made it 1-0 just before the second minute of the game. Kelsey DiClaudio pulled a hat-trick in the period, with Lera Doederlein and Rachel Grusse completing the score. 

After a goalless second period, Team USA surged again in the third with Doederlein and Grusse adding to the scoresheet, followed by Kaden Herchenroether and Catherine Faherty. 

“[Lena] is a fierce competitor, she hits hard, she skates fast and she knows the game so well. It’s always a fun game when I get the chance to play against her,” said DiClaudio, who has five goals and two assists in the tournament after two games.

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ⒸIgor Kupco

Team USA will return to the ice on Saturday against Great Britain in the semi-final.

“We feel great as a team. We did what we wanted to do, put the pucks in the back of the net. It was an awesome game. We’re considered the best team in the world and we want to stay as the best in the world. We’re hungry for that gold medal,” DiClaudio added.

Canada 7-0 Great Britain

In the second game of the day on Thursday, Canada guaranteed first place in Group B by beating Great Britain 7-0.

Six goals came in the first period – from Sheena Darnley, Mackenzie Spong, Christina Picton, Hadley Frittenburg, Aubree Clements and Peyton Vergie.

Captain Picton scored a shorthanded goal in the second period to seal the victory.

“We had some players’ objectives, so I’m really proud of the way the team responded well to my challenges before the game. We also wanted to make sure to challenge Great Britain, so they can get better also,” said Head Coach Tara Chisholm. “Being a new nation, not playing a lot internationally can be hard. That makes us feel great about the result, but also about the growth of the sport.”

Great Britain’s Kirsty van der Poll, one of the players making her debut for the national team in Dolny Kubin, praised her teammates efforts against Canada:

“I’m proud of our team for sticking together and coming back strong in the second and third periods. It was a really important game for GB to learn from, go out there, work hard and grow. It’s a privilege to be here.”