Dolny Kubin 2025: Get to know Team World

The inaugural World Para Ice Hockey Women’s World Championships will take place from 26-31 August in Dolny Kubin, Slovakia with six teams competing for gold. Hosted by the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) of Slovakia at the Dolny Kubin Winter Stadium, the tournament will feature an all-women’s officiating crew and games will be streamed live on the Paralympic YouTube channel. 

Group A will feature the USA, Norway and Australia, with Group B including Canada, Great Britain and Team World, a squad composed by players from multiple nationalities. Following the round-robin stage, group winners will meet the runners-up from the opposite group in the semifinals on 30 August, with the medal games slated for 31 August.

Background 

Team World will be made up of athletes from nine different nations across Europe and Asia, including four from Czechia, and two from both Germany and Slovakia. While Team World may not have had as much time to practice with each other as the other five teams representing their national banners, many of the athletes are the best in the sport in their respective countries and will enter the tournament with a winning mindset and the skillset to back it up. The last time a Team World took to the international stage in women’s Para ice hockey, it won a bronze medal at the 2023 Women’s World Challenge in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Roster Breakdown 

Forwards: Vivien Mueggenburg (GER), Michaela Hozakova (SVK), Adriana Sarkoziova (CZE), Jana Kovarickova (CZE), Kristina Zidlicka (CZE), Anna Springlova (CZE), Caroline Persson (SWE), Anne Buisson (FRA), Dina Grinberga (LAT)
Defenders: Sanna Koivusalo (FIN), Ema Maria Simakova (SVK), Akari Fukunishi (JPN), Soyoun Kim (KOR)
Goalkeepers: Meranda Reast (GER), TBC
Head Coach: Jakub Novotny (CZE)

🚨 1 MONTH TO GO 🚨

History is calling 🔥
The first-ever Women’s World Championships in #ParaIcehockey is coming.

📍 Dolný Kubín, Slovakia
📅 26–31 Aug
🌍 6 teams (Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Norway, USA and Team World)
🏒1 historic goal: @Paralympics inclusion pic.twitter.com/XhVrRY8Dmm

— Para Ice Hockey (@paraicehockey) July 25, 2025

Athlete to Watch

Dina Grinberga of Latvia will enter the tournament with as much experience and leadership as any of the skaters on Team World. Back in 2021, she took part in World Para Ice Hockey’s Development Camp for women, and ever since then has flourished on the ice. The 31-year-old above-the-knee amputee, who has past experience in athletics, competed as part of Team World at both the 2023 and 2022 editions of the Women’s World Challenge, and has previously served as captain of the squad. 

Matchup to Watch

Team World’s opening matchup against Canada will be a strong signal – for better or worse – of how well the skaters from the various countries gel on the ice and will set the tone for them for the entire tournament. 

Round-Robin Game Schedule

Tuesday, 26 August – 19:30 vs. Canada
Wednesday, 27 August – 19:30 vs. Great Britain