Stage set for Women's World Challenge with top action

The Para Ice Hockey Women’s World Challenge presented by Citi is now a staple in the competition calendar after having tremendous success in its inaugural year in 2022, and will return to Green Bay, Wisconsin in the USA from 31 August - 3 September.

When the puck drops at the Cornerstone Community Center there will be four teams —Canada, Great Britain, USA, and a Team World made up of athletes from 12 countries — competing for a gold medal, while also coming together to push women’s Para ice hockey to new heights. The ultimate goal is to expand female participation in Para ice hockey worldwide and host a first Women's World Championships in 2025.

Citi returns as the presenting sponsor as part of the IPC’s PARASPORT grassroots to high performance programme. Together, Citi and PARASPORT aim to help change the narrative around people with disabilities and provide Para athletes and their member organisations with a platform to drive social progress.

In total, 67 women will participate with four more countries being represented than last year, and there will be an all-women officiating staff once again.

“In one year, the Para Ice Hockey Women’s World Challenge has become a fan favorite event in our sport, as the camaraderie is unlike any other tournament, with athletes coming together to make a statement and grow the women’s side of the sport together,” said World Para Ice Hockey Manager Michelle Laflamme. “The second edition of the event is certain to showcase the growth of the athletes and teams, and spectators and viewers will be treated to some fantastic contests.”

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ⒸCharlie Skinner / WPIH

Last year, Team USA went undefeated to win gold on its home ice, and beat arch-rival Canada 5-1 in the gold-medal game. Sixteen of the squad’s players return from last year under head coach Rose Misiewicz, including Katie Ladlie and Catherine Faherty, who had two goals apiece in last year’s final. Rebecca Mann cracked the U.S. national roster after playing for Team World in 2022. Captain Erica McKee is missing from this year’s squad as she is recovering from shoulder surgery.

Canada, the reigning silver medallists in the event, have had a women’s programme since 2007, but within the last year it has attracted sponsorship support that’s given the athletes additional opportunities to train together. Forwards Alanna Mah and Raphaelle Tousignant combined for nine goals and six assists at the 2022 tournament, and are eager to return to the ice with another stellar performance to show that U.S. Paralympic gold medalists Declan Farmer and Brody Roybal are not the only dynamic headline-stealing duo in the sport. Star goaltender Jessie Gregory, a member of the squad since 2011, will also be in Green Bay this year after being out on maternity leave.

Now two years into having a Para ice hockey programme, Great Britain will look to build upon last year’s effort with all but one member of its team returning to Green Bay led by forward Dani Czernuszka-Watts and goaltender Jodi Hill. Susi Rogers-Hartley will make her debut at the event, having moved from equestrian to Para ice hockey this year.

Team World will look even more diverse this year with 18 players from a 11 different countries, including athletes from France, Latvia, Czech Republic, Germany, and Vietnam for the first time. Additionally, Norway’s Lena Schroeder will participate this year; she is one of three women to have ever played at the Paralympic Winter Games but was unable to attend last year as she was on maternity leave.

“It’s really nice to be able to compete at the highest level here as a female player,” Schroeder said. “I’m really grateful that I’m able to play here this year and see how much better everyone has gotten. There are so many women who deserve a chance, and here they have it. It takes time to develop this sport for female players, so be able to have this tournament — the largest ever for women — helps the sport evolve.

Competition kicks off on Thursday (31 August) at 15:00 local time when Great Britain takes on Team World, followed by a repeat of last year’s gold-medal contest with Canada challenging USA at 18:30. The teams will play three days of round-robin games and then be seeded for the gold and bronze-medal games on Sunday (3 September).

The second edition of the Women's World Challenge will be streamed live on the Green Bay 2023 website and World Para Ice Hockey Facebook page. More information and complete schedule and results can be found here.