Canada unveils roster to defend women's hockey world title

Canada's roster for the women's world hockey championship has been unveiled.

A squad of 25 players are tasked with defending the gold medal when the 10-day championship starts April 9 in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.

Canada starts defence of its title April 10th against Finland.

The team includes veterans such forwards Marie-Philip Poulin, Brianne Jenner, Sarah Nurse and defender Jocelyn Larocque, but forwards Darryl Watts and Hannah Miller and defenders Sophie Jaques and Chloe Primerano are among players who will make their world championship debuts for Canada.

There are 17 returning players from the Canadian team that defeated host United 6-5 in overtime in last year's final in Utica, N.Y.

The 2025 edition was selected by general manager Gia Kingsbury, head coach Troy Ryan, senior scouting and development manager Cherie Piper, assistant coaches Kori Cheverie, Caroline Ouellette and Britni Smith, as well as goaltending consultant Brad Kirwood.

The International Ice Hockey Federation increased the size of women's rosters from 23 players to 25 this year to match the men's world championship, although women's Olympic rosters will remain at 23 next year in Milan-Cortina, Italy.

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Canada is in a pool with the tournament's top five seeds including the United States, host Czech Republic, Finland and Switzerland.

Germany, Hungary, Japan, Norway and Sweden round out the field.

Eve Gascon joins Canada's goaltending trio alongside veterans Ann-Renée Desbiens and Kristen Campbell.

Emerance Maschmeyer, a regular in Canada's lineup in recent years, was placed on long-term