Women's International Hockey News Roundup: January 2025

A legend retires, another PWHL trade is made, and the European leagues gear up for playoffs. Every major headline from PWHL, SDHL, Auroraliiga, PFWL, and the IIHF in January.

Contract drama, coaching changes, a trade, international roster controversy, an abuse of official suspension, and a four goal comeback in the final five minutes of a game. January was a busy month in women’s hockey. Here are the major headlines, transactions, and injuries to know about at the club and international level.

PWHL (North America)

Headlines

• Boston Fleet to play at Agganis Arena (Home of Boston University) on March 8th and March 26th. The March 8th game at 2 PM against Montreal can be purchased here, and the March 26th game versus Toronto at 7 PM can be purchased here.

• Malaika Underwood named executive director of the PWHLPA. In addition to prior experience in sports administration and consulting with OneTeam Partners and High Tide Consulting, Underwood is one of the most decorated members of the U.S. Women’s National Baseball Team and now serves as an assistant coach for the team.

Transactions and Suspensions

• The Boston Fleet trade Taylor Girard to the New York Sirens in exchange for Jill Saulnier. Both Saulnier and Girard are forwards signed through the rest of the year, playing depth roles for their team.

• Sam Isbell signed a ten-day day contract with the Ottawa Charge on January 6th.

• Kayla Vespa Signs her second ten-day contract with the New York Sirens. She previously signed with them in December of last year.

• Disciplinary:

  • One game suspensions for Britta Curl-Salemme (MIN) on January 2nd, Kelly Babstock (BOS) on January 2nd, Catherine Dubois (MTL) on January 3rd.

  • Tereza Vanišova (OTT) fined $500 for a boarding call on January 27th. Vanišová had a similar incident that resulted in a boarding penalty and a fine last year.

Injury Updates

• Currently Out: Hadley Hartmetz (BOS), Dominique Petrie (MIN), Natalie Buchbinder (MIN), Grace Zumwinkle (MIN), Dominika Lásková (MTL), Kennedy Marchand (MTL), Natalie Spooner (TOR), Elle Hartje (NY), Hayley Scamurra (TOR)

• Returned this month: Ella Shelton (NY), Megan Carter (TOR), Alexa Vasko (OTT), Amanda Boulier (MTL), Sophie Jacques (MIN)

SDHL (Sweden)

Headlines

• Josefine Jakobsen retires due to concussion
  After attempting to come back from her injury in December, Jakobsen announced her retirement from hockey this month. Jakobsen most recently played for Brynäs, but spent more of her career with Djurgårdens and the Danish national team. She is one of the best SDHL players of all time, and changed Danish women’s hockey forever. Jakobsen retires with three SDHL championships and her place in the record books as tenth all-time in points in the SDHL with 343 points in 310 games.

• Julie Zwarthoed (SDE) suspended three games for physical abuse of officials
  Zwarthoed allegedly shoved the official, who was breaking up a scrum, and yelled, “you do not fucking touch me.” While Zwarthoed admitted to yelling at her, and apologized for it, she denied ever pushing the referee. The view from the broadcast feed did not clearly confirm or deny if Zwarthoed shoved the official, but other officials corroborated the story. (SOURCE)

• SDHL breaks highest season attendance at 52,693
  While the regular season is not over, the SDHL had already surpassed the attendance of any previous season, as stated by the league on the 21st

• Ebba Berglund out for remainder of season with hip injury
  The MoDo captain is expected to miss nine months while recovering.

• Luleå does not plan to bring back Frida Axell, looking towards Lovisa Lundström (SOURCE)

  Frida Axell is in her 9th SDHL season, and her fourth with Luleå, where she splits starting duties in a tandem with Sara Grahn. Axell has the leagues best save percentage this year (.957) and has won all of her 16 starts. However, she does have one of the lightest workloads in the league, facing around 15 shots a game. Lundström is a goaltender that Luleå has been developing in their junior system since 2019, and is having a strong year both in their U20 league and in the NDHL this year.

• HV71 and Leksands will play in relegation tournament
  The remaining SDHL teams have all qualified for the quarterfinals, with the next few weeks of the regular season determining seeding. Luleå has a healthy lead in first place, with Frölunda and MoDo tied for second.

• Linköping retires number 22 in honor of Denise Altmann
  Altmann is the SDHL’s all-time leader in goals (277) and was the all-time leader in points until December of this season, when Emma Nordin surpassed her. The Austrian forward played 13 seasons in the SDHL, all with Linköping, winning two championships during her career.

• New Import Players help power Luleå to win eight of their last ten, but they can’t beat MoDo
  Luleå has gotten significant production from the December additions that joined the SDHL after the PWHL announced roster cuts, with Sara Bujold scoring 14 points in 12 games and Savannah Norcross scoring 18 points in 12 games. Combined with an already dominant core led by Petra Nieminen, Emma Nordin, and Viivi Vainikka, they dominated the SDHL in the month of January, save for one exception: MoDo. The second place team has handed Luleå their only two losses in the past ten games, with Adéla Šapovalivová combining for three goals.

Denise Altmann’s banner being raised, via Linköping on Instagram

Transactions and Commitments

• Jaycee Magwood extends with Luleå through 2026-2027 season
  Magwood, a Canadian who has played in the SDHL for four seasons now, is a staple in Luleå’s middle six. She has 19 points in 34 games this year, and put up a career high 39 points in 34 games last season.

• Anna Brenkle signs one year extension with Brynäs
  At 18 years old, Brenkle has been in the Brynäs organization for a few years between the SDHL and junior levels, but is spending her first full season at the SDHL level team this year with a steady seven goals in 32 games to show for it.

• Linda Vocetková commits to Colgate University
  After a slow start to the season with Djurgårdens, Linda Vocetková led the Czech U18 team to a Bronze medal as the top scorer on the team and then collected her first two goals of the year in the SDHL. She continues her momentum with a commitment to play NCAA hockey next year.

• Wilma Sjölund extends with Luleå through 2027
  The 21-year-old center has been with Luleå since the 2019-2020 season as a depth forward. She has 43 points in 166 games.

• Taylor Baker leaves the New York Sirens for Brynäs IF.
  The Hungarian defender played three games with New York this year and 22 games last year before heading overseas.

• Maja Ålenius commits to Mercyhurst
  Maja is a 19-year-old defender who is a depth forward for Brynäs, most recently playing her 100th SDHL match

• Blanka Škodová signs with Skellefteå for the remainder of the year
  Škodová originally signed for three months, but after Miranda Dahlgren’s injury was confirmed to be season-ending, Škodová will stay with the team until the end of the season

• Erica Fryer joins SDE for remainder of the year
  Former University of Toronto goaltender Erica Fryer joins SDE in place of Kassidy Sauvé, who has been out for several weeks.

Injured Reserve

• Currently out: Haruka Toko (Linköping), Reece Hunt (Luleå), Miranda Dahlgren (Skellefteå), Kassidy Sauvé (SDE), Akane Shiga (Luleå), Jenni Hiirikoski (Luleå),

PostFinance Women’s League (Switzerland)

Headlines

• SC Bern Frauen assistant coach Nina Kindschi named CEO, coach Thomas Zwahlen to depart at the end of the year
  Kindschi joined the team in August, and has been promoted to work with further on the teams off ice development. Zwahlen has coached Bern for four seasons and has chosen to leave at the end of the year, giving the team time to find a replacement. SC Bern is currently in first place in the PostFinance Women’s League.

• HC Fribourg-Gottéron fires Mathieu Echenard, hires 25-year-old Bastien Studer and assistant coaches Emanuel Jungo and Roger Rensch
  Bastien Studer is promoted from his role as assistant coach of HC Fribourg-Gottéron, who currently sit in fifth place.

• EV Zug and Bern play outdoor match up at Gstaad
  The PFWL held their women’s Winter Classic on January 3rd with a close game between the two top teams in the league. A tense moment occurred after a collision between Bern goaltender Saskia Maurer and Lara Stalder that led to Maurer leaving the game, but she returned to action in Bern’s most recent match on the 19th. EV Zug would go on to win the game 3-1 with the game winning goal scored by Stalder, but Bern currently holds first place in the standings.

• Fribourg-Gottéron and EV Zug to play for National Cup final this Sunday
  The National Cup is a tournament that happens alongside the PFWL season and involves all four levels of Swiss hockey, and will see the sixth and second place PFWL teams compete for the championship this week.

• Skylar Fontaine’s four goal performance helps ZSC Lions complete miraculous comeback
  ZSC Lions Frauen defender Skylar Fontaine scored four goals against EV Zug, including three goals in the final five minutes of the game. Fontaine and the Lions were trailing 4-2 with six minutes left when a goal from Josefine Holmgren and three goals from Fontaine helped them complete the comeback and win 6-4.

Long Term Injured Reserved:

• Currently out: Julia Näf (EVZ), Janine Houser (HC Davos Ladies), Rommy Eggimann (HC Ambrì-Piotta Girls)

• Returned this month: : Alena (Mills) Polenská (ZSC Lions Frauen), Vanessa Ryhner (EVZ),

Bern v. EV Zug Outdoor game, via SC Bern

No transactions to report at this time

Auroraliiga (Finland)

Headlines

• HIFK and Ilves play game at Nokia Arena in Tampere
  Prior to a match between the men’s team, 400 fans watched HIFK defeat Ilves in a close 5-3 game, a much bigger audience than Auroraliiga’s average of 100 fans. Any patron who purchased tickets to the men’s game was allowed entry to the women’s game earlier in the day. Finnish reporter Lassi Seppä talks about the success and failures of the event, including how the event could have been better promoted and logistics could have been improved, in this article.

• Kiekko-Espoo captain Reetta Valkjärvi out for the remainder of the season with knee injury
  First place Kiekko-Espoo will be without Valkjärvi, who has 18 points in 22 games this year. Assistant captain Minttu Tuominen will step into the captaincy role in her absence.

• Terhi Mertanen likely leaving TPS after this season
  Mertanen coached TPS for four seasons, but announced she plans to pursue other opportunities once her contract is up. TPS is in seventh place in Auroraliiga this year.

Transactions and Commitments

• Jenna Hietala signs with RoKi
  Jenna Hietala, who’s missed over a year of hockey with injury, returns to Auroraliiga and signs with Roki. She previously played for KalPa, and in 2022-2023 had an impressive 50 points in 35 game performance at age 18. Hietala has now played three games at center with RoKi, and already has two assists.

• Pauliina Salonen (HIFK) commits to Duluth
  Salonen, a 19 year old center, has 33 points in 29 games this year and has been a part of the European Hockey Tour with Team Finland.

• Tilli Keränen (KalPa) commits to RIT
  Keränen has 27 points in 23 games this year and wore the “C” for Team Finland in the 2023 U18 WWC.

• Eerika Siekkinen (Team Kuortane) commits to St. Michaels
  Siekkinen is a depth forward in Auroraliiga who also appeared on the 2024 U18 team for Finland

• Lucia Záborská joins RoKi
  The 26-year-old Slovakian forward signs with RoKi after spending last season with TPS

• Alexandra Mateickova goes from RoKi to Kärpät
  After staring the season with RoKi, Mateickova leaves for Kärpät. Mateickova had a strong rookie year with RoKi, where she had 16 points in 25 games, but has failed to see the same success at the club level this year. Just 18 years old, Mateickova has also played for the Slovakian national team and had two points in the Olympic Qualifier.

International Competition and Other News

• U18 Tournaments wrap up

  • Canada wins gold in the top division

  • Hungary promoted to the top division for the first time in a decade

  • First ever Division III U18 Women’s World Championship a success, with Romania winning gold and a promotion to Division II. Romania’s U18 program competed for the first time since 2017. Croatia, Thailand, and Lithuania’s U18 teams were first time participants and each earned their first win this tournament.

  • Great Britain and Turkey were also promoted to the next division up. Japan, Austria, South Korea, and Taiwan all relegated.

• Final round of Olympic Qualifiers set for February 6th though February 9th

  • Japan, Sweden, and Germany will host each of their groups to determine the three remaining teams to go to Italy next year

  • Sweden’s roster for the upcoming tournament does not feature Hanna Olsson. Olsson is Frölunda’s captain and the current point leader in the SDHL among Swedish natives. Other notable but less surprising omissions include Emma Nordin and Linnéa Johansson, who both have not appeared on a team Sweden roster since 2022.

• Kim Martin-Hasson (SWE) and Vicky Sunohara (CAN) to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame

• Former Buffalo Beaut and Mercyhurst player Shelby Bailen comes out of retirement (?) to play for EC Graz Huskies in the EWHL