The 2025 IIHF Under-18 Women's World Championship will take place January 4-12, 2025 in Vantaa, Finland. Scroll for an inside look at Team USA's journey at this year's world championship!

With the final games of the tournament slated for Saturday and Sunday, Team USA held its final practice of the tournament today. Coming off a commanding 9-1 victory in the quarterfinals over Slovakia, the team had a quick, but fun, skate, savoring the moments together as a team. 

When the team left the rink after practice, the snow was falling hard, with a few inches accumulating while everyone was inside the rink. The forecast says Vantaa is going to get eight inches of snow over the next few days. Time to break out the snow boots and bundle up!

TEAM USA REFLECTS GROWTH OF HOCKEY ACROSS THE U.S.

When Team USA takes the ice for Saturday’s IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship semifinal matchup against Sweden, they’ll be doing so with a roster that embraces the growth of the sport across the country. 

You have your typical states represented, with players from Minnesota, New York and Massachusetts, but right alongside are players who are from Kentucky, North Carolina, California and many more. 

For Liz Keady Norton, head coach of the 2025 U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team, it’s a reflection of the growth of the game and one she's relished in when building the roster. 

“It’s incredible,” Keady Norton said. “It’s not something you would have seen ten years ago, let alone a few years ago. It makes the entire process of selecting this team that much more exciting. There are good players everywhere and that’s a reflection of the growth of the sport, not just numbers wise, but talent wise for the girl’s game.”

RECORD BREAKERS

Team USA has broken some records during the tournament so far:

• Haley Box's goal nine seconds into Team USA's 9-1 quarterfinal victory over Slovakia marked the fasted goal in IIHF tournament history from the start of the game. The previous record was 10 seconds held by Adela Sapovalivova of Czechia during a Jan. 14, 2023 game against Slovakia.
• During yesterday's victory over Slovakia, goaltender Morgan Stickney recorded an assist on Bella Fanale's shorthanded goal late in the third period. It marked the first time in tournament history that a goaltender recorded a point on a goal.
• Goaltender Morgan Stickney recorded 13 saves in the win over Slovakia. Stickney had clocked 183:01 of consecutive shutout play prior to Slovakia's early first period goal.

With the final days of the tournament approaching, Team USA players and staff used a day off to explore Helsinki and all it has to offer. To help players with recovery, practice was cancelled and a bus was arranged to take the entire team a short 25 minutes from their hotel in Vantaa to downtown Helsinki to explore for the afternoon. 

People split up in groups choosing what excursions they wanted to do before meeting up for a team dinner. Some, opted to experience an authentic Finnish sauna experience at the Allas Sea Pool, while others explored Senate Square and hung out with family that made the trip to Finland to cheer them on. 

QUARTERFINAL TIDBITS

As Team USA prepares for its quarterfinal match against Slovakia tomorrow, here are a few fun tidbits about the tournament to help you get excited for puck drop!

• The U.S. enters the game with a 3-0-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record after defeating Japan, Sweden and Finland in the preliminary rounds to win Group A.
• The U.S. has only met Slovakia in IIHF Under-18 Women's World Championship play once before, holding a 1-0-0-0 record. The lone previous meeting was during the 2024 tournament in the preliminary round.
• The U.S. last faced Slovakia on Jan. 7, 2024, in the first preliminary round game of the 2024 tournament, marking the only previous time the two teams have met. Six different players tallied a goal, including two scores from Caroline Averill, as the U.S. topped Slovakia, 7-1.
• Team USA held its opponents scoreless for all three preliminary round games, 180 minutes of game play. It marks the first time since the 2013 tournament, which was also in Finland, that the U.S. kept its opponents off the score sheet during the preliminary round. 

STICKNEY'S STELLAR START

Goaltender Morgan Stickney has started the tournament with three shutouts in three games. An impressive feat that's rivaled Team USA records, but IIHF records as well. 

Her 180 minutes of shutout hockey sets a new IIHF single-tournament record for consecutive shutout minutes, which was previously 179:47 held by Team USA's Sidney Peters at the 2013 championship. 

Additionally, the three shutouts in the tournament recorded thus far, ties Alex Rigsby and Sidney Peters for the most career shutouts for Team USA at this tournament.

ALONG THE BOARDS WITH CHYNA TAYLOR

Throughout the IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship journey, we’ll regularly feature fun facts and tidbits about players to help you get to know Team USA. Today, get to know Chyna Taylor. 

After coming off back-to-back games, which both started at 10 a.m. local time, Team USA had a well-deserved, mellow Monday. After taking it easy in the morning, the U.S. headed to the rink for a short 45-minute practice. Today was an 'off day' for the tournament, so no games were on the slate to take place, just practice. 

MEET GINGY JR. - THE SECOND TRAVELING GINGERPERSON

For those of you who followed along last year, you may remember head coach Liz Keady Norton brought a special friend to Switzerland for the 2024 IIHF Under-18 Women's World Championship, Gingy, the traveling gingerbread person. Gingy, who was a cutout of a gingerbread person, was created by her son Mac as part of a project for his first-grade class. Gingy was on the bench as Team USA took home gold and was the team's unofficial mascot throughout the championship. 

Well, this year, Gingy Jr. has made the trip to Finland. Once again created by Keady Norton's son Mac, Gingy Jr. is a cutout gingerbread person adorned with decorations, and a photo of Mac, to help propel the team to new heights on the ice. Keep you eyes peeled on the bench as Gingy Jr. has made a few appearances, affixed to the glass right above Keady Norton's shoulder. 

OFFICIALLY OFFICIAL

You know the saying...'Pics or it didn't happen.' Introducing, the 2025 U.S. Under-18 Women's National Team *official* team photo. 

CHEERING ON TEAM USA

With Team USA slated to play in the gold medal game of the IIHF World Junior Championship, staff was eager to cheer the team on as they won gold. Despite puck drop being a little after 2:45 a.m. local time, a few managed to stay up and watch the game, which was on local TV as the U.S.' opponent was Finland.

What an exciting game it was! Go Team USA!

Friday was a big one for Team USA as it marked the last day of practice before the tournament started, as well as picture day! Event staff were buzzing around the rink putting the finishing touches on dashers, the mixed zone and other areas alike. With the venue coming alive, the team took the opportunity to enjoy photo day, the day where the IIHF takes all player and staff headshots, along with the team photo on the ice before practice.

The team adorned their game jerseys and brought their biggest smiles as they enjoyed a few minutes extra to take any personal photos or make any TikToks they found funny. Coming to an FYP near you! 

Also, Emma Cerruti and Annabelle Lovell were on the mini mic asking their teammates all the hard hitting questions. Keep your eyes peeled on USA Hockey's social media accounts for those videos! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TEAM USA

The 2025 U.S. Under-18 Women's National Team opens tournament play with a preliminary-round game against Japan on Saturday (Jan. 4). Puck drop is set for 10 a.m. EET (3 a.m. ET) and can be viewed on NHL Network. 

Here's what you need to know about Team USA:

1. The 2025 U.S. Under-18 Women's World Championship roster is comprised of 25 players, including eight returners from the gold medal-winning team that competed at the 2024 IIHF Women's World Championship. Of the 25, 17 are newcomers representing the U.S. for the first time at a U18 WWC, with the roster comprising of three goaltenders, nine defenders and 13 forwards.

2. Bella Fanale (Webster, N.Y.) is the captain of Team USA for the 2025 IIHF Under-18 Women's World Championship, while Megan Healy (South Burlington, Vt.) will serve as alternate captain. 

3. Liz Keady Norton head coach at the Milton Academy, is serving as head coach of the U.S. Under-18 Women's National Team for the second straight season. Amber Fryklund, Courtney Kennedy and Shelly Picard will serve as assistant coaches. Mackenzie Bruch, will be the goalie coach.

4. Players on this year's team hail from 13 different states, including nine from Massachusetts, four from Minnesota and two from Illinois. Alaska, California, Kentucky, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Vermont have one representative.  Defender Chyna Taylor, who is from Louisville, Kentucky, is the first player in U.S. Women's National Team program history to represent Team USA at an international event from the state of Kentucky.

5. Seventeen of the 25 players on the roster are making their IIHF Under-18 Women's World Championship debut at the 2025 tournament, including Kylie Amelkovich, Emi Biotti, Emma Cerruti, Jane Daley, Evelyn Doyle, Alaina Dunn, Finley Engfer, Kenleigh Fischer, Sloane Hartmetz, Ella Johnson, Sydney Lamb, Annabelle Lovell, Madelyn Kimbrel, Christina Scalese, Morgan
Stickney, Sydney Stoughton and Chyna Taylor.

Day three proved to be a chilly one here in Finland, with the final remanence of yesterday’s snow storm falling in the early morning hours. With the snow lining the streets and sidewalks, the team headed to the rink at 9:15 a.m. for its second practice since arriving in Finland. 

Fun Fact: While local officials do their best to plow and clear the streets and sidewalks of snow and ice, often times gravel, rather than salt, is spread on the sidewalk and roads to help people and cars with their traction. 

Practice was around 90 minutes before returning to the hotel in the early afternoon hours. The team attended the IIHF’s Integrity Workshop at 3 p.m. before a game video session to close out the evening. 

Lights out for the team is at 10 p.m., but many players went to bed looking forward to seeing the highlights of Team USA’s quarterfinal game against Switzerland at the IIHF World Junior Championship, currently taking place in Ottawa. Go Team USA!

ON THE AUX

Music is a huge part of the team’s culture. Between choosing a goal song to the jams in the locker room, the beats are essentially to getting the team hyped up for competition. The team’s DJ for the tournament is captain Bella Fanale. With a mix of Taylor Swift, Tate McRae and Gracie Abrams bopping through the speakers, her mix has players, and staff alike, in a good mood every time they enter the rink. 

HOW TO WATCH TEAM USA...

Team USA opens tournament play on Saturday (Jan. 4) against Japan. Set your alarms because it’s going to be an early one, with the puck dropping at 10 a.m. EET (3 a.m. ET). Make sure to mark your calendars with the full U.S. schedule below. All games will be broadcast live on NHL Network.

Early in the third, the U.S. killed 23 seconds of a 5-on-3 power play opportunity for Czechia before locking down defensively for the remainder of the game. 

Evelyn Doyle (Needham, Mass.) put the sixth and final goal away with 7:10 remaining in the third. The tally was the U.S.’ third power-play goal of the contest. 

Since the game was designated as the IIHF’s test event for the tournament the teams also played a five-minute overtime period and shootout, regardless of the final score. The IIHF uses pre-tournament games each event as a dress rehearsal to ensure all runs smoothly from the officials to the official scorers, to video replay, to game presentation. 

Box recorded her second of the evening with just over a minute remaining in the extra period, to extend the U.S. lead to 7-1. 

Bella Fanale was named U.S. Player of the Game. 

Team USA opens preliminary-round play of the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship on Saturday (Jan. 4) against Japan. Puck drop is set for 10 a.m. EET (3 a.m. ET) and can be viewed on NHL Network.

FANALE NAMED CAPTAIN, HEALY TABBED AS ALTERNATE

Forward Bella Fanale (Webster, N.Y.) was announced at the captain of the 2025 U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team at a team meeting on Tuesday evening. Fanale, who is a three-time U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team member helped the U.S. to the gold medal in 2024 and the bronze in 2023. 

Defender Megan Healy (South Burlington, Vt.) was also tabbed as alternate captain. Healy, like Fanale, is a three-time U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team member having defended the blue line for Team USA in 2024 and 2023. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR

With Team USA slated to take play in its pre-tournament game against Czechia on New Year’s Day, the team rung in 2025 in unique fashion, celebrating a few hours early to ensure everyone was in bed to get a good night’s rest. Finland certainly celebrated in style, with fireworks littering the skyline into the early hours of the morning. 

Tuesday was the first full day in Finland for the U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team and its staff. The team took the ice for a spirted practice that started at 12:30 p.m. at Aimo Mäkinen Arena. The team is only practicing at this rink for one day. Tonight, team equipment and operations staff packed everything up and moved it over to Trio Arena, where the U.S. will remain for the duration of the tournament. 

Practice lasted an hour and forty minutes with the team working on everything from special teams to breakout entries. Since the ice was reserved for two hours, players spent the last 20 minutes with open ice for them to work on any skills they chose. 

It’s right back to work as tomorrow at 5 p.m. EET, the U.S. will meet Czechia in a pre-tournament game. Keep your eyes peeled to USA Hockey’s social accounts for updates on the game. 

HOW WE GOT HERE...

It was a long journey for Team USA to get to Finland and is one that began for many during the early hours of January 29. Players and staff all descended upon Boston from different parts of the country, meeting up at the airport to travel overseas as a group. By far, the longest journey to Boston was for Ella Johnson who left Anchorage at 1:20 a.m. on the 29th and after a brief layover in Seattle, finally landed in Boston at 4:12 p.m.

Once in Boston, the group boarded a seven-hour overnight flight to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, France before a three-hour flight from Paris to Helsinki. Many attempted to sleep on both flights to help jump start their adjustment to a new time zone. Vantaa, where the team will be, is seven hours ahead of the Eastern Time Zone. 

Once landed in Helsinki, at around 5 p.m. on January 30, players and staff all gathered at baggage claim to collect their bags, loaded up the bus and headed off to the team hotel, which was a short 10-minute drive from Helsinki International Airport. Since Finland is part of the European Union, everyone’s passports were checked and stamped upon landing and entering the EU in Paris. 

WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE

With the U.S. slated to open tournament play on Jan. 4 against Japan, you might be wondering why the team arrived five full days before they take the ice. Not only does it allow for players, and staff, to adjust to the time change, but it gives the team an opportunity to enjoy a few practices together before playing a game. These few days are often referred to as ‘pre-camp.’ This year, the U.S. is hosting their pre-camp in Vantaa, the same town that the tournament will be held at. For the first day, Team USA skated at Aimo Mäkinen Arena, but starting tomorrow they will be based out of Trio Arena, which is where the 2025 IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship will be held. 

SUNRISE, SUNSET

Finland is much further north than the continental United States and sits on a latitude similar to that of Anchorage, Alaska. Because it’s located so north, in the winters, the sun rises later and sets earlier. Today, the sun rose at 9:25 a.m. and set at 3:23 p.m.