The 2026 IIHF Under-18 Women's World Championship will take place from January 10-18, 2026, in Sydney & Membertou, Nova Scotia. Scroll for an inside look at Team USA's journey from training camp, all the way through the team's final moments at this year's world championship!

With the final weekend of competition upon us, Team USA took to the ice for the final practice of the tournament, skating for an hour in the early afternoon. Vibes were high with captain Maggie Averill bringing a speaker on the bench to blast some tunes as the team skated. 

After practice, the team came back to the hotel for meetings and video, prior to the group walking over to Governor's again for a team dinner. This time, an excellent guitarist named Jordan helped serenade the team during dinner, with a variety of songs in his wheelhouse. 

PRANKSTERS

With the mood light as the team got off the ice from practice, Sloane Hartmetz and Bailey Rupp decided to play a little prank on some of their teammates and coaches as they walked by the locker room. See who fell for it and who was ready for it...

After last night’s game, Team USA’s equipment and operations staff moved the team over to its new home, Centre 200, where the playoff rounds of the tournament will be played, spending a few hours setting up so that when the U.S. arrived at the new rink for practice, everything was ready and waiting. All set in the new digs, the team took the ice for a 45 minute skate going over the game plan before facing off against Hungary in the quarterfinals tomorrow. 

CAPTAIN AVERILL BEHIND THE LENSE

Captain Maggie Averill got a hold of USA Hockey’s camera before practice this morning, snapping photos of her teammates and coaches as they came out on the ice. This is how we discovered her hidden talent for photography. 

After two back-to-back wins to open the tournament, Team USA earned a well-deserved day off. The day started with a mid-morning breakfast before strength and conditioning coach Jess Burlingame led a 20-minute mobility session, before playing a game of competitive telephone in the team’s meal room. The team was divided into two before playing two rounds of traditional telephone, a game where a message is whispered sequentially from person to person in a line, with each player relaying what they heard to the next. Whichever team gets the phrase right at the end of the line wins. Phrase one was ‘sweaty squirrel sells shells’ with the second phrase ‘swimming in the Atlantic Ocean.’ The final round was dancing telephone, with players having to correctly copy the dance moves of the person prior. 

BRAVING THE ELEMENTS

After the team activity in the morning, players had a few hours to spend with friends and family that are in town for the tournament. Some went to lunch with family, while others hung around and explored Sydney. 

A few staff members braved the wind and cold to get fresh air. Goaltending coach Mackenzie Bruch took the block walk to the local YMCA for a workout, while strength and conditioning coach Jess Burlingame, communications manager Melissa Katz and content coordinator Charles Crowell went for a stroll. The wind was so strong that the group couldn’t walk down the stairs to the boardwalk and at one point had to hold on to lamp poles to prevent themselves from blowing into the street….wish I were kidding on that one. 

ENJOYING A TEAM DINNER

At around 6 p.m., the full team and staff gathered in the lobby to walk over to the local restaurant Governor's for a fun team dinner. The meal started with some fantastic appetizers, including wings and wonton chip nachos, before the main course. The group had a choice of pastas, steaks and sandwiches for dinner, which was delicious. 

After dinner wrapped up, the team walked back to the hotel and wound down, preparing to face Finland in the early afternoon. 

It was the first full day in Sydney for Team USA, who had an early wake up call in order to get to the arena for the best day of the tournament...photo day! The U.S. had the first slot of the morning, with headshots kicking off at 8:15 a.m. After everyone smiled for the camera, players went out on the ice to take personal photos and film TikTok videos that I'm sure will be gracing you FYP any day now. 

The IIHF's social media staff, along with USA Hockey's content team, were capturing fun behind-the-scenes videos and photos which are posted on their channels as well. 

After about 10 minutes of capturing content on the ice, players were strategically lined up for the team photo. A well-oiled machine, USA Hockey's PR staff has team photo set up, shot and wrapped all in five minutes. Efficiency at its finest!

Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the debut of the team photo on USA Hockey's social media channels in the coming days!!

As for who takes these headshots and team photos? The IIHF has worked closely with Images On Ice for a while now. Images On Ice is a digital photography service for news media, publishers, and licensees. This service is operated by the Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum (HHOF), located in Toronto and since September 2006, HHOF has provided photographic assignment, archiving, and distribution services in connection with world championship ice hockey events. All of those excellent photos you've seen from previous world championships - Images On Ice is probably responsible for them!

TALKING ABOUT PRACTICE

After all the fun of photo day, it was time for the first practice on the game rink. Per IIHF rules, teams are only allowed a certain amount of time for practice at the competition venue, so players and coaches are always keen to make the most of their time on the ice. The U.S. ran through its systems, knowing that its opening game against Slovakia was just over 24 hours away. 

A WARM WELCOME

When the team arrived to its hotel late yesterday, their meal room was stocked full of surprises to help welcome Team USA to Sydney. One of those surprises was a handwritten letter from Clarke Cecil, the mayor of Sydney, Nova Scotia. Check out the note and official seal below!

Coming off a hard-fought victory against Czechia in the U.S.’ 4-2 the night prior, Team USA used its last morning in Halifax for a quick hour-long practice before packing the entire operation up and hitting the road to Sydney for the tournament. With puck drop less than 48 hours away, players and staff used the four-hour bus ride as a time to unwind, listen to music and chat with their seat mates. 

Sydney, which is even further east than Halifax, seems to be much chiller than where Team USA had pre-camp, with temperatures a balmy 32 degrees with a frigid wind upon the team's arrival around 5 p.m.

AVERILL NAMED CAPTAIN OF 2026 U.S. UNDER-18 WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM

Defender Maggie Averill (Wayland, Mass.) has been named captain of the 2026 U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team that will compete at the 2026 IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship Jan. 10-18 in Sydney and Membertou, Nova Scotia. 

Joining Averill as alternate captains are forwards Kylie Amelkovich (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) and Maddy Kimbrel (Mound, Minn.). 

WELCOME TO SYDNEY

When the team arrived to the Sport and Wellness Centre to unload their gear, they were met by a youth girls hockey team lining the entrance cheering them on. About 20 members of the Cape Breton Blizzards gave Team USA a warm welcome to the rink. It may have been the loudest cheers Team USA has ever received in Canada. 

Emily Pohl (Woodbury, Minn.) tallied a goal and an assist as the U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team topped Czechia, 4-2, in pre-tournament action on Wednesday at the RBC Centre. 

“I am very impressed with our group and how they played resilient throughout the entire game,” said Courtney Kennedy (Woburn, Mass.), head coach of the 2026 U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team. “We learned a lot about what our style of play is and how hard this tournament is going to be.”

Despite outshooting Czechia, 11-4, the teams went into the first intermission tied at 0-0. Both teams had multiple power play opportunities, but defense was on full display through the first 20 minutes. 

Just 2:48 into the middle frame Lindsay Stepnowski (South Glastonbury, Conn.) put home a power-play goal to open a 1-0 lead for the U.S. Pohl picked up the assist on the goal. 

Minutes later Jane Daley (Medfield, Mass.) doubled Team USA’s lead to 2-0, capitalizing on another power play opportunity, putting home a puck around an outstretched Czech goaltender. Christina Scalese (West Boylston, Mass.) and Annabelle Lovell (Hingman, Mass.) recorded the assists on the play. 

Cecilia Wielenberg (Downers Grove, Ill.) stopped a point-blank shot on a 2-on-1 opportunity with just 22 seconds left in the middle frame. On the ensuing offensive rush for the U.S., Pohl put away Team USA’s third of the game, going up 3-0 with 15 seconds left in the third. 

Heading into the third, the U.S. led Czechia in shots by the tally of 25-9. 

Czechia got one back six minutes into the third, sneaking a shot from just inside the blue line, past the goaltender to pull within 3-1. The Czechs then picked up their second of the period just four seconds under the five-minute mark to pull within 3-2. 

Jillian McLaughlin (Oceanside, Calif.) iced the game with an empty net goal with 1:22 remaining to put Team USA up, 4-2. 

The U.S. outshot Czechia 35-18 in the game. Emily Pohl was named Team USA’s Player of the Game. 

TRIVIA ANSWERS

What you’ve all been waiting for, the answers to yesterday’s trivia questions. How many did you get right?

• How many keys are on a piano? 88. The only player to get that right was Sloane Hartmetz
• What was Shrek’s wife’s name? Fiona. Haley Box and Kateryna Sander clocked that answer immediately. 
• What team won Super Bowl I and II? Green Bay Packers.
• What year were women first allowed to participated in the modern day Olympics? Bonus points for knowing the sport. 1900, tennis.
• What mammals can’t jump? Elephant, Rhino, Sloth, Hippo

Team USA awoke on day two in Halifax to a dusting of snow and flurries. After a hearty breakfast, the team hopped on the bus to head to practice where it was a full two hours of action on the ice. On today’s docket was working on breakouts, in zone offensive and defensive concepts, before wrapping up the time on the ice with a 5-on-5 scrimmage. 

Tonight’s team dinner was at Moxie’s – an upscale, casual dining restaurant a short five-minute drive from the hotel. The menu started with salads and soup, before a selection of steak, chicken, salmon or tofu for players and staff to choose from. 

The team’s hotel is in a great location, close to shops, restaurants and even a Costco. Staff is hoping they have enough room left in their suitcases for the many trips to the stores nearby. Team general manager Kristen Sagaert and communications manager Melissa Katz both purchased matching tweed wool peacoats from Roots, with many more trips to the shops yet to come. 

WELCOMING CZECHIA TO RBC CENTRE

After months of preparation, Team USA will finally take to the ice for a game tomorrow, a pre-tournament scrimmage against Czechia. The game will take place at the RBC Centre in Dartmouth at 3:40 p.m. ET. Keep your eyes on USA Hockey’s channels for updates. 

TRIVIA AFTER DINNER

After dinner, the coaching staff, along with players, played trivia as an evening activity. The team split into two teams with team Ivy Legends taking home the victory. Here’s a few questions the coaching staff asked – check back tomorrow for the answers. 

• How many keys are on a piano?
• What was the name of Shrek's wife?
• What team won Super Bowl I and II?
• What year were women first allowed to participate in the modern-day Olympics? Bonus points for which sport.
• What mammal can't jump? There are a few answers here. 

EARLY RISER OR NIGHT OWL?

Players answered a ‘question of the day’ today as they went out to the ice for a fun social media video. Today’s question was ‘are you an early riser or night owl?’. Unsurprisingly, most of the team declared themselves night owls, while the coaching staff said early risers. 

The 2026 U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team officially stared its 2026 IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship journey on Monday, meeting in a balmy Halifax, Nova Scotia for the team’s pre-camp. 

The team gathered in the lobby of its Dartmouth, Nova Scotia hotel in the early afternoon to take the short bus ride to the RBC Centre for its first practice of pre-camp. After settling into their home for the next four days, the squad hit the ice for a two-hour practice, getting their legs underneath them. 

The coaching staff, which includes head coach Courtney Kennedy, assistant coaches Greg ‘Boom’ May, Shelly Picard and Chris Bailey, along with goaltending coach Mackenzie Bruch, put players through numerous drills, before hitting the special teams work for the last hour. 

After practice, the team returned to the hotel before gathering for its first team dinner of the tournament at Jack Astor’s. Players and staff enjoyed a few rounds of Imposter, a game where players get a secret word, but one (the imposter) gets a different word and must bluff while others try to identify the Imposter. The tables were lined with butcher paper, so others took crayons and played tic-tack-toe or other fun table games, before enjoying a delicious meal. 

GETTING TO HALIFAX

It was a journey for players and staff to get to Halifax, with many facing delays, weather and cancellations along the way, but despite it all, everyone made it with all bags in tow! A few groups landed early into the morning, with the last bus arriving to the hotel around 3 a.m. 

Goaltender Bianca Birrittieri, forward Haley Box and defender Chyna Taylor has the longest journeys with Birrittieri starting in Dallas, Box in Denver and Taylor in Louisville. All three arrived in Halifax just after midnight. 

SUNRISE, SUNSET

Halifax is at a similar latitude to Minneapolis/Saint Paul, Minnesota, where the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship wrapped up today. Because it’s so north, the sun rises later and sets earlier. Today, the sun rose at 7:51 a.m. and set at 4:48 p.m., with the weather hitting a brisk 18°. Luckly, Monday was supposed to be the coldest day of the week, with the rest of the week looking to hit the 30s.