MEMBERTOU, Nova Scotia – The U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team opens its 2026 IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship campaign on Saturday (Jan. 10) in its first preliminary round game against Slovakia. 

Puck drop is set for 9 a.m. ET and can be viewed on NHL Network. 

TODAY’S MATCHUP

Today marks the opening game of the 2026 IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship and the first of three preliminary round games for Team USA. 

AGAINST SLOVAKIA

Today marks just the third time the U.S. and Slovakia have met in U18 Women’s Worlds play. Team USA holds a 2-0-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) advantage and have outscored them 16-2 in those contests. 

RETURNERS FROM LAST U18s

The roster features 10 returners from the 2025 team that took silver at the world championship in Finland, including Kylie Amelkovich (Glen Ellyn, Ill.), Maggie Averill (Wayland, Mass.), Haley Box (Eden Prairie, Minn.), Jane Daley(Medfield, Mass.), Sloane Hartmetz (Phoenixville, Pa.), Maddy Kimbrel (Long Lake, Minn.), Annabelle Lovell(Hingham, Mass.), Christina Scalese (West Boylston, Mass.), Morgan Stickney (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) and Chyna Taylor (Louisville, Ky.). Averill and Box were also members of the 2024 U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team that won gold.

TEAM USA LEADERSHIP

Defender Maggie Averill (Wayland, Mass.) was named captain of Team USA, with forwards Kylie Amelkovich (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) and Maddy Kimbrel (Mound, Minn.) tabbed as alternate captains.