- Hilary Knight makes 15th world championship appearance, extending goal-scoring records
- 16 PWHL players and 9 under-23 athletes signal roster evolution
- Goaltending trio features Frankel, Philips, McNaughton replacing Olympic veterans
The 2024 US women’s world hockey championship roster blends historic leadership with fresh talent as veterans Hilary Knight and Kendall Coyne Schofield anchor a squad featuring 16 professionals from the groundbreaking PWHL league. Knight, 35, enters her record 15th tournament holding career marks of 65 goals and 111 points, while Coyne Schofield brings Olympic-level grit to a leadership role. This strategic mix aims to dethrone Canada after last year’s heartbreaking overtime final loss.
Goaltending illustrates the team’s youth movement, with 24-year-old Gwyneth Philips and 19-year-old Ava McNaughton joining starter Aerin Frankel. Their selection over two-time Olympians Nicole Hensley and Maddie Rooney reflects coach John Wroblewski’s emphasis on long-term development for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Games. Philips’ .942 save percentage with Boston University and McNaughton’s NCAA dominance suggest a calculated bet on athletic upside.
Nine players aged 23 or younger inject speed into the lineup, led by 19-year-old Ohio State phenom Joy Dunne. The collegiate pipeline remains vital, with Wisconsin’s Laila Edwards (30 NCAA goals) returning after her 2023 tournament MVP performance. Regional development programs in Midwest hockey hubs like Minnesota and Wisconsin now produce 40% of national team prospects, a 15% increase since 2018.
The PWHL’s influence shines through 16 rostered players, including 2023 Rookie of the Year Grace Zumwinkle. League play has accelerated tactical sophistication, with US defenders averaging 28% more zone exits per game compared to pre-PWHL tournaments. Anna Wilgren’s anticipated debut at defense underscores how professionalization closes experience gaps – she logged 22 PWHL games this season after narrowly missing the 2022 Olympic team.
Canada’s recent 3-2 Rivalry Series edge ensures high stakes in Czechia, where teams meet April 11 in group play. Historical data favors close contests: 18 of the last 23 US-Canada finals were decided by one goal. Injury concerns linger, however, with top-six forward Hannah Bilka sidelined by a February check. Her absence places pressure on Jesse Compher, returning after two years off the national team, to drive secondary scoring.
With 14 gold medals at stake since 1990, the US trails Canada 10-13 in all-time world championship titles. Advanced analytics reveal a path to victory: the American power play converted at 31% during the Rivalry Series, 9% higher than Canada’s unit. Sustained offensive pressure from Edwards’ line could exploit Canada’s relatively inexperienced third defensive pairing of Jocelyne Larocque and Ella Shelton.
Tournament success hinges on balancing legacy players with new systems. Knight’s 63% career faceoff win rate in elimination games provides clutch stability, while PWHL-developed transition schemes aim to capitalize on younger skaters’ speed. The roster’s average age (25.7) is the second-youngest in US history, yet it boasts 11 combined Olympic and world championship gold medals.
As the April 9 opener approaches, team director Katie Million emphasizes cohesion: “Our veterans mentor the next generation daily. That synergy – experience teaching urgency, youth teaching innovation – becomes our weapon.” With Milan-Cortina preparations accelerating, this tournament could define the next era of US women’s hockey dominance.
