With the selected three goaltenders, seven defencemen and 13 forwards the Swiss aim at reaching the quarter-finals and at defending their top-five position in the IIHF Women’s World Ranking to earn direct qualification to the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, Korea.

The Swiss will prepare on home ice in Romanshorn as well as in Chilliwack and Kamloops in Canada for the Women’s Worlds and will play pre-competition games against Finland and Russia.

The Swiss roster includes several veteran players such as goaltender Florence Schelling, defenceman Nicole Bullo and the three Waidacher sisters while the twin sisters Julia und Stefanie Marty earlier announced the end of their international careers. Two other Olympic bronze medallists, Sandra Thalmann and Sara Benz, are missing due to injuries.

With Bullo, goaltender Sophie Anthamatten and forward Christine Huni (nee Meier) three players return to the team after having missed out on the Women’s Worlds recently. For Swiss league scoring leader Huni, who played in five Women’s Worlds and two Olympics until 2011, it will be a comeback after five years.

For the two 18-year-olds Tess Allemann und Andrea Brandli it will be the first Women’s World Championship with the senior team.

“I’m really looking forward to the Women’s World Championship. We have a great mix of young and experienced players and we have a very talented group together,” said Daniela Diaz, who took over the position as head coach recently.

“In the preparation it’s all about working on details, gel together and be ready to give everything for the team.”

Swiss national women’s team

Goaltenders:
Sophie Anthamatten, EHC Saastal
Andrea Brandli, EHC Winterthur
Florence Schelling, Linkopings HC (SWE)

Defencemen:
Livia Altmann, ZSC Lions Zurich
Laura Benz, ZSC Lions Zurich
Nicole Bullo, HC Lugano
Sarah Forster, Universite Neuchatel
Shannon Sigrist, GCK Lions Zurich
Reica Staiger, ZSC Lions Zurich
Sabrina Zollinger, ZSC Lions Zurich

Forwards:
Tess Allemann, EHC Thun
Romy Eggimann, HC Lugano
Christine Huni, ZSC Lions Zurich
Alina Muller, Kloten Flyers
Evelina Raselli, HC Lugano
Dominique Rüegg, EHC Uzwil
Andrea Schranz, Bomo Thun
Phoebe Staenz, Yale University (USA)
Lara Stalder, University Minnesota Duluth (USA)
Anja Stiefel, HC Lugano
Isabel Waidacher, ZSC Lions Zurich
Monika Waidacher, ZSC Lions Zurich
Nina Waidacher, ZSC Lions Zurich

Head Coach:
Daniela Diaz