The Australian Senior Women’s National Team is in Türkiye to compete in the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Division II B Women’s World Championships. Hockey Hype Australia is pleased to provide this tournament preview, which includes links from the Turkish Ice Hockey Federation to watch the games live and on-demand via YouTube.

Australia secured gold in Division II B in Iceland in 2020 just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent tournament cancellations.

Australia’s promotion to Division II A was cancelled. The Aussie Flyers’ two subsequent campaigns in Zagreb, Croatia, and Cape Town, South Africa have ended in silver-gilded heartache.

In 2022, Australia faced Iceland in its final match of the tournament – a top of the table clash. The game went to a shootout, and Silvia Bjorgvinsdottir lifted a backhand over Olivia Last to secure the victory, the gold, and promotion.

The following year, Australia had another strong tournament, but ran into Nina van Orshaegen, the Belgian goaltender. Belgium had earned promotion from Division III A the previous year.

Australia dominated the contest, but Nina van Orshaegen stopped all 48 shots against Australia, and Belgium scored one of its 12 shots to steal the win.

Both of those tournaments had five teams involved, while this year the tournament goes back to six teams. The last time the division contained six teams, the Australians earned gold in Akureyri, Iceland, in that 2020 tournament.

Meet the Team

Ice Hockey Australia (IHA) announced the final roster a day ago, with one significant change. Ashlie Aparicio had to pull out of the tournament due to an injury sustained in the Australian Women’s Ice Hockey League (AWIHL) semi-final.

Ava Calabria has replaced her on the squad, and joins Sydney Sirens teammates Lily Roberts and Gabrielle Arps. AWIHL teams are well represented at the tournament.

The Melbourne Ice representatives include defender Marnie Pullin, and forwards Sharna Godfrey and Stephenie Cochrane. Cochrane was named team captain for the squad.

Brisbane Lightning also supply three players – defender Katrina Rapchuk, and forwards Courtney Mahoney and Lindsey Kiliwnik. Kiliwnik has been appointed assistant captain.

The Adelaide Rush members include defender Kirsty Venus, and forwards Kaitlyn Malthaner and assistant captain Kate Tihema.

Perth Inferno supply five players to the team, including defenders Molly Lukowiak and Georgia McLellan, goaltender Sasha King, and forwards Sara Sammons and Michelle Clark-Crumpton.

Defender Matilda Pethrick, goaltender Olivia Last, and forwards Phoebe Roberts and Nikki Sharp are the only members of the squad who did not appear in the AWIHL this past season.

The coaching staff have a lot of choices for line combinations, and although we are admittedly biased, on paper, this team looks primed to take home the gold.

Türkiye

First up, at 4:30 am Tuesday morning AEDT, the Aussie Flyers take on Türkiye. You can watch the game live and on-demand via YouTube (click here for the link).

Back in 2020, Australia battled a familiar face between the pipes, AWIHL legend Sera Doğramacı. Australia gutted out a tough 2-1 win in that contest.

Doğramacı has since retired, and Türkiye has an up and coming superstar between the pipes, Azra Sert. Last year at the U18 Women’s World Championships, Sert posted a 1.97 GAA and .951 save percentage in five games played.

Sert, unsurprisingly, earned goaltender of the tournament, and best player for her team. Due to a severe earthquake just prior to last year’s tournament, Türkiye withdrew from competition.

This will be the first time the Aussie Flyers play Türkiye in almost two years, since a 7-0 victory in Zagreb.

New Zealand

Australia’s second match is against historic rival, New Zealand. You’ll want to stay up for this one, as puck drops at 12:30 am Wednesday morning AEDT (click here for the link).

Last month, IHA announced that a Trans-Tasman series will happen between the two nation’s senior women’s teams. The Aussie Flyers and Ice Fernz have been familiar foes at IIHF tournaments.

Back in 2020, Australia defeated New Zealand 7-1 after going behind early in the contest. That win secured gold for Australia.

New Zealand was still coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022, and did not participate in Zagreb. At last year’s tournament in Cape Town Australia emerged 5-2 victors.

However, the 5-2 victory was another come from behind performance for the Aussies. New Zealand led 2-0 at the first break, and it took over half the contest for Australia to equalise.

Neither team will take the other lightly, and this contest is crucial to Australia’s chances of finally leaving the group.

Hong Kong

The third match for the tournament is a dangerous one for Australia, and gives off Belgium vibes. It’s another 12:30 am puck drop on Friday, April 5 AEDT (click here for the link).

Last year, Hong Kong earned promotion to Division II B on the back of its spectacular goaltending. The team would push for the first goal, and then play a trap game, frustrating the opposition and relying on its netminder.

Keira Mok played as the backup goaltender and posted a win, a 2.40 GAA and .941 save percentage in one game played. Sumi Chau tallied three wins, a shutout, 1.00 GAA, and a ludicrous .962 save percentage.

Both goaltenders return this year for Hong Kong. Just as Belgium earned promotion two years in a row on the back of its goaltending, Hong Kong seem primed to use the same playbook.

If Australia manages to score first, and forces Hong Kong to stretch its defensive shell, Australia should win relatively easily. If Hong Kong scraps a first goal, the team is set up to absorb pressure and make it difficult for Australia to break through.

South Africa

Australia’s fourth game comes against South Africa at the friendly time of 9:00 pm Friday, April 5 AEDT. It will be Australia’s second game within 24 hours (click here for the link).

Without wanting to sound arrogant, playing South Africa in the second half of the back-to-back is a relief. Australia matches up quite well against South Africa in the context of recent results.

South Africa is yet to score against Australia in its last two contests. In 2022, Australia defeated the newly promoted South Africans 17-0. In 2023, Australia won 10-0.

If Australia are able to jump out to an early lead in the game against Hong Kong, Australia will be able to spread the minutes across all lines. That extra energy will come in handy against South Africa.

DPR Korea

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPR Korea) enters IIHF women’s competition in Division II B. The contest will be the final one of the tournament for Australia, and it commences at 12:30 am Monday, April 8 AEDT (click here for the link).

It will be DPR Korea’s first tournament since 2019, as the team withdrew from all tournaments until now due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is anyone’s guess as to how the team will perform at this year’s tournament.

The oldest player on the team is 31-year-old forward Un Hyang Kim. Based on the team’s age and size, expect DPR Korea to use its speed to cause problems for the opposition.

DPR Korea has an excellent record against Australia, with six wins and one loss in seven games played. The last time these two teams played was in Division II A in 2019 in Dumfries, Scotland, where DPR Korea defeated Australia 4-2 and consigned Australia to relegation.

With limited information available about the team, there is light and shadow in facing them in the tournament’s final game.

The light in the scenario is that Australia will have time to observe DPR Korea’s performances against the other four teams in the group. The shadow is that DPR Korea will likely be a stronger, more cohesive, team for the final game.

For Australia, that last game against DPR Korea could very well end up being a decisive game for both team’s promotion aspirations.

Final Thoughts

When studying the Australian roster, it’s hard not to be excited. The defense looks elite, and the addition of Kirsty Venus and Georgia McLellan to this year’s squad is huge for Australia.

Lily Roberts and Gabrielle Arps also join the squad on the blueline as rookies. And Phoebe Roberts and Kaitlyn Malthaner also make their senior debuts for the Aussie Flyers up forward.

The forward group looks to be a great mix of veterans and youth, with a mix of playmakers, snipers, and puck retrievers. There is no aspect of this squad that is one-dimensional.

In goal, AWIHL goaltender of the year Sasha King will join Naisten Liiga First Team All-Star Olivia Last. Last has been playing overseas in Finland, and missed last year’s tournament.

Olivia Last will look to continue her impressive performances in Division II B. So far she has posted a 0.79 GAA and .965 save percentage.

Whomever starts for Australia, the team in front can play with confidence knowing they have a goaltender in net who can make that extra save.

Stay tuned to our socials as we keep you updated throughout the tournament. If you wish to make a tax deductible donation to the team to help them cover costs, click here.