Three European teams will compete in the Olympic women’s hockey tournament

Kristýna Kaltounková has seen headlines about how everyone is anticipating another epic Canada-US matchup in the Olympic gold medal final.

You are tired of reading them.

“If I could, I would do anything to be there and be able to win that gold or silver medal,” said the Czech striker. “I will do whatever it takes.”

Kaltounková, taken first overall in last year’s PWHL draft by the New York Sirens, leads the league in both goals (11) and penalty minutes (31) after her first 16 games.

The 23-year-old, who boasts size and a big shot, could be the X-factor for a rising Czech team hoping to shake up the Olympic scene.

Only one Olympic final, in 2006, featured a non-North American team. Canada beat Sweden for gold that year.

But now, the best international players compete in the PWHL, where they play and train alongside top talents every day. Czechia has eight PWHL players on its roster, including Kaltounková.

While the US and Canada are still the top-ranked teams in the world and heavy favorites to make another Olympic final, there is no doubt that the rest of the world has improved.

Here are three European teams to watch heading into the women’s Olympic hockey tournament, which begins in Milan, Italy on Feb. 5. You can watch every Olympic hockey game on CBC and CBC Gem.

Czechia

It’s been four years since the Czech Republic made its women’s hockey debut at the Olympics, but a lot has happened since then.

The country won its first two world championship medals with back-to-back bronzes in 2022 and 2023.

Then, the Czechs will host the world championship for the first time in 2025. The home team nearly upset the Americans in the semifinals, before losing to Finland in the bronze medal game.

At home, funding for the program “exploded” after the Olympics appeared four years ago, according to Boston Fleet defender Daniela Pejšová, who will be competing at Milano Cortina 2026 with the Czech team.

“In the summer, when I’m at home at these girls’ summer camps, they all tell me that they started because they saw us winning on TV. [world championship bronze medal in 2022] or just competing in the Olympics.” Girls’ hockey has just exploded in Czech. The federation started funding our program and obviously the PWHL happened. We have a lot of players in this league, so that helps.”

Another change was the addition of head coach Carla MacLeod, who also coaches the Ottawa Charge in the PWHL, and 27-year-old general manager Tereza Sadilová, who takes over in 2022.

Kaltounková praised both of them for helping the team gain more respect and confidence.

“Four years ago, many people didn’t even know about women’s hockey at home, so the fact that those people fought for us to be respected is something I appreciate and appreciate,” she said. “They did a great job with all of that because the conditions we have now and the opportunities we have are very different than what we did four or 10 years ago.”

Beyond Kaltounková, the Czech team will look to Vancouver’s Tereza Vanišová and Ottawa’s Kateřina Mrázová on offense. Captain Aneta Tejralová (Seattle Torrent) will be relied upon to play heavy minutes against top teams, assuming she is healthy.

But the player to keep your eye on is 19-year-old Adéla Šapovalivová, who helped lead the Czech Under-18 team to an upset of Canada in 2024. She plays team hockey with the University of Wisconsin and played on the line with Kaltounková in the world.

“You can expect a lot of physicality, a lot of intensity,” Kaltounková said of her team. “We have a Czech heart. Every Czech will tell you that we will fight until the end or the last minute. It’s really not easy to finish.”

Finland

Since her Olympic debut in 2010, Michelle Karvinen has seen many changes in women’s hockey. Nothing was bigger than the formation of the PWHL.

Since coming to the league this past season, the 35-year-old player says his game has grown to another level. He has six points in 16 PWHL games with Vancouver, where he has developed chemistry with Canadian Sarah Nurse.

Karvinen is part of the Finnish Olympic team with four PWHL players, and has earned back-to-back world championship bronze.

“I think we have probably the best team I’ve ever played for in Finland,” Karvinen told CBC Sports. “They are very good skaters, very fast, and very talented. I think obviously we are still young, but I have a good feeling about the team we have.”

In addition to Karvinen, Finland will look to Boston Fleet forward Susanna Tapani and Swedish Women Hockey League (SDHL) forward Petra. Nieminen to empower the case.

Tapani is one of the most underrated centers in the PWHL, a skilled forward who can get the puck off his stick at a moment’s notice. Has posted eight points in 14 games against league-leading Boston.

Nieminen leads the SDHL with 43 points in 25 games, thanks to his accurate shooting. Not to be underestimated is his ability, Karvinen said, which should help Nieminen transition to the PWHL, should he decide to enter next season.

At the back, captain Jenni Hiirikoski is expected to return to the national team after undergoing heart surgery in the off-season. Long regarded as one of the best defenders in the world, Hiirikoski logged big minutes while recording six points in seven games for Finland at the 2024 World Cup, where the country finished third.

It makes Karvinen feel emotional to think about his friend’s return to hockey after overcoming significant life challenges.

“For him to come back after all this, it shows his heart and character,” Karvinen said. “It wasn’t easy.”

He will be joined by Ronja Savolainen (Ottawa Charge), a tough defender who is one of the toughest to play against in the PWHL. Karvinen has watched his game evolve since arriving in North America and believes he is also below average.

One player to watch? Rookie Ottawa Charge have goalkeeper Sanni Ahola, who could steal the game for the Finns.

in Switzerland

The Swiss team joined Canada, the United States, Finland and the Czech Republic in Group A, where all teams will advance to the quarterfinals automatically.

Alina Müller (Boston Fleet) was just 15 years old when she won a bronze medal for Switzerland at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

But the Swiss couldn’t get back on the podium from there. The country also lost three bronze medal games in a row at the world championships from 2021 to 2023.

Now 27, Müller is chasing another Olympic medal. He knows he will have to be at his best for the Swiss team to get there.

“What helps us is that we are a small country,” he said. “We don’t have that many players. We know each other inside and out, and we have played together for years in the national team. We know what everyone needs. If we can deliver that, we are a very dangerous team.”

He is one of only two PWHL players on the roster from Switzerland. Nicole Vallario, a defender with the New York Sirens, is one.

“Our motivation to get a medal is greater than before because we have come close many times,” said Vallario.

Swiss legend Lara Stalder will return with Müller, as will goalkeeper Andrea Brändli.

Müller expects sound defensive hockey from Switzerland, supported by Brändli, who was the SDHL goalkeeper of the year last season.

“Anything is possible in women’s hockey with a top-quality goalie,” said Müller. “It’s another do or die tournament, and we’re going to try to show our best hockey and that it can take us really far.”

Sweden, Japan, Germany, France and hosts Italy make up Group B. The top three teams in that group will advance to the quarterfinals.

Canada opens its tournament on Feb. 5 vs. Finland at 3:10 pm Eastern.

The gold medal game is scheduled for February 19 at 1:10 pm Eastern.