Eight teams will play in the Women’s U19 World Floorball Championships B-Division. Hungary, Austria and USA will play in the Group C and Canada, Germany, Japan and Thailand in Group D

Hungary’s ranking, 8th, is the highest of the B-Division teams. The home team Canada is currently ranked 10th and Germany is ranked 11th. Austria is next with a ranking 12. The four teams are all eager to win the B-Division and gain a place in the A-Division for the U19 WFC. USA, Japan and Thailand are participating for the first time in the Women’s U19 WFC.

Team Presentations:

Group C

Hungary
Hungary has a young team and many players can also play in the 2018 U19 WFC. The team has prepared well and aims to fulfil all the hopes and expectations.
Players to watch:
Anikó Kelemen: Most experienced and skilled player of the team. Solid performances make her a great captain.
Anna Rácz: Young and talented goalie who can win matches with her great saves.
Orsolya Stipsicz: One of the youngest players, yet the most skilled and strongest defender of the team. Is also good in offence.

#19 A. Kelemen

#23 A. Rácz

#8 O. Stipsicz

Austria
Austria is a hard working team that will give everything it takes every minute of the game. Their aim is to win at least one of their preliminary round matches and then do their best in the play-off matches.
Players to watch:
Dana Patsch: Quick and smart player who will cause trouble in the opponent’s end.
Dana Zundel: Young player with a great shot.
Lena Fink: Strong centre that knows how to score and gives all she has for the team.

#3 D. Patsch

#17 D. Zundel

#20 L. Fink

USA
Team USA is a blend of highly skilled stick-handling and athletic abilities. They will play as a team and do their best for the flag they love. Team USA’s goal is a spot in the semi-finals.
Players to watch
Adelia Pennisi: Has played for the Women’s team. With her speed, she opens up space and opportunities for the others.
Andrea Kostal: Has a good technique and game sense. Good at creating goal scoring opportunities.
Nora Aron: Has developed tremendously under the leadership of Goalie Coach Katariina Alongi.

#63 A. Pennisi

#8 A. Kostal

#6 N. Aron

Group D

Canada
The Canadian team has been in the planning since the summer of 2014 with over 120 players attending selection camps. The final 20 players will make this the best possible team Canada has ever assembled with the goal of winning group B in front of their home crowd and promotion to group A in 2018.
Players to watch:
Kathryn Kennedy: Is participating in the U19 WFC for the second time. NCAA Division 1 hockey player and member of the Canadian Women´s Floorball team.
Hannah Wilson: Captain of the team who is also part of the Women’s team. Important scorer who is participating in the U19 WFC for the second time.
Christina DeFranco: Defender with quick shot and an excellent playmaker. This will be her second U19 WFC and she has also played for the Canadian Women´s team.

#86 K. Kennedy

#55 H. Wilson

#22 C. DeFranco

Germany
Currently ranked 11th, Germany has been playing in the B-Division since 2010. The team’s main goal will be to get back to the A-Division step by step.
Players to watch:
Randi Kleerbaum: Young, but experienced player. Was also a part of the Women’s team in the last two WFC’s.
Charlotte Rüssel: Despite of it being her first WFC, she is one of the most skilled players of the team and also a good scorer.
Alena Holst: Captain of the team, who is a big leader on and off the field.

#3 R. Kleerbaum

#9 C. Rüssel

#20 A. Holst

Japan
Japan is participating in the WU19 for the first time. They have put together a good team and the team’s goal is to win at least two matches during the tournament.
Players to watch:
Rei Goto: Quick and skilled defender who is also the captain of the team. Proved herself already in the 2015 Women’s WFC.
Haruka Hosokawa: Clever goalie. Her saves give the team more energy.
Fuka Shibata: This will be her first international tournament, but she showed amazing scoring skills already in the training match.

#3 R. Goto

#1 H. Hosokawa

#8 F. Shibata

Thailand
Team Thailand is fresh, new and very determined. Floorball is new in Thailand, the team is really looking forward to the WFC and to gaining new experiences.
Players to watch:
Natthakarn Aunjai: Hard worker who has a good game sense.
Chutima Champatong: Physically strong player who is also the captain of the team.
Nattida Chanted: Natural defender. Her experience from the SEA games will be beneficial to this young team.

#11 N. Aunjai

#9 C. Champatong

#99 N. Chanted

U19 WFC Playing System

Every team plays each other once within their group. After the group stage, the top two teams in each group proceed to the semi-finals within their division, while the other four teams have placement matches. The 8th placed team in A-division will be relegated to B-division for 2018. The winner of B-division will be promoted to A-division for 2018.

The rankings within each group are decided according to the following:

a) The total number of points.
b) If two or more teams have the same number of points the internal matches of the teams concerned, the internal goal difference included if necessary, shall be decisive.
c) If the internal matches according to b) are not decisive, most scored goals internally shall be decisive.
d) If the ranking cannot be decided by the internal matches, the total goal difference of the teams concerned shall be decisive.
e) If the total goal difference is not decisive most scored goals of the teams concerned shall be decisive.
f) If most scored goals are not decisive a drawing of lot with the teams concerned shall settle the ranking unless the ranking concerns only the two teams playing a last round match deciding about promotion or relegation when extra time and, if needed, penalty shots shall decide the ranking.

In B-division, the 13th-15th places will be determined by the result of the following matches:

– 3rd Group C v 3rd Group D
– 3rd Group C v 4th Group D
– 3rd Group D v 4th Group D (group match result)

With the result of these three matches, the final placings will then be determined according to the group ranking calculations (a-f) as shown above.