Eight teams will play in the Women’s U19 World Floorball Championships (WFC) A-Division. Sweden, Switzerland, Slovakia and Norway in Group A and Finland, Czech Republic, Poland and Latvia in Group B.

The reigning champion Sweden is ready to defend their title. Finland, who is ranked second, aims to steal the crown, but so are the next ranked Czech Republic and Switzerland. Tight matches have been played between the top four during the past and anything can happen.

Slovakia is ranked fifth and aims to hold onto their ranking. Poland is ranked sixth and Latvia seventh. Norway is the eight team in the A-Division. They won the B-Division in 2014 and were promoted to the A-Division.

Team Presentations

Group A

Sweden
The reigning champion Sweden comes to the U19 WFC with one simple goal, they want to defend their title in the final and on top of it win the title once again. This would be the fifth title for Sweden’s WU19 team. Sweden also wants to play offensive and attractive floorball.
Players to watch:
Klara Molin: Captain of the team who leads with authority and a big heart.
Frida Ahlstrand: Powerful and physically strong player who dares to challenge her opponent.
Marie Segerholm: Has gained international experience from the 2015 & 2014 U19 EFTs where she scored 3+2.

#17 K. Molin

#23 F. Ahlstrand

#8 M. Segerholm

Switzerland
Switzerland has a good mix of experienced players who already played in the last WU19 WFC in Poland and some new talented players. Their goal is to excel and play professional floorball and to fight for a place in the semi-finals.
Players to watch:
Jasmin Krähenbühl: Experienced defender who is good at fighting for the ball.
Sandra Kuster: Small but fast forward who drives towards the net.
Nicole Mattle: Skilled centre who plays in the Swiss league team Red Ants.

#16 J. Krähenbühl

#8 S. Kuster

#15 N. Mattle

Slovakia
Team Slovakia’s roster consists of women’s national team players and new players from the Slovakian top league. Some new players play in the Czech league. Slovakia’s goal is to make it to the top five and play in the semi-finals.
Players to watch:
Lenka Cuprakova: Versatile player with a good game sense and a great shot. Has experience from the Czech league.
Zuzana Sponiarova: Also plays in the Czech league and participated in the latest Women’s WFC. Can play any position.
Kristina Hudakova: Heart of the offence. She also took part in the Women’s WFC in Tampere.

#28 L. Cuprakova

#16 Z. Sponiarova

#88 K. Hudakova

Norway
Norway is currently ranked 9th. Last tournament’s placement was the lowest the team has had so far and they want to improve their ranking. Their main aim is to continue developing as a team both on and off the rink.
Players to watch:
Camilla Larsen: Player who always gives a 100% and is excellent in both the defence and offense.
Rikke Selstad: Has a great understanding of the game.
Marte Arkøy: Hard worker who has a fast and strong shot.

#8 C. Larsen

#15 R. Selstad

#9 M. Arkoy

Group B

Finland
Finland has many skilful players. Most of the girls play in the women’s league and in the national junior leagues. The team is very balanced as all three lines are good at defence and offence.
Players to watch:
Oona Kauppi: Elite scorer.
Mia Vallenius: Big and strong defender, also a playmaker.
Sofia Leino: Very skilful and fast forward. Makes fast and surprising moves, passes and goals.

#15 O. Kauppi

#22 M. Vallenius

#26 S. Leino

Czech Republic
The Czech team is based on togetherness. They are well organised in defence and creative in the offense. The coaches also have experience from the national team as players which helps communicating with the players. Czech Republic’s goal is to give a 100% and win each game.
Players to watch:
Johana Vrbova: Very calm and reliable defender who is able to open the game.
Magdalena Plaskova: Real team leader who is fighting for every ball and who lifts the spirit on and off the field.
Nela Jirakova: Young defender who enjoys being in the offensive zone and has a hard shot. Wants to score every minute.

#28 J. Vrbova

#18 M. Plaskova

#9 N. Jirakova

Poland
Team Poland’s roster consists mostly of young players who are supported by some of the more experienced players. Their aim is to improve their ranking and they’re hoping for positive surprises.
Players to watch:
Zuzanna Krzywak: Youngest player of the team who is still developing. Versatile and social player.
Dagmara Zadrożna: One of the most experienced players who was also in the U19 WFC 2014. Very ambitious and brave.
Anna Borkowska: Hard worker who is probably the most creative player in the team. The soul of the team who can improve the atmosphere and the result in a game.

#69 Z. Krzywak

#20 D. Zadrozna

#10 A. Borkowska

Latvia
Latvia has a combination of youth and experience. Some of the players participated also in the last year’s Women’s WFC. The team’s goal is to get a place in the semi-finals.
Players to watch:
Inga Ametere: Skilful player who knows how to score.
Jana Filipsone: Future star who already has national team experience. Talented goalkeeper.
Liene Krauja: Defender with a good technique. She often creates goal scoring chances.

#22 I. Ametere

#31 J. Filipsone

#18 L. Krauja

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.

More information on the official website: http://floorball2016.ca and the IFF WU19 WFC 2016 web page.