It was a tournament of success for Ice Hockey Australia’s national women’s team, finishing fourth in their group securing survival at IIHF Division IIA World Championship level.
Held in Bled, Slovenia, it was a 4-1 win against Iceland in their final group game that would help Australia claim that fourth position.
Goals from Christina Julien – finishing ranked 10th for tournament points, Matilda Pethrick and Emily Davis-Tope (2) put the result behind doubt.
After promotion from Division IIB in 2025 it was a tournament of higher quality and trying to showcase that Australian hockey could match tougher opposition.
That Aussie fighting spirit the country is known for across the world came shining through as they planted the flag and gained respect as a Division IIA hockey team.
“Overall, I’m really proud of the group,” head coach Pier Martin told andrewkmacdougall.com.au
“We came into a very demanding tournament against strong opposition and showed that we not only belong at this level, but we could have medalled with slightly different outcomes.
“We did not get everything perfect, but the team competed hard, stayed connected, left their egos at the door and found ways to respond in big moments especially when we were down in some games.
“For me, the biggest takeaway was that this group did not just participate in Division IIA, they proved they can fight and belong in it.”
Eye of the survivor
One of the biggest hurdles facing teams that get promotion from one division to the next is survival.
Often, we see teams that can yoyo between multiple divisions unable to secure their spot in one for consistent periods.
However, for the Australian women’s team it’s a program that is continuously building towards division advancement.
North Korea dropping out prior to the tournament, the IIHF hadn’t decided on promotion and relegation at that point, so surviving the division is a huge accomplishment.
“It was massive,” continued Martin.
“Staying in Division IIA matters because it keeps our program competing against stronger opposition, and that is where growth happens.
“You improve by being tested and being challenged.
“For our players, for the staff, and for the future of the program, it was a really important step.
“But I will say that we didn’t survive the group – we actually impressed and shocked many opponents with our ability to compete and take over the game.
“We had many teams come to us after having played us saying that they had newfound respect for our game.”
International hockey lifts level
From an Australian Women’s Ice Hockey League (AWIHL) standpoint, national team selection is always a chance to watch local player’s shine.
Each tournament there are players that take giant leaps forward in their hockey development from being exposed to higher level games.
The 2026 tournament in Slovenia was once again bringing the best out of the Australian roster.
As a result, the team witnessed enormous growth across all areas of their play on and off the ice.
“I think a number of players took important steps, which is one of the exciting things about this group,” said Martin.
“Rather than single out just one, I would say what stood out was how several players showed they can handle the pace, pressure, and physicality of this level.
“That is important for our future because staying competitive internationally depends on more players becoming impact players, not just relying on a few and we had that.
“We saw every player get better and better during every game while also staying true to our team identity and playing style.”
Character building
Whether you are playing the AWIHL or the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), adversity is always part of hockey.
Australia would face theirs in Slovenia as captain Stephenie Cochrane would be ruled out through injury.
However, team culture and connection came shining through as they pushed Chinese Taipei to a shootout – eventually losing 2-1.
Furthermore, it was a galvanising moment for the team as they rallied around each other and continued pushing throughout the tournament.
“Losing Steph [Cochrane] was a major blow,” continued Martin.
“She is an important player for us, but also a huge leader in our group.
“What I was most proud of was that the team did not let that moment become an excuse.
“We responded right away to tie the game and took it to Taipei for the rest of the game too.
“We then had different players stepped forward and fill the gap, leadership was shared, and the group became even more connected.
“It said a lot about the team’s character that they kept pushing and stayed committed to the job in front of them while losing their leader.”
Believing that they belong
When looking at the tournament holistically for Australia, the biggest takeaway is the ability to compete.
The women’s program showed it has the talent and depth to not only survive the division but match opposition.
It’s here that the biggest impact of not being relegated directly back down and finishing fourth will have its biggest effect.
Something that Martin believes in too, while keeping things within focus, with a continuous cycle of proving that you belong.
“Yes, but with an important caveat,” said Martin.
“Being competitive at this level has to be earned continuously.
“This tournament showed that we can compete and that we deserve to be here, but staying here requires continued investment, continued player development, and a real commitment to raising our standard year-round.
“The foundation is there. Now the challenge is to keep building on it .
“We lost some games due to lack of high level fast paced experience; we need to find a way to give that to our program without it being exclusively at the IIHF World Championships.”
Feeling the love down under
Australian hockey thrives on the passion and dedication of volunteers; it’s the lifeblood of survival.
Whether you are fan or someone that gives up countless hours to help clubs and leagues operate, it is noticed.
The players and staff feel the support, thousands of miles away from home they know the Australian public is behind them.
Wearing the green and gold is a special privilege, representing not just themselves but an entire country of hockey fans.
“A huge thank you,” said Martin.
“We know how much support we have back home, and it means a lot to our players and staff.
“Representing Australia is something we take enormous pride in, and we hope this team gave people something to believe in.
“This group showed heart, resilience, and togetherness, and we are grateful to everyone who backed us through the tournament.
“We saw your messages, we shared them with the team and we hope they represented everyone with pride.”
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