Canada Defends Junior Women’s Ball Hockey Title

The reigning champions from Liberec are the Canadian women, who won the tournament without dropping a single point. Unlike the men's tournament, however, they came closest to losing points in the final. They defeated Slovakia with just a single goal, highlighting a beautiful final battle between two elite teams and a real ball hockey thriller that lasted until the very last seconds.

Let’s recall what both coaches had to say after the final match (Canada – Slovakia 1:0):

Chris Sirovyak (CAN): “It was an incredibly tough game. It was a battle, with back-and-forth action. We had to stick to our defensive strategy, and I’m really happy the girls pulled it off in the end.”

Marián Hambálek (SVK): “I think it was a very good game. Maybe the slightly luckier team won, but overall, Canada definitely deserved it over the course of the tournament. The final was very even. We had many chances, but they had an excellent goalie. We didn’t score, so we couldn’t win. Our average age is 16, and I take my hat off to our team for fighting with heart—every girl played for one another. I believe this team has a bright future ahead of it.”

Now we’ll see if the Slovak coach’s words come true and whether the now two-years-more-experienced players can top their silver medal performance from Liberec on home soil.

The championship in Poprad will feature the same set of participating countries, meaning fans can look forward to seeing teams from Canada, the USA, the Czech Republic, Great Britain, and Slovakia. The tournament is expected to be more balanced than ever, where every goal could decide a team's success or failure. All teams are expected to be well-prepared, as coaching staffs now have a better idea of what to expect from their opponents. Unlike two years ago in Liberec—where the championship was held after a five-year gap—only two years have passed this time, giving everyone a clearer picture of their competition’s strength.

But every world-level tournament is unique in its own way, and that’s what makes it magical and truly captivating. That’s why the Slovak organizers warmly welcome every participant, wishing for everyone to take home beautiful memories from under the High Tatras.

So we cordially invite you to Poprad, Slovakia, from July 2–6, 2025, when the Ball Hockey World Championships for junior men and women will take place!

A Look Back at the 2023 Junior Women’s World Championship in Liberec:

Group Stage:
Czech Republic – USA 9:1
Slovakia – Canada 1:5
Canada – Czech Republic 3:1
USA – Great Britain 4:0
Canada – USA 6:2
Great Britain – Slovakia 0:18
Slovakia – Czech Republic 1:3
Great Britain – Canada 0:18
Czech Republic – Great Britain 17:0
USA – Slovakia 1:6

Semifinals:
Czech Republic – Slovakia 4:6
Canada – USA 7:4

5th Place Game:
Great Britain – Czech Republic U16 2:3

3rd Place Game:
Czech Republic – USA 2:1 SO

Final:
Canada – Slovakia 1:0

Final Rankings – Junior Women’s World Championship, Liberec 2023:

1. Canada

2. Slovakia

3. Czech Republic

4. USA

5. Czech Republic U16 (non-competing team)

5./6. Great Britain

Photo: Canada – Women's World Champions in the U21 category in 2023 (Liberec2023.cz)