Ice Hockey Australia (IHA) has announced the squad that will represent Australia at the 2026 World Para Ice Hockey Women’s World Championships, with the tournament set to take place in Newcastle from November 24–29.
Australia will face Canada, Great Britain, the United States and Norway during the championships, with a fifth and final team still to be announced.
The tournament will bring together some of the world’s best women’s para ice hockey players, with Australia set to face a strong international contingent on home ice.
Australia’s squad announced
Australia’s squad brings together a mix of experience and fresh talent, with eight players returning from the 2025 Women’s World Championships.
Six new players will suit up for Australia for the first time, giving the squad a number of new faces as the team prepares for this year’s tournament.
Three members from the 2025 squad will not return in 2026, although Natalie Mellors has been named as a reserve for the tournament.
The changes mean Australia will head into the World Championships with a different group to last year, with new additions giving the team a different look and dynamic compared with the 2025 roster.
Coaching staff returns
Dawn Watt will return as head coach for Australia, with Adrian Parrott continuing as her assistant, as the pair prepare to lead the team into another international campaign on home ice.
With the coaching group already familiar with the squad and the demands of international competition, Australia will head into the tournament with an established foundation both on and off the ice.
The duo gives Australia an experienced coaching partnership heading into the World Championships, with the squad preparing for November’s tournament.
With a challenging group of international teams set to compete, the coaching staff will turn their attention to preparations, drawing on their experience from the 2025 tournament in Slovakia.
Looking ahead to Newcastle
The 2026 World Para Ice Hockey Women’s World Championships will be a significant event for the Australian ice hockey community, bringing international para ice hockey competition to Newcastle for the first time.
Arriving at an important time for women’s para ice hockey in Australia, with the sport continuing to grow and attract more players across the country.
With the final competing team still to be announced, Australia now has its squad and coaching staff in place ahead of the November tournament.
For the Australian team, competing in Newcastle will mean more than representing their country on the international stage.
It will give the players the chance to experience a home crowd while putting women’s para ice hockey in front of a wider Australian audience.
The full Ice Hockey Australia squad announcement can be found here.
