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The biggest story surrounding the women's tournament this year is the change in format. After Team Canada and Team USA rolled all of their opponents with a combined score of 72-3 (really) in the preliminary round in Vancouver in 2010, the International Olympic Committee hinted that things had to change or women's hockey might no longer have a place at the Olympic Games. Enter a commitment to spend some serious coin growing the game in other countries, as well as the new format.
With an eye on increasing competitiveness of the women's tournament, the IIHF introduced the aforementioned new format for the upcoming Olympic Games. It has been used in the World Championships since 2012 with promising results, and will be used in these Olympic Games to make the preliminary rounds more competitive. It might also provide some upsets and possible an unexpected bronze medal winner.
Here's how it works:
• There are two groups, with the top-ranked teams in one and the other qualifying teams in the other.
• Group A has Canada, Finland, Switzerland, and USA (I call it the Good Teams Group), while Group B has Germany, Japan, Russia, and Sweden (the Other Teams Group).
• For the Good Teams, the preliminary round is for seeding purposes only, as the top ranked teams will automatically go through to the semi-finals, while the bottom two will play in the quarters...
• ...against the top two Other Teams. Whoever wins in the quarterfinals will have the honour of losing to either the US or Canada in the semis, and then the US and Canada can go ahead to the forgone conclusion.
The format was first used in the 2012 World Championships, and it seems to be working well in terms of the competitiveness of the games, at least until the semi-finals.
So, what else can we expect?
Well, as usual, the US and Canada are heavily favoured over to make the final. However, Team Canada's road to Sochi has been a little bumpy as of late, with a coaching change less than two months ago, as well as four straight losses to the Americans in a six-game exhibition series.
Team USA, meanwhile, is hitting on all cylinders and is looking quite unbeatable. As you've probably heard or seen, there have been some quality brawls between these two teams in the last couple of games, and they really are appointment viewing.
Finland and Sweden have a rivalry as intense as the US and Canada have with each other (although it's a lopsided one in favour of Finland), so if they end up facing each other in the quarter finals, it should be a good game.
Team Sweden is trying to prove it belongs, as the Swedish Olympic Committee apparently threatened not to send a women's team to Sochi at all because of a disappointing performance as of late.
The Swiss team won their first ever medal at the Worlds in 2012, where the new format was introduced, and are hoping it works for them yet again.
Team Russia is probably hoping that the new format ends up working for them, with their eye on a bronze medal at home. Also, they are managed by Alexei Yashin (!).
Germany and Japan round out the Other Teams Group and are also the only two teams without counterparts in the men's tournament, which I think is kind of cool.
Without further ado here are all the rosters for the women's hockey tournament at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi.
Team Russia's roster:
| Anna PRUGOVA | G | Tornado , Dmitrov, RUS |
| Yulia LESKINA | G | Spartak-Merkury, Yekaterinburg, RUS |
| Anna VINOGRADOVA | G | Fakel, Chelyabinsk, RUS |
| Angelina GONCHARENKO | D | Agidel, Ufa, RUS |
| Alyona KHOMICH | D | Agidel, Ufa, RUS |
| Anna SHUKINA | D | Tornado Moscow Region |
| Svetlana TKACHYOVA | D | Tornado , Dmitrov, RUS |
| Alexandra KAPUSTINA | D | SKIF , Nizhny Novgorod, RUS |
| Anna SHIBANOVA | D | Agidel , Ufa, RUS |
| Inna DYUBANOK | D | Tornado, Dmitrov, RUS |
| Iya GAVRILOVA | F | Tornado, Moscow, RUS |
| Alexandra VAFINA | F | Fakel, Chelyabinsk, RUS |
| Yekaterina SMOLENTSEVA | F | Tornado , Dmitrov, RUS |
| Olga SOSINA | F | SKIF , Nizhny Novgorod, RUS |
| Tatyana BURINA | F | Tornado, Moscow, RUS |
| Yekaterina LEBEDEVA | F | Fakel , Chelyabinsk, RUS |
| Anna SHOKHINA | F | Tornado, Dmitrov, RUS |
| Galina SKIBA | F | Tornado , Dmitrov, RUS |
| Yekaterina PASHKEVICH | F | Agidel, Ufa, RUS |
| Yekaterina SMOLINA | F | Tornado, Dmitrov, RUS |
| Yelena DERGACHYOVA | F | Agidel, Ufa, RUS |
Team Canada's roster:
| Shannon Szabados | G | Canada NAIT Ooks (CCAA) |
| Meghan Agosta-Marciano | F | Canada Montreal Stars (CWHL) |
| Jocelyne Larocque | D | Canada Calgary Inferno (CWHL) |
| Lauriane Rougeau | D | United States Cornell Big Red (NCAA) |
| Rebecca Johnston | F | Canada Toronto Furies (CWHL) |
| Laura Fortino | D | United States Cornell Big Red (NCAA) |
| Jennifer Wakefield | F | Canada Toronto Furies (CWHL) |
| Gillian Apps | F | Canada Brampton Thunder (CWHL) |
| Meaghan Mikkelson | D | Canada Calgary Inferno (CWHL) |
| Caroline Ouellette – C | F | Canada Montreal Stars (CWHL) |
| Mélodie Daoust | F | Canada McGill Martlets (CIS) |
| Jayna Hefford – A | F | Canada Brampton Thunder (CWHL) |
| Catherine Ward – A | D | Canada Montreal Stars (CWHL) |
| Brianne Jenner | F | United States Cornell Big Red (NCAA) |
| Haley Irwin | F | Canada Montreal Stars (CWHL) |
| Hayley Wickenheiser – A | F | Canada Calgary Dinos (CIS) |
| Natalie Spooner | F | Canada Toronto Furies (CWHL) |
| Tara Watchorn | D | Canada Calgary Inferno (CWHL) |
| Marie-Philip Poulin | F | United States Boston University Terriers (NCAA) |
| Geneviève Lacasse | G | United States Boston Blades (CWHL) |
| Charline Labonté | G | Canada Montreal Stars (CWHL) |
Team USA:
| Molly Schaus | G | United States Boston Blades (CWHL) |
| Brianne McLaughlin | G | Canada Burlington Barracudas (CWHL) |
| Jessie Vetter | G | United States Oregon Outlaws (GLHL) |
| Megan Bozek | D | United States University of Minnesota (WCHA) |
| Gisele Marvin | D | United States Boston Blades (CWHL) |
| Michelle Picard | D | United States Harvard University (ECACH) |
| Anne Schleper | D | United States Boston Blades (CWHL) |
| Kacey Bellamy | D | United States Boston Blades (CWHL) |
| Josephine Pucci | D | United States Harvard University (ECACH) |
| Lee Stecklein | D | United States University of Minnesota (WCHA) |
| Alex Carpenter | F | United States Boston College (HEA) |
| Monique Lamoureux | F | United States University of North Dakota (WCHA) |
| Meghan Duggan | F | United States Boston Blades (CWHL) |
| Lyndsey Fry | F | United States Harvard University (ECACH) |
| Julie Chu | F | Canada Montreal Stars (CWHL) |
| Brianna Decker | F | United States University of Wisconsin (WCHA) |
| Kelli Stack | F | United States Boston Blades (CWHL) |
| Jocelyne Lamoureux | F | United States University of North Dakota (WCHA) |
| Hilary Knight | F | United States Boston Blades (CWHL) |
| Kendall Coyne | F | United States North Eastern University (HEA) |
| Amanda Kessel | F | United States University of Minnesota (WCHA) |
Team Sweden:
| Sara GRAHN | G | Brynas IF, Gavle, SWE |
| Kim MARTIN HASSON | G | Linkopings HC, Sweden |
| Valentina WALLNER | G | MODO Hockey, Ornskoldsvik, SWE |
| Sofia ENGSTROM | D | Leksands IF, Sweden |
| Lina BACKLIN | D | Brynas IF, Sweden |
| Johanna OLOFSSON | D | MODO Hockey, Ornskoldsvik, SWE |
| Josefine HOLMGREN | D | Brynas IF, Sweden |
| Emilia ANDERSSON | D | Linkopings HC, Sweden |
| Linnea BACKMAN | D | AIK , Solna, SWE |
| Emma ELIASSON | D | Munksund Skuthamn SK, Pitea, SWE |
| Jenni ASSERHOLT | F | Linkopings HC, Sweden |
| Cecilia OSTBERG | F | Leksands IF, Sweden |
| Lina WESTER | F | Leksands IF, Sweden |
| Pernilla WINBERG | F | Munksund Skuthamn SK, Pitea, SWE |
| Anna BORGQVIST | F | Brynas IF, Sweden |
| Maria LINDH | F | MODO Ornskoldsvik |
| Fanny RASK | F | AIK, Solna, SWE |
| Erica UDEN JOHANSSON | F | IF Sundsvall |
| Erika GRAHM | F | MODO Ornskoldsvik |
| Emma NORDIN | F | MODO Hockey, Ornskoldsvik, SWE |
| Michelle LOWENHIELM | F | AIK , Solna, SWE |
Team Finland:
| Eveliina SUONPAA | G | Team Kuortane |
| Meeri RAISANEN | G | JYP Jyvaskyla, Finland |
| Noora RATY | G | Ilves Tampere, Finland |
| Emma TERHO | D | Espoo Blues, Finland |
| Rosa LINDSTEDT | D | JYP Jyvaskyla, Finland |
| Anna KILPONEN | D | Team Kuortane |
| Jenni HIIRIKOSKI | D | JYP Jyvaskyla, Finland |
| Mira JALOSUO | D | SKIF Nizhny Novgorod, Russia |
| Saija TARKKI | D | Karpat Oulu, Finland |
| Tea VILLILA | D | University of Minnesota Duluth |
| Venla HOVI | F | KalPa Kuopio, Finland |
| Linda VALIMAKI | F | Espoo Blues, Finland |
| Annina RAJAHUHTA | F | Espoo Blues, Finland |
| Riikka VALILA | F | JYP Jyvaskyla, Finland |
| Minnamari TUOMINEN | F | Espoo Blues |
| Vilma TANSKANEN | F | Team Kuortane |
| Michelle KARVINEN | F | University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, USA |
| Nina TIKKINEN | F | Karpat Oulu, Finland |
| Karoliina RANTAMAKI | F | SKIF Nizhny Novgorod, Russia |
| Susanna TAPANI | F | University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, USA |
| Emma NUUTINEN | F | Espoo Blues, Finland |
Team Germany:
| Ivonne SCHRODER | G | Tornado Niesky [men], Germany |
| Viona HARRER | G | EC Bad Tolz [men], Germany |
| Jennifer HARSS | G | ERC Bulls Sonthofen, Germany |
| Jessica HAMMERL | D | TSV Erding [men], Germany |
| Anja WEISSER | D | University of P.E.I. |
| Susann GOTZ | D | OSC Berlin, Germany |
| Susanne FELLNER | D | ECDC Memmingen, Germany |
| Tanja EISENSCHMID | D | University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, USA |
| Sophie KRATZER | F | ESC Planegg, Germany |
| Manuela ANWANDER | F | ERC Ingolstadt, Germany |
| Bettina EVERS | F | ESC Planegg, Germany |
| Nina KAMENIK | F | OSC Berlin, Germany |
| Julia ZORN | F | ESC Planegg, Germany |
| Jacqueline JANZEN | F | ECDC Memmingen Indians, Germany |
| Andrea LANZL | F | ERC Ingolstadt, Germany |
| Sara SEILER | F | ERC Ingolstadt, Germany |
| Kerstin SPIELBERGER | F | EHC Klostersee [men], Germany |
| Lisa Christine SCHUSTER | F | OSC Berlin |
| Franziska BUSCH | F | ECDC Memmingen, Germany |
| Monika BITTNER | F | ESC Planegg, Germany |
| Maritta BECKER | F | ERC Ingolstadt, Germany |
Team Japan:
| Azusa NAKAOKU | G | Toyota Cygnus, Tomakomai, JPN |
| Akane KONISHI | G | Kushiro Bears, Japan |
| Nana FUJIMOTO | G | Voltex Sapporo, Japan |
| Shiori KOIKE | D | Mitsuboshi Daito Peregrine, Japan |
| Yoko KONDO | D | Seibu Princess Rabbits, Tokyo, JPN |
| Ayaka TOKO | D | Seibu Princess Rabbits, Japan |
| Kanae AOKI | D | Mitsuboshi Daito Peregrine, Tomakomai, JPN |
| Sena SUZUKI | D | Seibu Princess Rabbits, Tokyo, JPN |
| Mika HORI | D | Toyota Cygnus, Tomakomai, JPN |
| Tomoe YAMANE | D | Toyota Cygnus, Japan |
| Aina TAKEUCHI | D | Daishin, Japan |
| Haruna YONEYAMA | F | Mitsuboshi Daito Peregrine, Tomakomai, JPN |
| Yurie ADACHI | F | Seibu Princess Rabbits, Tokyo, JPN |
| Chiho OSAWA | F | Mitsuboshi Daito Peregrine, Tomakomai, JPN |
| Moeko FUJIMOTO | F | Mitsuboshi Daito Peregrine, Tomakomai, JPN |
| Rui UKITA | F | Daishin, Japan |
| Yuka HIRANO | F | Mitsuboshi Daito Peregrine, Tomakomai, JPN |
| Tomoko SAKAGAMI | F | Mitsuboshi Daito Peregrine, Tomakomai, JPN |
| Miho SHISHIUCHI | F | Toyota Cygnus, Japan |
| Hanae KUBO | F | Seibu Princess Rabbits, Japan |
| Ami NAKAMURA | F | Seibu Princess Rabbits, Tokyo, JPN |
Team Switzerland:
| Janine ALDER | G | EHC Winterthur [men's], Switzerland |
| Sophie ANTHAMATTEN | G | EHC Saastal [men's], Switzerland |
| Florence SCHELLING | G | EHC Bulach [men's], Switzerland |
| Sarah FORSTER | D | HC Ajoie, Switzerland |
| Julia MARTY | D | Linkopings HC, Sweden |
| Lara STALDER | D | University of Minnesota Duluth |
| Nicole BULLO | D | HC Lugano, Switzerland |
| Angela FRAUTSCHI | D | ZSC Lions, Zurich, SUI |
| Laura BENZ | D | ZSC Lions, Zurich, SUI |
| Livia ALTMANN | D | ZSC Lions, Zurich, SUI |
| Sandra THALMANN | D | SC Reinach, Switzerland |
| Katrin NABHOLZ | F | ZSC Lions, Zurich, SUI |
| Stefanie MARTY | F | Linkopings HC, Sweden |
| Sara BENZ | F | ZSC Lions, Zurich, SUI |
| Evelina RASELLI | F | HC Lugano, Switzerland |
| Nina WAIDACHER | F | College of St. Scholastica |
| Jessica LUTZ | F | Ronin, United States |
| Alina MULLER | F | EHC Winterthur [men's], Switzerland |
| Romy EGGIMANN | F | HC Lugano, Switzerland |
| Anja STIEFEL | F | HC Lugano, Switzerland |
| Phoebe STANZ | F | Yale University |
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