Skien, Norway to host this year’s Women’s World Challenge

World Para Ice Hockey has announced the Women’s World Challenge will return for a third consecutive year, taking place this year in Skien, Norway from 25-28 October. Hosted by the Norwegian Ice Hockey Association, the event will feature teams from the USA, Canada, Great Britain and Team World.  

With the ultimate goal of expanding female participation in Para ice hockey worldwide, the event will continue to pave the way for the 2025 Women’s World Championships and one day adding the sport to the Paralympic Winter Games programme. 

“World Para Ice Hockey has seen tremendous success with the first two editions of the Women’s World Challenge, helping us attract more athletes, officials and fans to grow the women’s side of the sport,” said World Para Ice Hockey Manager Michelle Laflamme. “We are excited to bring the Women’s World Challenge to Europe for the first time, as we continue to find new ways and audiences to propel the sport forward, and capitalise on a time when women’s sports are experiencing enormous growth in the world. We also are extending an invitation to athletes whose nation may not have a national team yet to apply to skate with Team World as we continue to grow the sport.” 

“This is a major event for the Norwegian Ice Hockey Association,” said Espen Hegde, Sport Manager for Para Ice Hockey at the Norwegian Ice Hockey Association and head of the Local Organising Committee. “We are happy to host the world’s best female Para ice hockey players in Skien and proud to take part in the growth of women’s Para ice hockey. Hopefully, this will be another stepping stone for future recruitment and development for female Para athletes in all participating countries.” 

A Look Back at the 2023 Women's World Challenge

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The 2024 Women's World Challenge will once again provide the opportunity for athletes from countries without a women’s national team to participate in the competition by representing Team World. In 2023, 17 athletes from 11 different countries competed with Team World.  

Interested athletes are encouraged to contact World Para Ice Hockey at info@worldparaicehockey.org for more detailed information on the application and selection process. Spaces are limited. 

This year's tournament will take place at Skien Fritidspark, a multi-purpose stadium originally built in 1968 and redone in 2008 with indoor sports halls, an ice hockey rink, a large water park, and several outdoor sports facilities. It is famous for hosting the 1975 European Gymnastics Championships where Romania’s Olympic legend Nadia Comaneci had her international breakthrough. The venue also played host earlier this year to the World Para Ice Hockey Championships B-Pool. 

At the inaugural Women’s World Challenge in 2022, Team USA went undefeated to win gold on its home ice, Canada claimed silver and Team World won bronze. In 2023, the event featured 67 women and an all-women officiating crew for the second time; the USA defended its title, with Canada once again taking silver and Team World skating to bronze.