Norway: Siltanews – News Desk
The last few years has seen a resurgence of several countries at the Women’s World Championship. Denmark, for instance, played at the 2021, 2022, and 2024 WW after an absence from the top division of some 29 years. China, too, played last year, returning after a 15-year hiatus in the lower divisions. And this year, it’s Norway’s turn. They will be playing in Czechia in the 24th Women’s World Championship for the first time since 1997.
Norway and Hungary earned promotions last year at the Women’s Division I-A while the aforementioned Chinese and Danes suffered demotions. Hungary is also a success story of note. They played in their first Women’s Worlds only in 2021 and stayed up for 2022 and 2023, only to be demoted for 2024. But they fought in I-A last year under returning coach Pat Cortina, and are back in the top after only one year away.
The Norway promotion almost didn’t happen. At the I-A tournament last year in Klagenfurt, Austria, the Norway-France game on the second day of play proved the turning point. Norway built a 3-0 lead after 20 minutes, only to see the French rally and tie the game late in the third. A goalless overtime meant a penalty-shot shootout, and it was one of the wildest and most dramatic shootouts in recent memory.
France scored on their third shot, and after missing on their third and fourth, it came down to Emilie Kruse on Norway’s final shot. She scored to extend the shootout, and then with Norway shooting first the tables were turned. They kept pressure on France, which responded three times. Norway scored; France responded on three consecutive sudden-death shots!
Finally, with the tenth shot, Andrea Dalen scored for Norway and goalie Ena Nystrom stopped Frenchwoman Estelle Duvin, who had scored three of France’s four goals in this shootout, for the win. That result was the difference between promotion and status quo. In the end, Norway finished first in the tournament with 12 points, followed by Hungary with 11 and France 10.
Before looking forward, let’s look back. Norway played at the first four Women’s World Championships in 1990, 1992, 1994, and 1997. Those teams were led by Inger Lise Fagernes, Vibeke Laerum, Aina Hove, and Marit Larssen, among others. They finished sixth the first three times, but a last-place finish in 1997 sent them to what was then B Pool. Since 2012 they have played in Division I-A, never going lower but never being able to move back to the top either. Until last year.