Published 16.03.2015 16:22 GMT+1 | Author Martin Merk

With less than two weeks to go until the 2015 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship in Malmo, host Sweden, Finland and Japan named the rosters.

Sweden named a roster including 20 skaters and four goaltenders, which means that the roster is almost final with one goalie to be cut before the start of the event.

The team will assemble on Saturday in Trelleborg to prepare for the event on home ice and will play an exhibition game against Finland at the same venue on 25 March at 19:15.

Also Nordic rival Finland named a preliminary roster including four goalies and 20 skaters today for the preparation camp in Vierumaki. The team includes nine Women’s World Championship rookies but also some veterans such as Karoliina Rantamaki, who has participated in five Olympic Winter Games and 12 Women’s World Championships.

Among the returnees is also goaltender Noora Raty, who announced her retirement from women’s hockey during the 2014 Olympic Winter Games but changed her decision last month when she played an exhibition game with the Finnish women’s national team.

Also Japan, recently promoted to the top division, named a roster including three goaltenders, seven defenders and 12 forwards including two forwards who already play in Northern Europe, Yuka Hirano for AIK Stockholm in Sweden and Miho Shishiuchi for HPK Hameenlinna in Finland.

Preliminary Roster Sweden

Goaltenders:

Sara Grahn, Brynas Gavle

Kim Martin Hasson, Linkopings HC

Minatsu Murase, AIK Stockholm

Valentina Wallner, Djurgarden Stockholm

Defencemen:

Emmy Alasalmi, AIK Stockholm

Emilia Andersson, Linkopings HC

Lina Backlin, Brynas Gavle

Linnea Backman, AIK Stockholm

Johanna Fallman, University of North Dakota (USA)

Johanna Olofsson, MODO Ornskoldsvik

Annie Svedin, IF Sundsvall

Forwards:

Jenni Asserholt, Linkopings HC

Anna Borgqvist, Brynas Gavle

Olivia Carlsson, MODO Ornskoldsvik

Erika Grahm, MODO Ornskoldsvik

Lisa Hedengren, AIK Stockholm

Sabina Kuller, AIK Stockholm

Maria Lindh, University of Minnesota Duluth (USA)

Michelle Lowenhielm, University of Minnesota Duluth (USA)

Emma Nordin, MODO Ornskoldsvik

Hanna Olsson, Sallskapet Skargarden

Erica Uden Johansson, Quinnipiac University (USA)

Lina Wester, Leksands IF

Pernilla Winberg, Linkopings HC Head Coach:

Leif Boork Preliminary Roster Finland Goaltenders:

Meeri Raisanen, SKIF Nizhni Novgorod (RUS)

Noora Raty, Kiekko-Vantaa

Eveliina Suonpaa, University of Minnesota Duluth (USA)

Vilma Vaattovaara, University of New Hampshire (USA) Defencemen:

Jenni Hiirikoski, JYP Jyvaskyla

Mira Jalosuo, SKIF Nizhni Novgorod (RUS)

Anna Kilponen, Ilves Tampere

Rosa Lindstedt, JYP Jyvaskyla

Eve Savander, Team Kuortane

Ronja Savolainen, Espoo Blues

Minnamari Tuominen, Espoo Blues Forwards:

Jennica Haikarainen, MODO Ornskoldsvik (SWE)

Michelle Karvinen, Espoo Blues

Sari Karna, Ilves Tampere

Niina Makinen, Karpat Oulu

Emma Nuutinen, Espoo Blues

Suvi Ollikainen, KJT Kerava

Karoliina Rantamaki, SKIF Nizhni Novgorod (RUS)

Saila Saari, JYP Jyvaskyla

Vilma Tanskanen, KJT Kerava

Susanna Tapani, HPK Hameenlinna

Noora Tulus, Espoo Blues

Riikka Valila, JYP Jyvaskayla

Linda Valimaki, Espoo Blues Head Coach:

Pasi Mustonen Preliminary Roster Japan Goaltenders:

Nana Fujimoto, Vortex Sapporo

Yuri Komura, Toyota Cygnus

Mai Kondo, FTS Mikage Gretz Defencemen:

Kanae Aoki, Mitsuboshi Daito Peregrine

Mika Hori, Toyota Cygnus

Shiori Koike, Mitsuboshi Daito Peregrine

Sena Suzuki, Seibu Princess Rabbits

Rina Takeda, FTS Mikage Gretz

Ayaka Toko, Seibu Princess Rabbits

Riko Yamaya, Mitsuboshi Daito Peregrine Forwards:

Yurie Adachi, Seibu Princess Rabbits

Yuka Hirano, AIK Stockholm (SWE）

Tomomi Iwahara, Seibu Princess Rabbits

Hanae Kubo, Seibu Princess Rabbits

Ami Nakamura, Seibu Princess Rabbits

Chiho Osawa, Mitsuboshi Daito Peregrine

Miho Shishiuchi, HPK Hameenlinna (FIN)

Suzuka Taka, Mitsuboshi Daito Peregrine

Naho Terashima, Daishin

Haruka Toko, Seibu Princess Rabbits

Rui Ukita, Daishin

Haruna Yoneyama, Mitsuboshi Daito Peregrine Head Coach:

Yoshifumi Fujisawa

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