By EESTI Hoki
On August 1st and 2nd, after a 12-year break, the Estonian Women’s National Team will gather again at Škoda Ice Arena to start preparations for the IIHF 2021 Women’s Ice Hockey World Championship Division III tournament. Ukraine, Belgium, Romania, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Hong Kong, Bosnia & Herzegovina also will play in the same group.
30 players (3 goalies, 9 defensemen and 18 forwards) have been invited to the camp, all of whom are active players on Estonian ice hockey clubs.
Inguna Lukašēvica, a 45-year-old Latvian, who has a long-term experience as a player on the Latvian national team and a professional coaching career in Latvia and Austria, as well as previous experience with the Austrian U18 team. Lukašēvica Will guide the Estonia Women’s National Team Division III tournament in March of 2021.
“For the last three seasons, the women have played in the Estonian Hockey Championship and a total of five teams participated in the Women’s Champions League last season. We have been planning the return of the Estonian women’s hockey team for almost two years. We are pleased to see that although the team has had a long break, there is still a will and desire in our women to represent our country and compete for a good result, and we consider it very important to provide women with a change to be on the team so that both young girls can realize their potential on the ice, I believe that the first year of the team will be challenging, but the first goal is definitely to win Division III and go to level of Division II in the coming years.
The Estonian women’s hockey team gathered for the first time in 2005, when a meeting was held against the Icelandic team. The game was won with a score of 8: 2.
In 2007 and 2008, the national team has previously participated in the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships in Division IV. 4th place was achieved in both years.
Although the composition of the women’s team will be announced just before the World Championship tournament, the management of the team is known today.
| HC | Inguna Lukashevica (LAT) | Head coach |
| AC | Ahto Kärnä (FIN) | Abitreener |
| GM | Katrin Talvak | Manager |
| EQM | Toomas Rebane | Technician |
