Germany To Host An Olympic Women's Hockey Qualifying Tournament Ahead Of 2026

This season, teams will begin earning their places at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. Germany's qualifying tournament will take place in Bremerhaven from February 6-9 2025.

The qualifying tournament, hosted by the German Ice Hockey Association, the will include four nations - Germany, Austria, Hungary and a yet to be determined qualifier - with the winner earning an automatic bid to the 2026 Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo.

"We are delighted that we are allowed to host this important tournament for our women's national team," German Ice Hockey Association president Dr. Peter Merten said in a news release. "With Bremerhaven, we have chosen a location that offers the four nations optimal conditions so that they can fully concentrate on their sporting performance. Of course, we are counting on the loud support of our local ice hockey fans on match days and are sure that we will offer all spectators a high-class, exciting qualification tournament."

Germany finished 6th in the most recent World Championship powered by strong performances from Laura Kluge, Sandra Abstreiter, Ronja Hark, Nina Jobst Smith, and twin sisters Luisa Welcke and Lilli Welcke.

Hungary earned promotion back to the top division of the World Championships finishing second in the Division 1A tournament. Their top performer in the absence of Fanni Gasparics at the tournament was Alexandra Huszak and netminder Aniko Nemeth was strong.

Austria is strong at the top of their lineup despite finishing 4th in the Division 1A tournament including captain Anna Meixner and Theresa Schafzahl who will both play in the PWHL this season with Ottawa and Boston respectively. Annika Fazokas rounded out their top line, and sisters Magdalina Luggin and Selma Luggin provided strong netminding.

" There is hardly a greater compliment for Bremerhaven as a sports location than to be the venue for the Olympic qualification tournament for the women's national team," Bremerhaven mayor Torsten Neuhoff said. "The Olympic Games - just like our seaport city - stand for diversity in sport but also in everyday life. I am delighted that in addition to the league games of our successful first division team Fischtown Pinguins, another facet of ice hockey will be associated with Bremerhaven. Last but not least, our fans will show that Bremerhaven is the right choice for this tournament."

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