SCEPTRES FORWARD HANNAH MILLER FORCED TO WATCH UPCOMING CHAMPIONSHIP FROM THE SIDELINES

Hockey Canada is seeking further information surrounding eligibility transfers of players after the IIHF has deemed Toronto Sceptres forward Hannah Miller ineligible for this year’s Women’s World Hockey Championship.

The Toronto Sceptres forward has been a standout player in the PWHL this season and was getting set to join Canada in Ceske Budejovice, Czechia, which would have been the start of her World Championship career. Miller was initially named to Canada’s roster ten days ago, but fast-forward that time, and news has broken that her dreams of playing for Canada will have to wait.

IIHF rules make her ineligible. These rules state that players under contract with a club in another country less than two years ago cannot switch national teams - a rule confirmed by Canada’s national team general manager, Gina Kingsbury.

Being denied the chance to play for her national team wasn’t a complete shock for the 29-year-old Miller, who was aware of the potential issue when she was named to the team.

It’s standard protocol for national teams to inform players who have made their team a few weeks in advance, and at the time of the roster announcement, the team still wasn’t clear about Miller’s eligibility.

A spot on Team Canada would have been well deserved for Miller, who sits second in points for the Toronto Sceptres with 10 goals and 14 assists in 26 games. Despite the best efforts of Hockey Canada’s legal team, the IIHF’s two-year rule proved non-negotiable. 

If there are any positives to take from this situation for the former KRS Shenzhen player, a Chinese club, she knows she’s in the mix, and that recognition can give her confidence for the future.

Miller previously represented Canada at the under-18 Women’s World Hockey Championship in 2013 and 2014, and her next chance to don the maple leaf may happen sooner than she thinks.
 
Hockey Canada is expected to name a pool of players this spring for the 2026 Women’s Olympic team. The two-year transfer rule won’t impact Miller’s Olympic eligibility, but the IIHF stipulates that players can only switch national eligibility once in their careers.
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The native of North Vancouver, B.C., will be replaced by teammate Julie Gosling for the April 9-20 tournament.

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