Junior Women’s League U16 kicks off its inaugural season

The newly founded Junior Women’s League U16 will kick off on 3 October 2026. As Switzerland’s first league dedicated exclusively to young female players, it will provide additional opportunities to play and a new platform for development for players in the U13 to U16 age groups. The EVZ girls will kick off their championship campaign with an away match in Lausanne.

The league forms part of the legacy initiatives launched as part of the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championship in Zurich and Fribourg. The Junior Women’s League U16 is designed to specifically expand the existing range of opportunities in girls’ and women’s ice hockey. The focus is on enabling as many female players as possible to take part in regular competitive matches at their own level and supporting them in their sporting and personal development.

Players in the U13 to U16 age groups are eligible to take part. In addition, up to four ‘overage’ players, aged 19 or under, are permitted per team per match.

NINE TEAMS ARE COMPETING FOR THE FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE

Nine teams are taking part in the inaugural season: the Bern Girls Selection, HC Dragon Thun / Yetis, HC Fribourg-Gottéron, the Hockey Country Girls, Lausanne HC Féminin U16, EHC Olten Prospects, HC Thurgau Girls, the ZSC Lions and EVZ. All teams work closely with regional partner clubs.

The competition consists of a regional home-and-away round and a single inter-regional round. Depending on the draw, the teams will play a total of eleven to twelve matches. At the end of the regular season, the top two teams will face off in a final to decide the first Junior Women’s League U16 championship title.

MORE PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE, RESPONSIBILITY AND PROSPECTS

The new league is designed to give girls more regular playing time whilst also fostering a sense of personal responsibility. By playing in all-girls teams, the players gain valuable competitive experience, take on responsibility and are given the opportunity to take on their first leadership roles both on and off the ice.

The Junior Women’s League U16 thus complements the existing youth championships and creates additional development opportunities on the path from youth to senior hockey. At the same time, it aims to inspire more girls to take up ice hockey, retain them in the sport in the long term and show them prospects for their future careers.

The new league marks a further step in the sustainable development of girls’ and women’s ice hockey in Switzerland.

EVZ U16 TEAM

GAMES & RESULTS