Swiss forward Evelina Raselli (right) after a win against Czechia at the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship.
photo: Minas Panagiotakis / HHOF-IIHF Images
Two prominent names in women’s hockey have announced their retirement in the last few days. 30-year-old Swiss forward Evelina Raselli and 21-year-old Danish goaltender Cassandra Repstock-Romme both have decided to leave the game.
“It’s time to open up a new chapter,” Raselli wrote via Instagram. “Thank you hockey for all the great moments & emotions.”
Said Repstock-Romme: “It has been an incredible honor to represent this amazing team and Denmark for soo many years! Looking back on all the amazing achievements and wonderful memories is just incredible! It can never in a million years be replaced. I have been honored every single time I had the opportunity to put this amazing jersey over my head. It is now time for a new chapter but a special thanks to this team and everyone who has been supporting me throughout this crazy journey. Looking forward to follow this team from the side line many years from now!”
The two players leave the game at opposite ends of the spectrum. Raselli has represented Switzerland since 2008, when she made her national team debut at the U18 level, while Repstock-Romme got started in top-level international hockey only a year ago with an impressive performance at the 2021 Women’s Worlds.
Switzerland has won only two medals in women’s hockey, and Raselli was part of both teams. At the 2012 Women’s Worlds and again two years later at the Olympics, the Swiss won a bronze. Additionally, Raselli had an extensive career in the Swiss league, primarily with the HC Lugano Ladies, and last season she also played with the Boston Pride in the PHF winning the Isobel Cup.
Raselli played in the inaugural WW18 event in 2008 in Calgary as a 15-year-old and was in the lineup again the next year. Two years later, she made her senior debut, and in 2012 she helped the Swiss to a stunning bronze medal thanks to a 6-2 win over Finland in the third-place game in Burlington, Vermont. Raselli scored two goals in that tournament and both were big. She scored once in the team’s 5-2 win over Russia in the quarter-finals, and again in the decisive bronze-medal game.
Although the team followed with a disappointing 6th-place finish in 2013, Raselli & Co. saved their best for the Sochi Olympics. Trailing the Swedes 2-0 entering the third period of the game for third place, the Swiss scored four unanswered goals and skated to a 4-3 win, giving them an historic Olympic bronze. Raselli’s last three IIHF events were all bittersweet – the team made it to the bronze game each time, only to lose at the 2021 and ’22 Women’s Worlds and the Beijing Olympics last February.
Raselli was at her best in Herning this past August, though. Playing every game on a team overwhelmed by injuries, she averaged 23:31 of ice time a game, tops on the team and a testament to her iron determination and fortitude.
In all, Raselli played in three Olympics and nine Women’s Worlds, a total of 67 top-level games.
“It’s time to open up a new chapter,” Raselli wrote via Instagram. “Thank you hockey for all the great moments & emotions.”
Said Repstock-Romme: “It has been an incredible honor to represent this amazing team and Denmark for soo many years! Looking back on all the amazing achievements and wonderful memories is just incredible! It can never in a million years be replaced. I have been honored every single time I had the opportunity to put this amazing jersey over my head. It is now time for a new chapter but a special thanks to this team and everyone who has been supporting me throughout this crazy journey. Looking forward to follow this team from the side line many years from now!”
The two players leave the game at opposite ends of the spectrum. Raselli has represented Switzerland since 2008, when she made her national team debut at the U18 level, while Repstock-Romme got started in top-level international hockey only a year ago with an impressive performance at the 2021 Women’s Worlds.
Switzerland has won only two medals in women’s hockey, and Raselli was part of both teams. At the 2012 Women’s Worlds and again two years later at the Olympics, the Swiss won a bronze. Additionally, Raselli had an extensive career in the Swiss league, primarily with the HC Lugano Ladies, and last season she also played with the Boston Pride in the PHF winning the Isobel Cup.
Raselli played in the inaugural WW18 event in 2008 in Calgary as a 15-year-old and was in the lineup again the next year. Two years later, she made her senior debut, and in 2012 she helped the Swiss to a stunning bronze medal thanks to a 6-2 win over Finland in the third-place game in Burlington, Vermont. Raselli scored two goals in that tournament and both were big. She scored once in the team’s 5-2 win over Russia in the quarter-finals, and again in the decisive bronze-medal game.
Although the team followed with a disappointing 6th-place finish in 2013, Raselli & Co. saved their best for the Sochi Olympics. Trailing the Swedes 2-0 entering the third period of the game for third place, the Swiss scored four unanswered goals and skated to a 4-3 win, giving them an historic Olympic bronze. Raselli’s last three IIHF events were all bittersweet – the team made it to the bronze game each time, only to lose at the 2021 and ’22 Women’s Worlds and the Beijing Olympics last February.
Raselli was at her best in Herning this past August, though. Playing every game on a team overwhelmed by injuries, she averaged 23:31 of ice time a game, tops on the team and a testament to her iron determination and fortitude.
In all, Raselli played in three Olympics and nine Women’s Worlds, a total of 67 top-level games.
By contrast, Repstock-Romme was just beginning what looked like a brilliant career. Although she lost both games at her inaugural event, the 2021 Women’s Worlds, she stopped 50 of 54 shots and looked to be the goalie of the future for the Danes. In Beijing, she was the winning goalie against Czechia on 7 February, the first ever Danish win at the Olympics. Despite being outshot 32-17, Repstock-Romme was the team’s best player and the reason they won.
But equally important, it was Repstock-Romme, who backstopped the team to qualify for Beijing in the first place. During the Final Olympic Qualification in Fussen, Germany, she played every minute for Denmark which advanced with two wins and an overtime loss. In all, Repstock-Romme stopped 48 of 50 shots and earned two shutouts in the three games.
Then, just two months ago on home ice, she shared the goaltending duties with Lisa Jensen in Herning, but the team finished 10th and was demoted for the 2023 Women’s Worlds. Nevertheless, Repstock-Romme showed all the skill and promise of a goalie with a bright future, and her loss will be deeply felt by the Danes as they fight to get back to the top pool. She had also played for several years in the Danish women’s league, mostly with Gentofte.
She will continue as a game official.
But equally important, it was Repstock-Romme, who backstopped the team to qualify for Beijing in the first place. During the Final Olympic Qualification in Fussen, Germany, she played every minute for Denmark which advanced with two wins and an overtime loss. In all, Repstock-Romme stopped 48 of 50 shots and earned two shutouts in the three games.
Then, just two months ago on home ice, she shared the goaltending duties with Lisa Jensen in Herning, but the team finished 10th and was demoted for the 2023 Women’s Worlds. Nevertheless, Repstock-Romme showed all the skill and promise of a goalie with a bright future, and her loss will be deeply felt by the Danes as they fight to get back to the top pool. She had also played for several years in the Danish women’s league, mostly with Gentofte.
She will continue as a game official.