China stint means Miller ineligible to represent Canada at worlds, Ice Hockey bosses say
Hannah Miller played for China at 2022 Winter Olympics under name Me Li, so Vancouver native cannot play for Canada at World Championships
The International Ice Hockey Federation has deemed forward Hannah Miller ineligible to represent Canada at the upcoming women’s world hockey championships because of her recent playing tenure in China.
According to Hockey Canada, the IIHF cited its rule requiring a two-year break from when the player represented another nation.
The 29-year-old Miller is from North Vancouver, British Columbia, and last represented China at the 2022 Winter Games under the name of Me Li.
Now in her second season with the PWHL Toronto Sceptres, Miller previously played for China-based KRS Shenzhen in a five-year stint ending in 2022-23, when the team competed in the Russian women’s pro league.
“We are extremely disappointed to learn that Hannah is not able to compete for Canada at the upcoming world championship,” Gina Kingsbury, Team Canada’s general manager, said in a statement.
“We remained optimistic and believed she had met all the conditions outlined by the IIHF to represent her country, including the two-year timeline around the transfer portal,” added Kingsbury, who also doubles as the Sceptres GM.