The 2025 IIHF Women's World Championship in Ceske Budejovice, Czechia, brought together the best in international women's hockey — and Mount Royal University had two notable representatives on the global stage. MRU Cougars women's hockey Head Coach Scott Rivett helped lead the host Czechia team as an Assistant Coach, while current Cougars defender Ava Farid-Malthe suited up for Norway at the senior world championship level.

For Rivett, the tournament marked his first appearance as a coach at the IIHF senior level. Guiding the host nation, he helped Czechia to a strong fourth-place finish. Czechia played in Group A, the top-tier group of the tournament, facing the world's most elite teams. The group stage opened with a promising 3-0 shutout win over Switzerland, but Czechia struggled in the following games, falling to the United States (4-0), Finland (4-2), and Canada (7-1). Despite those losses, their opening victory was enough to carry them through to the quarterfinal round.

In the playoffs, Czechia made a statement. Facing Switzerland for the second time, Rivett's squad delivered a dominant 7-0 win to advance to the semi-finals. There, they pushed the United States to the limit in a tight 2-1 game, but ultimately came up just short. Czechia then met Finland in the Bronze Medal Game, looking to secure a podium finish, but dropped another close contest, this time 4-3. The fourth-place result still marked a major achievement, especially as hosts, and reinforced Czechia's status as a rising hockey nation.

On the other side of the competition, Ava Farid-Malthe represented Norway in Group B. The 2025 tournament was her first at the senior level of international play since joining to Cougars. Norway had a challenging schedule, opening with back-to-back 5-2 losses against Japan and Germany. However, the team rebounded with a 3-0 victory over Hungary, giving them a highlight moment in the tournament. A tough 8-0 loss to Sweden ended their campaign.

Norway finished ninth overall, meaning they will be relegated to Division I Group A for the 2026 championship. While the team result was disappointing, the tournament gave Farid-Malthe valuable experience. She logged significant minutes on defense, gaining exposure to high-speed, high-stakes international hockey. She played alongside former Cougar defender Emma Bergesen, adding a familiar presence to Norway's blue line.

Although their journeys were different, both Rivett and Farid-Malthe made their mark. Rivett helped Czechia prove themselves against the world's best, while Farid-Malthe took important steps forward in her international career. Their presence at the World Championship demonstrated the growing reach of the Cougars hockey program and reflected the quality and development opportunities available at Mount Royal. From Calgary to the global stage, both carried the Cougar name with pride.