OSLO – Thomas Pettersen has been named new head coach of the Norwegian women’s national team. He signed for two seasons with the Norwegian Ice Hockey Association.

Pettersen succeeds Laura Rollins, who was coaching the team during the last two years. Pettersen was her assistant during five years first at the U18 women’s national team and for the past two years with the senior team.

Norway has been competing in the second tier of international women’s ice hockey for the past ten years. In the upcoming season the team will play in the 2018 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship Division I Group A in Strasbourg and aim for promotion to the top division against Austria, Denmark, Hungary, host France and Slovakia.