For the first time in seven years, the IIHF Women’s World Championship has returned to be played in front of Canadian fans.
Ever since the 2016 Women’s World Championship in Kamloops, B.C., the country has patiently awaited its turn to host the event again.
However, when it was due to finally happen, in 2020, the tournament was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. And although it ran the following year, it did so behind closed doors. Originally scheduled to be held in Halifax and Truro, N.S., in May 2021, the tournament was both rescheduled and relocated, eventually taking place three months later in Calgary.
The 2022 Women’s World Championship in Denmark thankfully saw fans return as part of the experience, though it was uncharacteristically held in late summer for the second consecutive year. This was a result of the decision to have the top division play within the same calendar year as the Winter Olympics – for the first time in tournament history.
Fast forward to present day, and the tournament is back in front of fans and back to its usual spring scheduling, officially kicking off on Wednesday at the CAA Centre in Brampton, Ont.
Considered a highlight of the hockey season by many, the 2023 Women’s World Championship features the best of the best facing off as they represent their respective countries. The tournament consists of 10 teams – as it has since 2019 – divided into two five-team pools tiered based on previous results. Pool A is made up of Canada, USA, Czechia, Switzerland and Japan, while Group B consists of Finland, Sweden, Hungary, Germany and France.
Each country, with the exception of France, took part in the 2022 tournament. France joins the competition at the top level for the first time in four years after Denmark was relegated to Division I following a last-place finish as the host nation last year. (Side fact: there’s also a Division II and Division III.)
Running until April 16, the Women’s World Championship begins with each country playing four round-robin games within its pool. All countries from Pool A automatically advance on, in addition to the top three countries from Pool B. From there, on to the quarterfinals, semifinals and placement games (which feature a knockout format to rank the teams that do not advance) are played. The 31-game schedule concludes with the bronze and gold medal games.
Although Canada is considered the favourite to win after taking home gold in both 2022 and 2021 (plus its Olympic gold win in 2022), anything is possible, contrary to the flak this tournament often receives for being a two-team show. And even if a Canada-USA final feels inevitable, there will be other storylines to follow.
Take, for example, Czechia’s Cinderella story from last year when they earned bronze after years of relegation or bottom-half finishes at the top division. Also, Japan’s climb up to fifth place – and an earned spot in Pool A for the first time in its history. At the very least, we know the U.S. is champing at the bit to be No. 1, and it has a more than decent shot to do it.
Here’s a deeper dive into the 10 countries we’ll be watching compete over the next 12 days.
Pool A
Canada
- Appearances: 21
- Most recent result: Gold
- Medal history: 12 gold, 8 silver, 1 bronze
- Key question: Can Canada go undefeated in its pool? It went 3-1 in the preliminary round last year after a loss to the U.S.
- Player to watch: Natalie Spooner returns to play in the tournament after missing the 2022 Women’s World Championship because of her pregnancy. Although she just gave birth in December, she’s already back on Canada’s roster. At her last appearance, in 2021, the power forward ranked third overall in tournament scoring, with four goals and five assists.
USA
- Appearances: 21
- Most recent result: Silver
- Medal history: 9 gold, 12 silver
- Key question: Despite losing the gold medal game last year, the Americans were arguably the best team at the tournament. Can they stop Canada’s three-peat campaign?
- Player to watch: Taylor Heise made her senior national team debut at the 2022 Women’s World Championship, where she earned MVP honours after a tournament-leading 18 points (seven goals and 11 assists). Having just finished her fifth-year season at the University of Minnesota, Heise amassed 65 points in 38 games as captain.
Czechia
- Appearances: 7
- Most recent result: Bronze
- Medal history: 1 bronze
- Key question: After earning its best result in 2022, can Czechia build off that success and potentially earn another medal this year?
- Player to watch: Daniela Pejsova was eighth in last year’s tournament scoring, with five goals and four assists, making her a big factor in the Czechs’ historic feat. The defenceman spent the 2022-23 season playing for Luleå HF of the Swedish Women’s Hockey League (SDHL), collecting 15 points in 30 regular-season games and another six points in eight post-season games.
Switzerland
- Appearances: 17
- Most recent result: 4th
- Medal history: 1 bronze
- Key question: Having finished in the No. 4 spot for the last two years in a row, can Switzerland go that extra mile to earn another bronze medal – or better?
- Player to watch: Andrea Brändli played in all but one of the Swiss’ games in the last tournament, facing 167 shots on goal and stopping 150 of them to post a .898 save percentage and 3.42 goals-against average. Brändli spent her fifth-year season at Boston University after playing for Ohio State University the four previous years – and becoming the winningest goaltender in Buckeyes history. She recorded a .929 save percentage and 2.41 goals-against average in 25 appearances with the Terriers.
Japan
- Appearances: 9
- Most recent result: 5th
- Medal history: 0
- One question: After winning the fifth-place game last year and making history, can Japan manage to hold on to its spot in Pool A?
- Player to watch: Haruka Toko had a hand in six of Japan’s 10 goals last year, posting two goals and four assists to lead her team in scoring. Toko was a big part of Japan’s power play, which ranked first in the tournament at 42.86 per cent. She spent the 2022-23 season with Kinköping HC of the SDHL, recording 27 points in 29 games.
Pool B
Finland
- Appearances: 21
- Most recent result: 6th
- Medal history: 1 silver, 13 bronze
- One question: After falling out of the top four in 2022 for the first time in its history, can Finland bounce back and return to medal-winning form?
- Player to watch: Elisa Holopainen led her team in scoring last year, with four goals and two assists. The left winger plays for KalPal in the Naisten Liiga, an elite league for women’s hockey in Finland. In 28 games this season, she accumulated 41 goals and 34 assists for 75 points – and yes, you read that right.
Sweden
- Appearances: 20
- Most recent result: 7th
- Medal history: 2 bronze
- Key question: After being relegated in 2019 and returning to the top division last year, can Sweden build enough momentum to be a stronger team moving forward?
- Player to watch: Emma Söderberg appeared in five of seven games at the tournament last year, making 145 saves on 160 shots on goal for a .906 save percentage and 2.97 goals-against average. Over 33 games in her fifth-year season, the netminder went 21-10-2 with her University of Minnesota-Duluth squad, along with a .938 save percentage and 1.39 goals-against average.
Hungary
- Appearances: 2
- Most recent result: 8th
- Medal history: 0
- Key question: As an underdog that has continued to chug along in the top division for three consecutive years, can Hungary manage to stick with it?
- Player to watch: Fanni Gasparics had a strong showing at her first Women’s World Championship, in 2021, where she recorded four goals and an assist. Although Gasparics had a quieter showing in 2022 with just two assists, she spent this season with the Metropolitan Riveters of the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF), earning 14 points in 24 games.
Germany
- Appearances: 16
- Most recent result: 9th
- Medal history: 0
- Key question: Can Germany climb back up to a better rank? Although they typically sit in the bottom half of Pool B, the team did pull off a 4th-place finish in 2017.
- Player to watch: Tanja Eisenschmid led her team in scoring last year, with two goals and four assists, doubling her career points at the Women’s World Championship. The defender spent the 2022-23 season with Djurgårdens IF of the SDHL, recording six points over 25 games.
France
- Appearances: 1
- Most recent result: 10th (in 2019)
- Medal history: 0
- Key question: Making its first appearance in four years, can France pull off enough wins to make sure it isn’t sent right back down?
- Player to watch: Chloe Aurard is set to play at the top division for the second time in her career, after she earned three points at the tournament in 2019. Concluding her fifth-year season at Northeastern University, Aurard posted a career-high 54 points (20 goals and 34 assists) in 38 games.
