Canada goes for gold at the 2016 IIHF Women's World Hockey Championship

Canada is hosting the 18th edition of the IIHF Women’s World Hockey Championship, which begins today in Kamloops.

The tournament begins with a bang on Day 1, as Canada plays USA at 8:30 pm on TSN. Those same two teams will (probably) play again for the gold medal on April 4.

Canada and the USA, you might remember, have quite the rivalry. The two countries have played each other in every gold medal final in this event’s history.

After winning the first eight World Championships in a row from 1990 to 2004, Canada has struggled to beat the Americans in this tournament. USA has won six of the last eight tournaments, including last year’s tournament in Malmo, Sweden.

The Olympics have been another story. Ironically, Canada has dominated after losing the first gold medal to USA in 1998. Since then, Canada has won four in a row, including 2006 when USA was upset by Sweden in the semi-final.

You may remember how how the last Olympic gold medal game went. If not, here’s a refresher…

Down 2-0 with under four minutes to play, Canada looked dead and buried.

That’s when Canada got a bounce. Brianne Jenner scored with 3:27 left to make it 2-1.

Then, Canada got another bounce, as the US hit post with 1:26 left.

With 54.6 seconds left, Marie-Philip Poulin came through, scoring the tying goal and sending the country into a frenzy.

Poulin clutched up again in overtime, winning the game for Canada on a 4-on-3 power play.

Given the stakes, it was probably the most dramatic women’s hockey game ever played.

 

Format

The tournament format is a little bit different than what you may be expecting. The top-four teams in the world will play in Group A, with the top-two teams advancing directly to the semi-finals. The bottom-two teams from Group A will play the top-two teams from Group B in the quarter-finals.

The format makes a lot of sense given the disparity in skill level between the best and worst teams in women’s hockey.

Group A

Canada

Finland

Russia

USA

Group B

Japan

Sweden

Switzerland

Czech Republic

 

Team Canada

Canada’s roster features 17 returning players from the 2015 World Championship team, along with 16 returnees from the 2015 Four Nations Cup team, and two players that will make their first appearance on the World Championship stage.

Canada has named a new captain, with today’s announcement that Olympic hero Marie-Philip Poulin will take over from Hayley Wickenheiser.

“Being named captain is an honour and a privilege,” said Poulin. “I remember watching the world championship and the Olympics and knowing that I’m wearing the ‘C’ like Cassie Campbell, Caroline Ouellette and Hayley Wickenheiser and all the players before me, I think it’s quite amazing. There are so many pioneers that have worn it, so I’m trying to follow in their footsteps.”

Meaghan Mikkelson and Meghan Agosta will serve as Canada’s alternate captains.

“We have so much depth and leadership on this team and it’s important for us to continue to build and develop our players by giving them the opportunity to guide our squad,” said Canadian head coach Laura Schuler. “Our team is confident that this group of players models the leadership qualities that come with wearing the Maple Leaf.”

#	Name	Position	Age	Hometown
30	Emerance Maschmeyer	Goalie	21	Bruderheim, AB
32	Charline Labonté	Goalie	33	Boisbriand, QC
33	Erica Howe	Goalie	23	Orleans, ON
3	Jocelyne Larocque	Defence	27	Ste. Anne, MB
4	Brigette Lacquette	Defence	23	Mallard, MB
5	Lauriane Rougeau	Defence	25	Beaconsfield, QC
8	Laura Fortino	Defence	25	Hamilton, ON
12	Meaghan Mikkelson	Defence	31	St. Albert, AB
27	Tara Watchorn	Defence	25	Newcastle, ON
38	Halli Krzyzaniak	Defence	21	Neepawa, MB
2	Meghan Agosta	Forward	29	Ruthven, ON
6	Rebecca Johnston	Forward	26	Sudbury, ON
7	Jamie Lee Rattray	Forward	23	Kanata, ON
9	Jennifer Wakefield	Forward	26	Pickering, ON
11	Jillian Saulnier	Forward	24	Halifax, NS
17	Bailey Bram	Forward	25	Ste. Anne, MB
19	Brianne Jenner	Forward	24	Oakville, ON
22	Hayley Wickenheiser	Forward	37	Shaunavon, SK
24	Natalie Spooner	Forward	25	Scarborough, ON
29	Marie-Philip Poulin	Forward	25	Beauceville, QC
37	Sarah Davis	Forward	23	Paradise, NL
39	Emily Clark	Forward	20	Saskatoon, SK
40	Blayre Turnbull	Forward	22	Stellarton, NS

 

Schedule

The tournament will run for one week, with the gold medal game taking place at 8:30 pm on Monday, April 4. You can watch all of Canada’s games, as well as all of the knockout round games, live on TSN.

Date	Visitor	Home	Location	Time
Mon, Mar 28	Japan	Switzerland	McArthur Island Centre	2:00 PM
Mon, Mar 28	Finland	Russia	Sandman Centre	4:30 PM
Mon, Mar 28	Czech Republic	Sweden	McArthur Island Centre	6:00 PM
Mon, Mar 28	Canada	USA	Sandman Centre	8:30 PM
Tue, Mar 29	Czech Republic	Switzerland	McArthur Island Centre	2:00 PM
Tue, Mar 29	USA	Finland	Sandman Centre	4:30 PM
Tue, Mar 29	Sweden	Japan	McArthur Island Centre	6:00 PM
Tue, Mar 29	Russia	Canada	Sandman Centre	8:30 PM
Thu, Mar 31	Japan	Czech Republic	McArthur Island Centre	2:00 PM
Thu, Mar 31	Russia	USA	Sandman Centre	4:30 PM
Thu, Mar 31	Switzerland	Sweden	McArthur Island Centre	6:00 PM
Thu, Mar 31	Finland	Canada	Sandman Centre	8:30 PM
Fri, Apr 1	Relegation		McArthur Island Centre	2:00 PM
Fri, Apr 1	Quarter-final		Sandman Centre	4:30 PM
Fri, Apr 1	Quarter-final		Sandman Centre	8:30 PM
Sun, Apr 3	Relegation		McArthur Island Centre	2:00 PM
Sun, Apr 3	Semifinal		Sandman Centre	4:00 PM
Sun, Apr 3	5th Place		McArthur Island Centre	6:00 PM
Sun, Apr 3	Semifinal		Sandman Centre	8:30 PM
Mon, Apr 4	Relegation		McArthur Island Centre	1:00 PM
Mon, Apr 4	Bronze		Sandman Centre	4:00 PM
Mon, Apr 4	Gold		Sandman Centre	8:30 PM