Associated Press Photo

By Scott Lowe - MYHockeyRankings.com

It was about this time last year that the puck dropped on perhaps the most anticipated and talked-about women’s international ice hockey tournament of all time. 

Last August, the 2021 International Ice Hockey Federation Women’s World Championship, which at one point appeared destined to be yet another casualty of COVID-19, got underway in Calgary amid much fanfare and with unprecedented media and television coverage.

The tournament did not disappoint.

The perennially favored North American teams representing the United States and Canada met twice more on a world stage, with the Canadians earning an unusually lopsided 5-1 victory in the preliminary round before the two teams provided us with yet another epic gold-medal clash to decide the world championship.

That contest turned out to be your standard, run-of-the-mill USA vs. Canada drama-filled thriller, featuring a two-goal Canadian comeback and yet another OT GWG from the clutchest of all clutch performers, Marie-Phillip Poulin. It was a shot so precise and powerful that it required a video review for confirmation as play continued up and down the ice at a break-neck pace. 

When the horn finally sounded indicating that the puck indeed had entered the net, it set off a raucous celebration by a Canadian team that had been questioned after falling to its hated rivals in the previous Olympic gold-medal game and seen the Americans capture five straight – and eight out of 10 – world championships.

The Canadians, who seemed as relieved as they were exhilarated, used the momentum they built in Calgary to recapture gold at the Beijing Olympics in February, knocking off the U.S. twice more by scores of 4-2 and – you guessed it, 3-2 – to return to the top of the medal podium. That gold-medal performance followed a pre-Olympic tour in which Canada posted a 4-2 record against the Americans, including a pair of overtime wins, before the series was halted by the spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant.

So now, just a year removed from being under the microscope, the Canadians enter the 2022 WWC having beaten the U.S. nine out of the last 11 times the two international hockey powerhouses have met, including a 3-1 victory in a pre-tournament tune-up Tuesday.

Just like that, the roles have been reversed, and the questions are being aimed at the other side.

The difference this year, however, is that with the top women’s hockey players in the world convening in Denmark to compete for international supremacy for the third time in the past 12 months, this year’s WWC is flying much more under the radar in terms of pre-tournament hype.

The event being held in Europe and not hosted in North America also probably plays a factor in the diminished attention it has received, and it also comes at the end of an incredibly busy summer of international hockey that has included the men’s World Championship, the World Junior Championship and the Women’s U18 World Championship. In addition, this year marks the first time that a Women’s World Championship has been held during an Olympic year.

The good news for the United States is that the players and coaches don’t have to wait another year to get a shot at redemption. And really, just like the powerhouse Canadian team being questioned a year ago was somewhat of an overreaction, the fingers being pointed at the Americans this summer likely are a big nothing burger.  

While on the surface winning nine of 11 contests against your biggest rival would indicate an unexpected level of dominance, the reality is that most of those games could have gone either way, and with a different bounce here or a different call there the results could be much more even or completely flip-flopped. Seven of those 11 games were decided by a single goal, with four requiring overtime, and you could even argue that the Americans dominated that 4-2 opening-round loss in Beijing considering that they held a 53-27 shots-on-goal advantage that night.

Even in the gold-medal Olympic loss, the U.S. held a 31-20 shots advantage deep into the third period despite trailing 3-1.

That’s where an all-world goaltender like Anne-Renee Desbiens, who returns to backstop Team Canada in Denmark, can be the difference between winning and losing. Between gold and silver. Her 38 saves paired two more goals from Captain Clutch proved to be the difference, and suddenly all was good in the world again for Canadian hockey fans.

Those heroic performances left the United States contingent shaking their heads and sent USA Hockey back to the drawing board. Based on the international dominance of these two countries, though, only a few tweaks and not a complete program overhaul are needed to get the Americans back on track.

While Finland has gained ground on Canada and the U.S. during the past decade– the Finns knocked off Canada in the 2018 WWC semifinals and were an overturned overtime goal away from upsetting the U.S. to capture the gold medal that year – and other nations emerge occasionally to threaten the world’s top teams, no one is making a serious run at the North Americans’ world dominance.

Canada and the United States have met for the gold medal in 18 of the 19 Women’s World Championships that have been contested and in six of seven Olympic gold-medal contests. The players on these national teams know each other well and face each other several times a year – both while representing their countries and in the professional ranks – and have competed against each other countless times dating back to their U18 days. 

The programs serve as measuring sticks for each other and continually push one another to improve and take their games to higher levels. And there are no moral victories when Canada and the U.S. meet. No one wearing red, white and blue cares that the Americans could have won many of the games included among those nine recent defeats.

When you’re competing against your arch-rivals, winning is the only thing that matters, so if you aren’t winning, change is expected.

One of the recent criticisms of USA Hockey has been that it has continued to give its older and more experienced players opportunities in the most important games and tournaments instead of integrating and developing its younger prospects.

Enter 2022 U.S. National Team Head Coach John Wroblewski.

 

 

In Calgary at last summer’s WWC, COVID restrictions made it possible for teams to roster more players than usual, which did allow the U.S. to bring some of its younger prospects along for the experience. Several of them saw limited time or shared minutes in that tournament but ultimately were left off the Olympic roster.

Wroblewski, who brings experience coaching at the professional level in the American Hockey League and as part of the men’s National Team Development Program staff, has taken a more integrated mix of seasoned veterans and younger prospects to Denmark. The U.S roster includes 18 players who competed in Beijing and 20 from the Calgary team.

One of the 18 who didn’t go to Beijing is Lacey Eden, a 2002 forward who plays at Wisconsin. She dressed regularly in Calgary and played a regular shift in last year’s WWC gold-medal game but was one of the final cuts from the Olympic team. Backup goaltender Aerin Frankel also was on the roster in Calgary but did not play.

They are joined by three first-timers, ’02 defender Rory Guilday from Cornell. speedy ’01 forward Hannah BIlka from Boston College and ’00 forward Taylor Heise, who received the Patty Kazmaier Award as the nation’s top collegiate player and was the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Player of the year for Minnesota last season. Another ’02, defender Caroline Harvey, played a key role on the blue line in both Calgary and Beijing. 

The youngsters have been added to a group of familiar veteran faces that includes one player born in the ‘80s, four-time Olympian and 12-time WWC-participant Hilary Knight, and 16 players born in the ‘90s. Speedy Kendall Coyne Schofield will be making her 10th World Championship appearance, while forward Amanda Kessel will be playing for the seventh time and defender Lee Stecklein will be making her eighth appearance.

Forwards Jesse Compher and Grace Zumwinkle, both ’99 birthyears, had strong showings at last year’s WWC and at the Olympics.

Despite the outside criticism, the USA’s youth movement likely resulted from both need and a desire to start developing more of its young talent. Veteran forward Brianna Decker still has not recovered from the broken leg she suffered in the first Olympic game, and goalie Alex Cavallini is pregnant, while longtime National Team members Megan Bozek and Dani Cameranesi retired.

Already a veteran-laden team, Canada actually may have gotten older entering the World Championship as 37-year-old defender Meghan Mikkelson, an ’85 birthyear defender, returns after taking a year off. Mainstays Poulin, Desbiens, Renata Fast and Jocelyne Larocque return along with forwards Sarah Nurse, who had a breakout performance in setting the Olympic scoring record with 18 points in Beijing, and Brianne Jenner, who was named the Olympic MVP after notching 14 points.

Like the U.S., the Canadians boast young talent, but their youngest player is budding superstar Sarah Fillier, a 2000 forward who plays at Princeton and already has put up big World Championship and Olympic numbers. Victoria Bach, a ’96 forward, and ’98 forward Kristin O’Neill were on the WWC team in Calgary, but did not make the Olympic team, and ’97 forward Jessie Eldridge is making her first appearance for Team Canada. Sarah Potomak, a ’97 forward who plays collegiately for Minnesota, competed in the 2017 World Championship and was a two-time U18 World Championship MVP.

Missing from Team Canada this time around are Melodie Daoust, the 2018 Olympic and 2021 WWC MVP, and Natalie Spooner, the third-leading scorer in Calgary. Daoust was unable to attend Hockey Canada’s selection camp, and Spooner is pregnant. Claire Thompson, a ’98 who was an all-tournament selection on defense after setting the Olympic record for points by a defender in Beijing, and veteran forward Rebecca Johnston also aren’t playing.

Canada’s roster includes one player born in 2000, two ’99 birthyears, two ‘98s, an ’85, an ’88 and 16 players born between ’91 and ’97. 

The U.S. and Canada meet in the preliminary round Aug. 30 at 2 p.m. Eastern in a game that can be seen in the U.S. on NHL Network and in Canada on TSN/RDS. 

The North Americans once again are the overwhelming favorites to compete for the gold and silver medals. Finland is going through a bit of rebuild but still has an outstanding goalie in Anni Keisala, named the 2021 WWC Best Goalie, and the world’s top defender in 35-year-old Jenni Hiirikoski. The Finns should win the bronze, but don’t appear deep enough to threaten the U.S. or Canada at the top of Group A.

Rounding out Group A are Switzerland and Japan. The Swiss placed fourth in Calgary and Beijing, while Japan is making the leap up from Group B in the absence of expelled Russia

after placing sixth at the Olympics thanks to wins over Czechia, Germany and Sweden. Alina Muller and Lara Stadler, two of the world’s top forwards, return for Switzerland.

All five teams from Group A qualify for the quarterfinals, with pool play determining their seeding. The top-three finishers in Group B advance to the quarters, with the top seed getting to play the third-seeded Group A team and likely avoiding the U.S. or Canada. Group B’s second seed faces the No. 2 Group A team, while the third Group B seed takes on the top seed from Group A. The fourth- and fifth-place Group A finishers play each other in the final quarterfinal matchup. 

The bottom-two Group B finishers play each other to avoid being relegated and removed from the 2023 WWC Elite Division field.

Czechia is the most talented team in Group B, possessing some highly skilled forwards but lacking the depth necessary to compete with Group A teams. Germany finished fourth in 2017 but has seen a steady decline since, falling all the way to eight last year. Sweden is back in the Elite field for the first time since 2019 and is rebuilding in hopes of someday duplicating its silver-medal performance at the 2006 Olympics. The Swedes, along with Hungary and Denmark, will look to sneak into the quarterfinals and avoid possible relegation.

Group A – Canada, United States, Finland, Switzerland, Japan

Group B – Czechia, Germany, Hungary, Sweden, Denmark

 

2022 IIHF Women’s World Championship USA & Canada TV Schedule

Day      Date    Matchup                     Time                Networks

Thurs.  8/25    USA vs. Japan              9:00 a.m. ET    NHL Network

                        Canada vs. Finland      1:00 p.m. ET    NHL Network/TSN/RDS

 

Sat.      8/27    USA vs. Finland           9:00 a.m. ET    NHL Network

                        Canada vs. Swiss         1:00 p.m. ET    NHL Network/TSN/RDS

 

Sun.     8/28    Canada vs. Japan        9:00 a.m. ET    NHL Network/TSN/RDS

 

Mon.   8/29    USA vs. Switzerland    1:00 p.m. ET    NHL Network

 

Tues.   8/30    USA vs. Canada           2:00 p.m. ET    NHL Network/TSN/RDS

 

Thurs.  9/1      Quarterfinal 1             6:15 a.m. ET    NHL Network/TSN/RDS

Quarterfinal 2             10:15 a.m. ET  NHL Network/TSN/RDS

Quarterfinal 3             11:30 a.m. ET  NHL Network/TSN/RDS

Quarterfinal 4             2:15 p.m. ET    NHL Network/TSN/RDS

 

Sat.      9/3      Semifinal 1                  8:00 a.m. ET    NHL Network/TSN/RDS

 

Sat.      9/3      Semifinal 2                  12:00 p.m. ET  NHL Network/TSN/RDS

 

Sun.     9/4      Bronze Medal Game   9:00 a.m. ET    NHL Network/TSN/RDS

                        Gold Medal Game       1:30 p.m.         NHL Network/TSN/RDS

 

Calgary at last summer’s WWC, COVID restrictions made it possible for teams to roster more players than usual, which did allow the U.S. to bring some of its younger prospects along for the experience. Several of them saw limited time or shared minutes in that tournament but ultimately were left off the Olympic roster.

 

Wroblewski, who brings experience coaching at the professional level in the American Hockey League and as part of the men’s National Team Development Program staff, has taken a more integrated mix of seasoned veterans and younger prospects to Denmark. The U.S roster includes 18 players who competed in Beijing and 20 from the Calgary team.

 

One of the 18 who didn’t go to Beijing is Lacey Eden, a 2002 forward who plays at Wisconsin. She dressed regularly in Calgary and played a regular shift in last year’s WWC gold-medal game but was one of the final cuts from the Olympic team. Backup goaltender Aerin Frankel also was on the roster in Calgary but did not play.

 

They are joined by three first-timers, ’02 defender Rory Guilday from Cornell. speedy ’01 forward Hannah BIlka from Boston College and ’00 forward Taylor Heise, who received the Patty Kazmaier Award as the nation’s top collegiate player and was the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Player of the year for Minnesota last season. Another ’02, defender Caroline Harvey, played a key role on the blue line in both Calgary and Beijing.

 

The youngsters have been added to a group of familiar veteran faces that includes one player born in the ‘80s, four-time Olympian and 12-time WWC-participant Hilary Knight, and 16 players born in the ‘90s. Speedy Kendall Coyne Schofield will be making her 10th World Championship appearance, while forward Amanda Kessel will be playing for the seventh time and defender Lee Stecklein will be making her eighth appearance.

 

Forwards Jesse Compher and Grace Zumwinkle, both ’99 birthyears, had strong showings at last year’s WWC and at the Olympics.

 

Despite the outside criticism, the USA’s youth movement likely resulted from both need and a desire to start developing more of its young talent. Veteran forward Brianna Decker still has not recovered from the broken leg she suffered in the first Olympic game, and goalie Alex Cavallini is pregnant, while longtime National Team members Megan Bozek and Dani Cameranesi retired.

 

Already a veteran-laden team, Canada actually may have gotten older entering the World Championship as 37-year-old defender Meghan Mikkelson, an ’85 birthyear defender, returns after taking a year off. Mainstays Poulin, Desbiens, Renata Fast and Jocelyne Larocque return along with forwards Sarah Nurse, who had a breakout performance in setting the Olympic scoring record with 18 points in Beijing, and Brianne Jenner, who was named the Olympic MVP after notching 14 points.

 

Like the U.S., the Canadians boast young talent, but their youngest player is budding superstar Sarah Fillier, a 2000 forward who plays at Princeton and already has put up big World Championship and Olympic numbers. Victoria Bach, a ’96 forward, and ’98 forward Kristin O’Neill were on the WWC team in Calgary, but did not make the Olympic team, and ’97 forward Jessie Eldridge is making her first appearance for Team Canada. Sarah Potomak, a ’97 forward who plays collegiately for Minnesota, competed in the 2017 World Championship and was a two-time U18 World Championship MVP.

 

Missing from Team Canada this time around are Melodie Daoust, the 2018 Olympic and 2021 WWC MVP, and Natalie Spooner, the third-leading scorer in Calgary. Daoust was unable to attend Hockey Canada’s selection camp, and Spooner is pregnant. Claire Thompson, a ’98 who was an all-tournament selection on defense after setting the Olympic record for points by a defender in Beijing, and veteran forward Rebecca Johnston also aren’t playing.

 

Canada’s roster includes one player born in 2000, two ’99 birthyears, two ‘98s, an ’85, an ’88 and 16 players born between ’91 and ’97.

 

The U.S. and Canada meet in the preliminary round Aug. 30 at 2 p.m. Eastern in a game that can be seen in the U.S. on NHL Network and in Canada on TSN/RDS.

 

The North Americans once again are the overwhelming favorites to compete for the gold and silver medals. Finland is going through a bit of rebuild but still has an outstanding goalie in Anni Keisala, named the 2021 WWC Best Goalie, and the world’s top defender in 35-year-old Jenni Hiirikoski. The Finns should win the bronze, but don’t appear deep enough to threaten the U.S. or Canada at the top of Group A.

 

Rounding out Group A are Switzerland and Japan. The Swiss placed fourth in Calgary and Beijing, while Japan is making the leap up from Group B in the absence of expelled Russia

after placing sixth at the Olympics thanks to wins over Czechia, Germany and Sweden. Alina Muller and Lara Stadler, two of the world’s top forwards, return for Switzerland.

 

All five teams from Group A qualify for the quarterfinals, with pool play determining their seeding. The top-three finishers in Group B advance to the quarters, with the top seed getting to play the third-seeded Group A team and likely avoiding the U.S. or Canada. Group B’s second seed faces the No. 2 Group A team, while the third Group B seed takes on the top seed from Group A. The fourth- and fifth-place Group A finishers play each other in the final quarterfinal matchup.

 

The bottom-two Group B finishers play each other to avoid being relegated and removed from the 2023 WWC Elite Division field.

 

Czechia is the most talented team in Group B, possessing some highly skilled forwards but lacking the depth necessary to compete with Group A teams. Germany finished fourth in 2017 but has seen a steady decline since, falling all the way to eight last year. Sweden is back in the Elite field for the first time since 2019 and is rebuilding in hopes of someday duplicating its silver-medal performance at the 2006 Olympics. The Swedes, along with Hungary and Denmark, will look to sneak into the quarterfinals and avoid possible relegation.

 

Group A – Canada, United States, Finland, Switzerland, Japan

 Group B – Czechia, Germany, Hungary, Sweden, Denmark

 

2022 IIHF Women’s World Championship USA & Canada TV Schedule

Day      Date    Matchup                                 Time                Networks

Thurs.  8/25    USA vs. Japan                          9:00 a.m. ET    NHL Network

Thurs. 8/25    Canada vs. Finland                  1:00 p.m. ET    NHL Network/TSN/RDS

 

Sat.      8/27    USA vs. Finland                       9:00 a.m. ET    NHL Network

Sat.      8/27    Canada vs. Swiss                     1:00 p.m. ET    NHL Network/TSN/RDS

 

Sun.     8/28    Canada vs. Japan                    9:00 a.m. ET    NHL Network/TSN/RDS

 

Mon.   8/29    USA vs. Switzerland                1:00 p.m. ET    NHL Network

 

Tues.   8/30    USA vs. Canada                       2:00 p.m. ET    NHL Network/TSN/RDS

 

Thurs.  9/1      Quarterfinal 1                         6:15 a.m. ET    NHL Network/TSN/RDS

Thurs.  9/1      Quarterfinal 2                         10:15 a.m. ET  NHL Network/TSN/RDS

Thurs.  9/1      Quarterfinal 3                         11:30 a.m. ET  NHL Network/TSN/RDS

Thurs.  9/1      Quarterfinal 4                         2:15 p.m. ET    NHL Network/TSN/RDS

 

Sat.      9/3      Semifinal 1                              8:00 a.m. ET    NHL Network/TSN/RDS

Sat.      9/3      Semifinal 2                              12:00 p.m. ET  NHL Network/TSN/RDS

 

Sun.     9/4      Bronze Medal Game   9:00 a.m. ET    NHL Network/TSN/RDS

Sun.     9/4      Gold Medal Game       1:30 p.m.         NHL Network/TSN/RDS