Growing the Game: World Para Ice Hockey Championship Underway

Ian Kennedy discusses the World Para Ice Hockey Championship, Hilary Knight, the first woman inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame as an official and more.

Growing the Game is Ian Kennedy’s weekly feature examining the global game, how social issues impact the sport, and how hockey’s important cultural shift continues to evolve. Today's piece includes an update on the World Para Ice Hockey Championship, Sandra Dombrowski making history, Latvia's World Championship holiday, PHF free agency and Hilary Knight's IIHF award.

The 2023 World Para Ice Hockey Championship got underway this week in Moose Jaw, Sask. In a historic appearance, Canada’s Raphaelle Tousignant became the first woman ever to play for Canada’s national men’s Para ice hockey team. Tousignant made her monumental appearance in Canada’s 15-1 win over Korea.

Canada and USA both opened their tournament with wins before facing off against each other to close their round-robin play. USA shut out the Canadians 3-0, taking a major step toward defending their world title. Jen Lee had the shutout in net for the Americans, while Jack Wallace and Brody Roybal powered the offense.

In Group B, China emerged as the top team, going undefeated against Germany, Norway, and Italy. They earned the top spot to face Korea in the quarterfinal, while Italy will face Czechia. The winners of these games will face Canada and USA in the semifinals on Saturday before the gold medal game is contested Sunday, June 4.

Switzerland’s Sandra Dombrowski made history this week becoming the first woman inducted to the IIHF Hall of Fame as an official.

Dombrowski was the first woman to officiate an IIHF women’s World Championship gold medal game when she called the 1992 final between Canada and USA. She was also the first woman to serve on the IIHF referees committee. Dombrowski would also call the gold medal games in 1994 and 1997 and was an official when women made their Olympic debut in 1998.

Prior to becoming an official, Dombrowski was a pioneer of the women’s game in Switzerland, including representing the Swiss at the first unofficial World tournament in 1987.

She was one of two women inducted to the IIHF Hall of Fame this year, as Canadian legend Caroline Ouellette was also inducted as a player.

Crowds waited for Team Latvia’s plane to land in Riga for a celebration unlike any the nation had seen. The government announced an impromptu holiday to recognize Latvia’s first-ever medal at the IIHF men’s World Championship, a bronze they captured by upsetting Team USA 4-3 in overtime. Schools and businesses were closed by the Latvian government the day after the victory, and crowds estimated between 30,000 and 50,000 surrounded Riga’s Freedom Monument to celebrate.

Latvia’s Ice Hockey president Aigars Kalvitis, coach Harijs Vitolins, players Kaspars Daugavins and Arturs Silovs, and Latvian hockey legend Arturs Irbe, as well as government officials, were all on hand to address the crowd.

Germany won silver, while Canada won gold at the World Championship.

In an unprecedented wave of signings, the PHF has now seen more than 15 percent of the entire league population turned over into new signings. Veteran players including Noora Raty, Susanna Tapani and Kacey Bellamy, as well as players like Brooke Hobson who returns from a season in Europe, are included in those numbers. But it’s the college talent shaking the landscape of women’s professional hockey.

The NCAA signings include national team members from the U-18, development and senior levels across the globe. International stars such as Alina Muller, Chloe Aurard, Theresa Schafzahl, Emma Soderberg, Sandra Abstreiter and Noemi Neubauerova are headed to the league. But for the first time, a considerable number of players who traditionally would have chosen the PWHPA from North America are also headed to the PHF. That cohort includes Sophie Shirley, Gabrielle David, Lexie Adzija, Zoe Boyd, Emma Seitz, Audrey-Anne Veillette, Maggie Flaherty, Maude Pouline-Labelle, Emily Rickwood, Claire Dalton and many others.

USA’s Hilary Knight has been named the first women's IIHF player of the year for 2022-2023.

“I am honored to be the first recipient of such a prestigious award.” Knight said in an IIHF media release.

Knight captained the USA to a World Championship gold medal, scoring a hat trick in the final game and finishing tied for third in tournament scoring with 12 points in seven games. She played for Team Sonnet on the PWHPA's Dream Gap Tour this season and finished with 10 points in 18 games.