Who will win gold in 2024? Before that question is answered, Cee Benwell looks back at the last four IIHF women's World Championship tournaments.
Who will win gold in 2024? Before that question is answered, Cee Benwell looks back at the last four IIHF women's World Championship tournaments.
The USA has named its final roster and prepares to defend its title at the Women’s World Championship this week after winning last year’s final against Canada. To get ready for the events in Utica, we take a look back at the last four tournaments and remember some of the upsets, overtimes, shootouts, and heart-stopping moments.
2019 - FIVE-PEAT FOR USA
In 2019, the home team had a breakout tournament in Espoo, Finland. Led by legendary goaltender Noora Räty, the Finns pulled off an upset in the semifinals, defeating Canada 4-2 – their first victory ever against Canada in an IIHF playoff game. Susanna Tapani scored the winning goal, but it was Räty with 30 saves on 32 shots who stabilized her team and stood tall. Marie-Philip Poulin missed the game, having been injured earlier in the tournament.
The final between the USA and Finland was a wild game, as 60 minutes finished tied at 1-1. Annie Pankowski scored for the Americans, and Tapani replied quickly for Finland, both in the second period.
The four-on-four overtime was marked with dramatic moments, including an apparent goal for Finland by Petra Nieminen. Jenni Hiirikoski skated in and shot on goalie Alex Rigsby, then was carried by momentum into the netminder. Rigsby was reaching for the puck outside the crease with two players sliding into her as Nieminen put the rebound into the open net.
After a lengthy video review, the goal was disallowed – to the agony of the fans and Finnish team.
In the shootout, Amanda Kessel and Pankowski scored for the US, and only Minnamari Tuominen was successful for the Finns, giving the Americans its fifth championship by the thinnest of margins.
"It almost would have been easier if we'd lost 5-0," said Räty. "I'd probably be happier right now. But we were so close. We could taste it –‘Holy cow, we're world champs’ – and they take it away."
In total, the U.S. outshot Finland 52-27. In 18 previous Women’s Worlds, Finland had just one win and one tie versus the Americans. It was the first time a Women's Worlds ended without Canada and the U.S. playing for gold.
Canada’s gold-medal drought hit seven years, but the team earned its first bronze medal ever with a 7-0 win over Russia.
Jenni Hiirikoski (32 years old at the time), was named the tournament MVP, leading her team and all defenders with 10 points.
2021 - CANADA COMES BACK STRONG
After the tournament was canceled in 2020 due to Covid, the 2021 championship in Calgary was moved to August without fans in attendance. The Canadians finally ascended to the top once again, winning the gold-medal game versus the USA in overtime.
The games played out more according to expectations, as both the U.S. and Canada won their games in round robin play. When they faced each other, Canada played a ferocious game, winning 5-1 in a dominant performance. The Americans had entered the game with a 29-game win streak at the Championships, including beating Canada eight straight times.
After the two teams easily won their quarter- and semi-final games, they faced off in the gold medal matchup. Alex Carpenter scored twice in the opening period to stake the USA to a 2-0 lead before Brianne Jenner and Jamie Lee Rattray tallied in the second to tie it.
A scoreless third sent the game into overtime, where they played three-on-three with back and forth chances for both teams. Then a pass from Jenner sent Marie-Philip Poulin in with speed on Nicole Hensley, and she put a laser-beam shot over Hensley’s glove, off the crossbar and down, where it went over the goal line. However, play didn’t stop even though Poulin pointed and knew that she had scored. After 40 seconds of playing time, the buzzer sounded, signaling that a review had confirmed the goal. Poulin and the rest of her team raced onto the ice to celebrate Canada’s first championship in nine years. It was Poulin’s first world championship win as captain.
In the celebration melee, Blayre Turnbull broke her ankle and was carried out afterwards to receive her gold medal.
Finland took the bronze medal, winning a 3-1 decision over Switzerland.
2022 - CANADA REPEATS IN DENMARK
In the Beijing Olympics in February 2022, Canada continued its strong play, winning the gold medal game 3-2, with (surprise!) Captain Poulin scoring the golden goal once again. Ann-Renee Desbiens was a huge story in goal, and the team was surging with confidence as they traveled to Denmark for the Worlds.
“This is the best hockey team that I've ever been a part of,” said Turnbull. “And I'm not including any of the records we set at the Olympics. That's just because of the people in the locker room and the teammates that I got to share so many memories with.”
After losing the preliminary round game to the USA 5-2, Canada made adjustments to their game and focused on keeping Taylor Heise (who would later be named tournament MVP) off the scoresheet. Coach Troy Ryan’s plan worked as the game was dominated with tight checking. The scoring hero turned out to be Brianne Jenner. She scored two goals quickly in the second period, and although the Americans pressed and got on the board once late in the second courtesy of Abby Roque, Desbiens held strong and withstood a late flurry. It was an emotional win for a group that had become extremely close during the pandemic.
Jenner said, “I think our best two games were probably the last two games that we played, and that's what you want to do in a tournament. It wasn't smooth, it looked a lot different than our Olympics win and our last World Championship win, but I think we're really reassured that even when things aren't smooth, we can find different ways to win.”
“Today was really special just being able to have our family there,” Sarah Nurse said.
“The last few years have been hard for a lot of people, and so the fact that our families can be here in Denmark, they're coming on the ice and celebrating with us, it's like the icing on top of the cake. We're very, very grateful."
In the bronze medal game, Czechia (with coach Carla MacLeod) surprised Switzerland, winning 4-2 to capture their first ever medal in Women’s World Championship play. Previously, the Czechs had never finished higher than sixth.
2023 - KNIGHT LEADS THE WAY
Last year’s World Championship was held in Brampton, Ontario, with the defending champs looking for a three-peat on home soil. All eyes were on the round robin matchup as an indicator of which team had the edge. In a frenzied game, USA’s Hannah Bilka opened the scoring in the first period before Canada went up 3-1 on goals by Sarah Fillier, Marie-Philip Poulin, and Laura Stacey (empty net goal). However, Hilary Knight and Amanda Kessel both scored in the final minute with the goalie pulled, and the game went into overtime, and then to a shootout.
Nine rounds in, after both teams scored only once, and 15 skaters failed to convert, Canada’s Jamie Lee Rattray finally won it with a deke against goaltender Aerin Frankel, giving them the 4-3 victory.
The two foes lined up again for gold in the final, and went back and forth throughout the game. Poulin opened the scoring during a 5-on-3 power play, then Abbey Murphy netted her fifth of the tournament. Brianne Jenner scored, countered by Hilary Knight, followed by Jenner again.
With the home crowd on the edge of their seats, USA’s Caroline Harvey tied the game at 3-3, and Knight scored during a USA five on three. She completed the hat trick during a late USA power play, as Desbiens showed some vulnerability for one of the first times in the storied matchup. Canada pulled the netminder for an extra attacker, but the U.S. sealed the win with an empty net goal, and returned to the top of the podium with a 6-3 statement game.
"Our team has the mindset of never too high, never too low," Abbey Murphy said. "So when we are down, we try to keep that energy up and it never goes low."
Canada’s Sarah FIllier was named tournament MVP. The championship gave Knight nine career golds, tying Danielle Goyette for most all time, and her 13th career medal, tying Hayley Wickenheiser’s total.
Team Czechia continued their rapid rise in the international rankings, taking the bronze medal game 3-2 against Switzerland.