Women’s Worlds Would Benefit From Two More Teams

Watching Finland play Czechia in the quarterfinal, and realizing two weaker teams, Switzerland and Japan would face off in another quarterfinal, left a sour taste in the mouths of women's hockey fans.

The top division of the IIHF women’s World Championship would benefit from, and avoid a similar situation, by adding two teams to the top tier. By expanding the tournament from 10 teams to 12 teams, there would likely be more year-over-year parity amongst Group A and Group B.

In terms of equity alone, the men's side welcomes 16 teams, while the women's side remains stagnant at 10.

Last year, Czechia started their campaign in Group B amongst teams the IIHF’s current rules deem as lower caliber than the top five teams in Group A. Czechia however, not only proved they belonged in the top five, but they shocked the hockey world winning their first ever bronze. This year at the World Championship, Czechia proved it yet again finishing third behind only Canada and USA in round robin play.

Based on a horrific outlying campaign in 2022, perennial bronze medal contender Finland was relegated to Group B, where they outscored their opponents 26-3, and looked superior to both Switzerland and Japan, members of Group A. In the past three World Championships prior to 2023, Finland had two bronze and a silver medal. 

This year, Sweden also emerged as a force from Group B, taking Canada to overtime in the quarterfinal before eventually losing 3-2. They defeated Japan in a placement game sending Japan to Group B.

Only women’s hockey finds the top division grouped into two tiers, and at times, including in 2023, it adversely impacted the competition. 

A top group featuring Canada, USA, Czechia, Switzerland, Japan, and Finland, is instantly more competitive, with Sweden and Germany ready to challenge to move up.

The addition of two teams would also provide a better quarterfinal scenario. Only two teams from Group B would advance to comprise the final eight teams in the tournament. 

Similarly, the addition of two teams would avoid seeing a team like Hungary relegated to a lower division, having to win their way back up, while teams who will undoubtedly face lopsided results even in Group B will advance. By adding two teams, the World would also have a chance to see budding hockey nations like Slovakia, and rising stars like Nela Lopusanova, compete more often. It could also provide more stability to a nation like France, in their development.

This year, the two additional nations in Group B would have been Norway and Slovakia, while Finland would have remained in Group A. It's easy to see how this would have benefitted parity in round robin play, and upped the competition level in Group A.

As women's hockey continues to grow globally, the IIHF needs to continue to proactively alter rules and alignments to match this growth.