The Women’s Worlds are back, but not like you remember them. Gone are the familiar April dates and the old two-group format, because this year’s tournament, kicking off in Denmark this November, is throwing out the playbook for good. If you were looking forward to a guaranteed preliminary round classic between USA and Canada, well, that’s not happening anymore. This is a whole new ballgame, folks.
New Era, New Rules for the Worlds
Seriously, everything’s changed. The new structure mirrors the Men’s Worlds and WJC tournaments, which means no more two groups weighted by ranking. This also means the calendar got a shake-up; the event is now happening in November to better fit both the Olympics and the PWHL schedule. So, those predictable USA-Canada preliminary matchups? Poof, gone. They’d need to be 1st and 4th in serpentine seeding to even land in the same pool now, which is wild. The whole tournament’s in Denmark this time, with Group A battling it out in Esbjerg. That group includes USA, Czechia, Switzerland, Germany, and Austria. Over in Herning, Group B features Canada, Finland, Sweden, Japan, and Denmark. While these groups are supposed to be balanced by last year’s points, a lot can change in a year, so don’t assume anything. For those of you on the East Coast, grab your coffee because the games are on during the morning or early afternoon in Toronto. Each team gets to play every other team in their group, with that process wrapping up by November 11. After that, we get the relegation game between the two last-place teams, and then the quarterfinals kick off in the standard IIHF crossover format. They even reseed teams for the semifinals, which is huge. And get this: the IIHF always puts the home team in the main arena for quarterfinal or semifinal games, so if Denmark makes it, they’ll be in Herning, even if they’re technically the “road team.” This new format totally changes the game for lower-ranked teams. There’s no more trying to sneak into fifth in the top group. You can’t avoid the big dogs anymore, which means every game has real stakes.
Team Canada Is Rolling Out A Whole New Look
Speaking of big changes, Team Canada is going to look wildly different from their Olympic roster. We’re talking some significant shifts! Marie-Philip Poulin is recovering from surgery, Sarah Nurse is dealing with some back issues, and Blayre Turnbull is on maternity leave. That’s a huge chunk of veteran leadership right there. Expect a younger squad, packed with a lot of rookies but still featuring some familiar faces. Sceptres’ own Renata Fast and Ella Shelton are definitely on the roster, which is awesome. Plus, there are three teenagers from the NCAA ready to make some noise. The coaching staff got a makeover too, with Kori Cheverie taking over for Troy Ryan as head coach. Alison Domenico, Caroline Ouellette, and Kris Sparre are stepping in as assistants, and Danièle Sauvageau is now the GM. Team Canada takes to the ice tomorrow at 9 am Toronto time against Sweden. Sweden, nominally the third-place team in their group, has a new coach and a whole new attitude. Trust me, they’re not just showing up to participate. You know Sceptres players will be everywhere too: newly drafted and signed Kristen Simms is on Team USA, and Sara Hjalmarsson will be playing for Sweden. Even Michelle Löwenhielm of Sweden has an invite to the Sceptres training camp after the Worlds. If you’re in Canada, TSN is your go-to for all the game action.
So, what’s next? Canada plays Sweden tomorrow, kicking off a tournament where every team is navigating a brand-new landscape. With this totally revamped format and a very different Canadian roster, it’s going to be fascinating to watch how the groups shake out by November 11 and who makes a run for the semis. Get ready, because this Women’s Worlds is going to be anything but predictable!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pension Plan Puppets.
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