Luc Tardif, President of the IIHF and his counterparts answered media inquiries during the press conference.
photo: © International Ice Hockey Federation / Matt Zambonin
The 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championships has shown significant growth in the game.
On Sunday, IIHF President Luc Tardif and tournament organizers held a press conference in Utica, New York to discuss the success and impact of the Women’s Worlds, but also the future of the sport.
Overall, it was a very competitive tournament and Utica put on a successful tournament.
“I would like to congratulate USA Hockey, about the quality of the organization and about their choice to come here,” Tardif said. “Utica is a hockey town, and I would like to thank Robert Esche and the organization for the setup. We now know where Utica is and we know that there is passion for ice hockey in this hockey town.”
One of the highlights at this year’s Women’s Worlds took place on April 7th, when the 500th game of the tournament was played in Utica. The tournament has come a long way and grown since its inception in 1990.
As for this year’s championship, it marked the first time since 2017 that the United States was host. The impact is far reaching, inspiring individuals of all ages and backgrounds.
“It was also very nice to see all the school kids,” IIHF Women’s Committee Chairperson Zsuzsanna Kolbenheyer said. “We had a couple of game full of young kids, hopefully potential hockey players, girls and boys. They were cheering and screaming and that's very important if we come to a place like Utica that we show those young kids that hockey and women's hockey is a great sport.”
On Sunday, IIHF President Luc Tardif and tournament organizers held a press conference in Utica, New York to discuss the success and impact of the Women’s Worlds, but also the future of the sport.
Overall, it was a very competitive tournament and Utica put on a successful tournament.
“I would like to congratulate USA Hockey, about the quality of the organization and about their choice to come here,” Tardif said. “Utica is a hockey town, and I would like to thank Robert Esche and the organization for the setup. We now know where Utica is and we know that there is passion for ice hockey in this hockey town.”
One of the highlights at this year’s Women’s Worlds took place on April 7th, when the 500th game of the tournament was played in Utica. The tournament has come a long way and grown since its inception in 1990.
As for this year’s championship, it marked the first time since 2017 that the United States was host. The impact is far reaching, inspiring individuals of all ages and backgrounds.
“It was also very nice to see all the school kids,” IIHF Women’s Committee Chairperson Zsuzsanna Kolbenheyer said. “We had a couple of game full of young kids, hopefully potential hockey players, girls and boys. They were cheering and screaming and that's very important if we come to a place like Utica that we show those young kids that hockey and women's hockey is a great sport.”
IIHF Women’s Committee Chairperson Zsuzsanna Kolbenheyer
photo: © Matt Zambonin
As for the action on the ice, goaltenders stole the show at the 2024 IIHF Women’s Worlds. In 27 games, goaltenders have earned 13 shutouts. Youth made a huge impact at the tournament including Sweden forward Hilda Svensson coming into her own.
“It's great to see that goaltending is developing in every country and we can really have big stars there, and it's not easy to score goals on them,” Kolbenheyer said.
On the last day of competition, there is still history that could be written in Utica. Three players from Czechia – Anezka Cabelova, Tereza Plosova and Adela Sapovalivova are trying to win a Women’s Worlds medal in the same year as they won the under-18 medal. Only four players have ever been able to accomplish this feat.
Additionally, first goals have set the tone of who will win games at the tournament. In 2024, 24 of 27 games have been won by the team that scores first.
On the officiating front, the hard work and preparation by teams and officials as well as a better interpretation of the rule book resulted in less penalties. There was also a dedicated disciplinary panel at this year’s tournament.
“There was strong refereeing by an all-female group of game officials representing eleven countries and coming from top female leagues around the world, including the PWHL, SDHL and EWHL,” Co-Chairperson of the 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship and member of the IIHF Council Marta Zawadzka said. “We could see that the fair play spirit was on ice. They are very involved, committed and run the games in a proper way. The cooperation with the leagues lets us prepare the players as well to understand the game more so we had less penalties, only one suspension and one warning.”
Not only has grown in the sport happened, but also in media coverage. The broadcast feed for this year’s Women’s Worlds was picked up by nine of the participating countries. For the first time ever, Japan and China broadcasted the tournament. Seven out of 10 participating countries will be broadcasting Sunday’s gold medal game between Canada and host United States. The IIHF and organizers were pleased with the amount of media coverage and interest in the event. Overall, 71 accredited media representatives represented seven participating countries. That matches the number at last year’s tournament that was held in Brampton, Ontario.
“It's great to see that goaltending is developing in every country and we can really have big stars there, and it's not easy to score goals on them,” Kolbenheyer said.
On the last day of competition, there is still history that could be written in Utica. Three players from Czechia – Anezka Cabelova, Tereza Plosova and Adela Sapovalivova are trying to win a Women’s Worlds medal in the same year as they won the under-18 medal. Only four players have ever been able to accomplish this feat.
Additionally, first goals have set the tone of who will win games at the tournament. In 2024, 24 of 27 games have been won by the team that scores first.
On the officiating front, the hard work and preparation by teams and officials as well as a better interpretation of the rule book resulted in less penalties. There was also a dedicated disciplinary panel at this year’s tournament.
“There was strong refereeing by an all-female group of game officials representing eleven countries and coming from top female leagues around the world, including the PWHL, SDHL and EWHL,” Co-Chairperson of the 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship and member of the IIHF Council Marta Zawadzka said. “We could see that the fair play spirit was on ice. They are very involved, committed and run the games in a proper way. The cooperation with the leagues lets us prepare the players as well to understand the game more so we had less penalties, only one suspension and one warning.”
Not only has grown in the sport happened, but also in media coverage. The broadcast feed for this year’s Women’s Worlds was picked up by nine of the participating countries. For the first time ever, Japan and China broadcasted the tournament. Seven out of 10 participating countries will be broadcasting Sunday’s gold medal game between Canada and host United States. The IIHF and organizers were pleased with the amount of media coverage and interest in the event. Overall, 71 accredited media representatives represented seven participating countries. That matches the number at last year’s tournament that was held in Brampton, Ontario.
USA Hockey executive director Pat Kelleher shared his views about the tournament.
photo: © Hockey Hall of Fame / Mat Zambonin
Ultimately, the 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship will go down as a huge success.
“Teams are thankful for the experience in the United States, happy with the great facilities in Utica, and the efforts put by the organization into the tournament,” Kolbenheyer said.
For the United States, the impact of the tournament is far-reaching.
“One of the major impact pieces for USA Hockey whenever we host a world championship is to make sure we have an impact on growing the game,” USA Hockey executive director Pat Kelleher said. “For the first time, USA Hockey will have over 100,000 females registered as members in our programs across the country. We know that this tournament will have an impact moving forward to help us grow the game, and when you combine that with the growing interest in continued growth of women's sports in our country here and the new professional women's hockey league in the midst of their first season, the future is very bright for women's hockey across the globe.”
“Teams are thankful for the experience in the United States, happy with the great facilities in Utica, and the efforts put by the organization into the tournament,” Kolbenheyer said.
For the United States, the impact of the tournament is far-reaching.
“One of the major impact pieces for USA Hockey whenever we host a world championship is to make sure we have an impact on growing the game,” USA Hockey executive director Pat Kelleher said. “For the first time, USA Hockey will have over 100,000 females registered as members in our programs across the country. We know that this tournament will have an impact moving forward to help us grow the game, and when you combine that with the growing interest in continued growth of women's sports in our country here and the new professional women's hockey league in the midst of their first season, the future is very bright for women's hockey across the globe.”
CZECHIA AWARDED 2025 IIHF WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Looking ahead to the future, the site of the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship was announced on Sunday. České Budějovice in Czechia will host the event. It is the first time that Czechia will host the Women’s World and it marks the first time since 2017 that the Czech Ice Hockey Association has hosted a tournament. The last event the city hosted was the U18 Women’s World Championship. Previously, Czechia also hosted the men’s U18 Championship in 2005.The first game will be played on April 9, 2025 and the tournament will conclude on April 20, 2025.
“As a Czech Hockey Federation, we are super proud to be organizing this event, especially when the momentum of women's hockey is this high,” Tereza Sadilova, Co-President of the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship said. “We take pride in organizing and we want to organize a high-level event. We hope to deliver the very best event to our traditional hockey nation that's getting used to women's hockey right now.”
The logo for next year’s championship was also unveiled. It is the letter “H” made out of two hockey sticks and a puck. The theme is “Heroes Incoming.”
“The hero of the tournament, which represents not only the athletes, but also all the little girls around the hockey world who dream of becoming really good at hockey one day is really important to us to give that platform to young girls all around the world,” Sadilova said.
The IIHF knows that Czechia will put on a top-notch event that hockey fans in that region and around the world will enjoy in 2025.
“Every time the IIHF comes to the Czechia, it’s a success,” Tardif said. “It doesn't matter which level, which category. Fortunately for the first time, it will be historical that we organize a top-level women’s championship in Czechia. With selling tickets, they will most likely break all the records.”
Hosting this tournament will strengthen Czechia’s development of the women’s game.
“I think you notice how year by year Czechia is coming at the top level and that's not a wonder,” Tardif said. “The last two years, they won two bronze medals and that's the result of a really professional investment.”