Canada and USA Push for Earlier Women’s World Junior Hockey Championship

Canada and the United States are pushing for the creation of a women’s world junior hockey championship, but the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) says it is at least five years away. In an effort to expedite the process, both countries are taking their development women’s teams to Europe in December to play exhibition games against other nations.

The IIHF currently hosts men’s senior, under-20, and under-18 championships, but there is a gap in the women’s hockey calendar between the under-18 championship and the world championship. This missing piece is crucial for the development of young female players, according to Katie Million, USA Hockey’s director of national women’s team programs.

The world junior men’s championship is a significant event in the hockey world, drawing millions of viewers and serving as an NHL scouting opportunity. Gina Kingsbury, Canada’s general manager and Toronto’s GM in the Professional Women’s Hockey League, believes a women’s junior tournament could have a similar impact.

While the establishment of a women’s junior tournament faces challenges such as financial constraints and a shallow player pool in some countries, there is optimism for its eventual creation. Japan’s head coach and Sweden’s national team director both emphasize the importance of providing young female players with opportunities to compete at the international level.

With 20 players aged 18 or under participating in the women’s world championship in Utica, N.Y., the need for a women’s junior tournament is evident. Players like Nicole Gosling from Canada believe that such a tournament would provide more opportunities for young women to represent their countries and showcase their talent on a global stage.

As discussions continue within the IIHF about the format and timing of a potential women’s junior championship, the hockey world eagerly awaits the opportunity to see the next generation of female stars shine on the ice.