The schedule for the 2016 IIHF Women’s World Championship was today announced in the host city of Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada, with the tournament kicking off with a rematch of last year’s final (and every Gold Medal Game in tournament history), between the bitter rivals Canada and the United States.

Canada and Team USA, making up one half of Group A (along with Russia and Finland), will play all group matches at the Sandman Centre, while Group B (made up of Sweden, Switzerland, Japan and newly-promoted Czechia) will play out of the McArthur Island Sport And Event Centre. As with last year, the top two Group A teams automatically earn Semifinal berths, while the bottom two Group A and top two Group B teams meet in the Quarterfinals. The bottom two Group B teams meet in a best-of-three relegation series, with the loser playing in Division IA in 2017.

The tournament schedule is as follows:

The United States are incumbent World and IHLC champions, but will need to first leave Sweden this November at the Four Nations Cup to have any hope of defending the IHLC in Kamloops. Will they be able to hold on, or will Canada wrench the title away at the Four Nations Cup to enter the tournament on home ice with the title? We shall see this fall what is in store for next March in beautiful British Columbia!

Photo Credit: Canadian Curling Association – IIHF – HHOF – IOC