2015 was the year of Team USA in women’s hockey (and for the International Hockey Lineal Championship in particular), with the Americans running the table throughout the calendar year to establish their dominance over the world.

The women’s International Hockey Lineal Championship was back in full operation after an Olympic year in 2014, with the United States seeking revenge on Canada for their come-from-behind Gold Medal victory in Sochi, their fourth consecutive Gold. The United States crushed the opposition at the World Championships in Sweden, winning their sixth World Championship Gold in a 7-5 victory over Canada.

November’s Four Nations Cup, also in Sweden, saw more of the same, with the Americans crushing Sweden, Canada and Finland in consecutive games, and taking their sixth Nations Cup Gold as well on a Hilary Knight overtime strike. The Americans finished the year with a perfect record, and will take the IHLC into Kamloops, British Columbia for the 2016 World Championships starting next March.

The following games were contested over the women’s IHLC in 2015 (click for game recaps and boxscores):
🇺🇸 USA 4-2 CAN 🇨🇦 – 28 Mar 2015 – WC – Malmö 🇸🇪
🇺🇸 USA 4-1 FIN 🇫🇮 – 29 Mar 2015 – WC – Malmö 🇸🇪
🇺🇸 USA 9-2 RUS 🇷🇺 – 31 Mar 2015 – WC – Malmö 🇸🇪
🇺🇸 USA 13-1 RUS 🇷🇺 – 03 Apr 2015 – WC – Malmö 🇸🇪
🇺🇸 USA 7-5 CAN 🇨🇦 – 04 Apr 2015 – WC – Malmö 🇸🇪 🏅
🇺🇸 USA 6-2 SWE 🇸🇪 – 04 Nov 2015 – FNC – Sundsvall 🇸🇪
🇺🇸 USA 3-0 CAN 🇨🇦 – 05 Nov 2015 – FNC – Kovland 🇸🇪
🇺🇸 USA 7-0 FIN 🇫🇮 – 07 Nov 2015 – FNC – Sundsvall 🇸🇪
🇺🇸 USA 3-2 CAN 🇨🇦 (OT) – 08 Nov 2015 – FNC – Sundsvall 🇸🇪 🏅

The IHLC Rankings for 2015 were as follows (total all-time wins and rankings in parentheses):
01. 🇺🇸 UNITED STATES – 9 wins (106, 2nd)

Team USA now begins 2016 as IHLC champions, guaranteeing they will begin the 2016 Worlds with the title in tow. They will be looking to win their fifth Gold in the last six Worlds on enemy territory, to further tip the scales of the Canada-USA rivalry in their favour, and continue to close the gap with Canada in the all-time medal standings, as well as the IHLC Rankings.

Photo Credit: World Women 2015 – IIHF – HHOF – IOC