Today the USA Hockey Arena, an arena in Plymouth, Michigan that was recently purchased by USA Hockey to house their National Development Team, announced that the 2017 IIHF Women’s World Championships would be held at the arena, tentatively set for 1-8 April 2017.

This would give the U.S. the tournament for the fourth time, after hosting in 1994 (Lake Placid, New York), 2001 (Minneapolis, Minnesota) and 2012 (Burlington, Vermont), where they have finished with Silver on all three previous occasions. The Americans will be back on home ice after this year’s tournament in enemy territory, defending their two consecutive Gold Medals in Kamloops, British Columbia against their perennial Canadian rivals.

While the dates are to be officially confirmed, the first four entrants were confirmed by their finishes at the 2015 Worlds in Sweden. Besides the United States as hosts, Canada, Finland and Russia already secured their spots at the dance by finishing in the top group in Malmö. The Americans have won six Golds in the history of the tournament, with the other 10 titles going to Canada.

Our congratulations to the hockey hotbed of Michigan on landing this tournament, which hopefully can see Team USA winning Gold on home ice for the first time!

Photo Credit: mLive – IIHF – HHOF – IOC