The schedule for the 2017 IIHF Women’s World Championship was today announced for the tournament taking place in Plymouth, Michigan, USA, once again with opening night ending once again with a rematch of Canada vs. USA, for a likely preview of the Gold Medal Game.
Canada and Team USA, making up one half of Group A (along with Russia and Finland), will play all group matches at Arena 1 of USA Hockey Arena, while Group B (made up of Sweden, Switzerland, Czechia and newly-promoted Germany) will split games between Arenas 1 and 2. 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:
GROUP A –     |
GROUP B –     |
| Friday, March 31 |
|
FIN vs. RUS  USA vs. CAN |
SUI vs. CZE SWE vs. GER |
| Saturday, April 1 |
|
| RUS vs. USA CAN vs. FIN |
CZE vs. GER SWE vs. SUI |
| Monday, April 3 | |
| CAN vs. RUS USA vs. FIN |
GER vs. SUI SWE vs. CZE |
| Tuesday, April 4 | |
| Quarterfinal: A4 vs. B1 Quarterfinal: B2 vs. A3 |
Relegation Game #1 |
| Thursday, April 6 | |
| Semifinal #1 Semifinal #2 |
Relegation Game #2 5th Place Game |
| Friday, April 7 | |
| Gold Medal Game Bronze Medal Game |
Relegation Game #3 (if necessary) |
The IHLC champion for the tournament will likely be decided at November’s Four Nations Cup in Finland, although the likely winner of that, either Canada or the current American champions, will have one last obstacle should either of them win. They will face off one more time in Plymouth on December 17, as part of the inaugural Team USA Winter Champions Series, with the winner of this game set to return to Plymouth with the IHLC in tow!
Photo Credit: mLive – IIHF – HHOF – IOC
