As one of the final tuneups before the 2018 Olympics in Korea, the top women’s hockey nations on Earth will reconvene in sunny western Florida, to face off for the 2017 Four Nations Cup, the 22nd annual invitational.

The host Americans enter this tournament once again as the favourites, having won both the last two consecutive Four Nations Cups (and seven total) and last two World Championships, the 2014 Cup being the last major tournament they did not capture Gold at. The Cup will also serve as the final major tournament before the Olympics, meaning that all squads will be looking to carry momentum forward into February, particularly the U.S., who will look to capture their first Gold medal in 20 years, ending a winless streak against Canada. The Canadians too will be looking to make a splash in Florida, but are fielding a much younger roster than in the past, so their inexperience may cause problems, both against the U.S. or dark horses Finland, who came extremely close to upending Canada at the World Championships this spring.

And despite the Americans’ dominance lately, it is actually Canada that enters the Cup with the International Hockey Lineal Championship, as a result of winning in a recent exhibition game against Team USA over Boston. The Canucks will look to win their 15th Cup, and first since 2014, but will face the Americans in their second Preliminary game, which will almost definitely serve as the preview for the Gold Medal Game. And unlike in previous years, when the Cup winner could potentially hold the title until the World Championships, Canada and the U.S. will meet four more times in exhibition games next month prior to PyeongChang, so the IHLC could very easily enter the Olympics with either team.

The schedule for the 2017 Four Nations Cup is as follows:

Tuesday, 07 November
🇨🇦 Canada vs. Sweden 🇸🇪
🇫🇮 Finland vs. United States 🇺🇸

Wednesday, 08 November
🇫🇮 Finland vs. Sweden 🇸🇪
🇨🇦 Canada vs. United States 🇺🇸

Friday, 10 November
🇨🇦 Canada vs. Finland  🇫🇮
🇸🇪 Sweden vs. United States 🇺🇸

Sunday, 12 November
Bronze Medal Game (at Tampa)
Gold Medal Game (at Tampa)

Photo Credit: USA Hockey – IIHF – HHOF – IOC