At the conclusion of the delayed Women’s World Championship Division IA tournament in Shenzhen, China today, it was hosts China and Denmark that finally scooped up the last promotion spots to the Top Division in 2024, solidifying for good the 2023-24 international hockey calendar.

The first of two spots was scooped up by the Chinese hosts after just their fourth game, with a 2-0 shutout of Austria being enough to clinch China’s return to the Top Division for the first time since 2009, just one year removed from being promoted to Division IA after spending over a decade in Division IB. China, whose best finish at the Worlds was fourth in 1994, only the second official World Championships ever, will look for the hot hand of goaltender Chen Tiya (Tia Chan) to play spoiler in Utica, United States, after serving up two shutouts and only conceding six goals in five straight wins for the Lady Dragons.

The second spot came down to the final game, with Denmark and the Netherlands both vying for the final spot. The Dutch, who have never made the Top Division in their history, needed just a single point to advance, while the Danes, relegated on home ice in Frederikshavn two years ago, needed a regulation win over Norway and the Netherlands to lose to China, who already clinched their spot, in regulation. The Lions did their part, dispatching Norway 4-1 in the day’s second game, but it was the Lady Dragons playing spoiler to the Oranje, putting up a competitive battle and edging out a 2-1 victory, ultimately promoting the Danes back to the top, by virtue of a head-to-head tiebreaker, a 6-1 victory over the Dutch in the tournament’s first game.

China and Denmark will join Group B at next year’s Worlds in Utica, playing alongside Sweden, Japan and Germany, with the Group’s top two teams advancing to the medal rounds. China and Denmark will replace Hungary and France, who were relegated at this spring’s tournament in Canada, who will compete in Division IA next year against the Netherlands, Austria, Norway and recently promoted South Korea.

Photo Credit: WWIA 2023 – IIHF – HHOF – IOC