Showcasing the Spirit of Community at the 2023 IIHF Women's World Championship
Community Counts
We're just days away from the start of the International Ice Hockey Federation's (IIHF) Women's World Championships (WWC) and the excitement around the event is beginning to heat up. This year's WWC is to be hosted by Hockey Canada in partnership with the Ontario Women's Hockey Association (OWHA) with Ontario's City of Brampton and the City's CAA Centre being ground zero for the event.
While the WWC's on-ice battles will be the primary focus for fans, participating teams and organizers alike throughout the 12-day tournament, Hockey Canada and the OWHA have put together an extraordinary schedule of community events that will help hockey fans and local residents experience the deep sense of community spirit that surrounds the pinnacle event in the world of women's hockey.
Pre-Tournament Team Preparation
To kick things off, six different local communities from across Southern Ontario were chosen to host the defending World Champions Team Canada and teams from Czechia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States as part of Pre-Tournanment Events scheduled to help each team prepare for the WWC.
Each of these six communities play host to seven pre-tournament games between March 29 - April 2nd and will feature all 10 competing teams. These six communities include Niagara, Whitby, North York, Mississauga, Aurora and Barrie.
Upcoming Pre-Tournament Events
Exhibition Games & Team Training Events
Friday March 31, 2023
City of Barrie - Team Switzerland vs Team Germany, 7:30pm, Sadlon Arena
North York - Team Japan vs Team Hungary, Canlan Sports Arena, 7:00pm
Saturday April 1, 2023
Niagara Falls - Team Canada vs Team Finland, Saturday April 1st, 7:00pm, Gale Centre
WATCH: Hockey Canada Livestream: Team Canada vs Team Finland (Pre-Tournament Action)
Sunday April 2, 2023
Mississauga - Team France vs Team Japan, Port Credit Memorial Arena, 3:00pm and Doors Open 2:15pm
North York - Team Germany vs Team Hungary, Canlan Sports Arena, 7:00pm
Tim Horton's Community Rink Events
In addition to the Pre-Tournament exhibition games and events scheduled, there will also be a number of pre-registration and open community events hosted at Brampton's CAA Centre prior to and during the IIHF Women's World Championship. Events* as part of the Tim Horton's Community Rink including Try Hockey (Youth & Adult Women), Try Goalie (Youth), Try Ball Hockey, Community Free Skates, Coaches Clinics, Officials Clinic, and Esso Fun Days.
"to involve local communities who play such a vital role in growing the sport at the grassroots level", Marin Hickox, Director of Women and Girls Hockey, Hockey Canada
The importance of hosting these types of community outreach events cannot be overstated. As Hockey Canada's Marin Hickox, Director of Women and Girls Hockey shared in the official press release to introduce the launch of Tim Horton's Community Rinks Events, "hosting the IIHF Women’s World Championship is an incredible opportunity for us to be able to celebrate not just the best women’s hockey players in the world on the ice, but to involve local communities who play such a vital role in growing the sport at the grassroots level”.
(*Note that space for pre-registered events is limited and will be based on a first come, first serve basis. Free open events will also operate on a first come, first served basis until the event's capacity is reached.)
23 Players To Represent Canada At 2023 IIHF Women's World Championship
Pre-Tournament Schedule Announced For 2023 IIHF Women's World Championship
IHF 2023 Women’s World Championship Pre-Tournament Game is coming to Aurora Ontario April 2nd
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