WC: 2021 IIHF Women's World Championship in Calgary; August 20-31

[DieSendungmitderMaus]

Apparently not much interest in discussing this tournament unless I'm missing something But it's the first intermission between Germany and Hungary so I thought I'd start a thread

The tournament was supposed to be played in Nova Scotia this spring but Covid forced it to be postponed and moved, so here we are

The groups are as following:

Group A

Canada
USA
Finland
Russia
Switzerland

Group B

Czech Republic
Japan
Germany
Denmark
Hungary

(the latter two are newly promoted)

If you see that and notice that Group A looks way stronger- you're not alone. In a truly puzzling format, for whatever reason, Group A is loaded and all five teams will qualify for the quarter final. The top 3 of group B will join them.

As usual, the US and Canada are the clear favourites. Apparently, Finland are now at a level where they aren't drawing dead before the puck even gets dropped.

For anyone who like me knows very little about how the teams stack up, the Athletic has a model to rnk the teams. It's paywalled obviously but I hope me posting a single image of it is ok.

Idk if the model is worth anything due to how much less structured women's hockey is than men's outside of north America at least, but it's better than nothing.

The schedule, standings etc. can be found here

Click to read more...

 

[CuuuJooo]

They’ve used that format for a few years now to avoid the 13-0 pastings that routinely happen in the preliminary round at the Olympics.

I watched the Canada-Finland game last night. Canada won, but didn’t look all that impressive doing it. Their powerplay is BAAAD.

 

[DieSendungmitderMaus]

Ah, that makes sense I suppose

 

[Czechboy]

Thanks.. I was looking for a post somewhere!

I love the format and think Men's Worlds should adapt it as well

 

[Czechboy]

Have to miss the czech game... sounds like we have a good squad. Not a medal but hopefully win our group and a good quarterfinal match-up.

I know the czech ladies have been improving a lot and doing well at Jr tournaments.. maybe one day we can squeak into bronze contention.

 

[PanniniClaus]

Have to miss the czech game... sounds like we have a good squad. Not a medal but hopefully win our group and a good quarterfinal match-up.

I know the czech ladies have been improving a lot and doing well at Jr tournaments.. maybe one day we can squeak into bronze contention.

Czechs have looked pretty good both games. Just couldn't score as much as they should have today. They are improving.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Watched a bit of the Canada Russia game. It is rough to watch.

 

[ForsbergForever]

Watched a bit of the Canada Russia game. It is rough to watch.

Kudos to the Russian goaltenders who kept the score to 5-1 despite Russia being outshot 62-7. Russia's goal came with 1 second left in the game off a faceoff in Canada's end.

 

[Eye of Ra]

no idea what happend to sweden. we where top 4 for a long time until recent

 

[Czechboy]

Czechs have looked pretty good both games. Just couldn't score as much as they should have today. They are improving.

It's a decent program... with Sweden falling off the map temporarily.. leaves more opportunity for us. The score looked even but the shots seemed lopsided.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

no idea what happend to sweden. we where top 4 for a long time until recent

There was a good article on TSN recently that highlighted the issues. Honestly though, women's hockey is in an embarrassing state. It's really just the U.S. and Canada.

 

[Dessloch]

Whats up with the seeding system for the groups?

USA
Canada
Finland
Regular Obsessive Cheaters (ROC)
Switzerland

In one group where ALL team advances. From the other group 3 out of 5 teams go through.

Meaning Switzerland could lose 4 straight games, then just advance to the quarterfinals like nothing happened.

It also means a team could become world champions by winning 3 games and losing 4.

On top of that it means the games in that group are pretty much meaningless, which is not very interesting at all.

I am a pretty big womens hockey fan, and I just find the concept boring.

 

[Urbanskog]

Whats up with the seeding system for the groups?

USA
Canada
Finland
Regular Obsessive Cheaters (ROC)
Switzerland

In one group where ALL team advances. From the other group 3 out of 5 teams go through.

Meaning Switzerland could lose 4 straight games, then just advance to the quarterfinals like nothing happened.

It also means a team could become world champions by winning 3 games and losing 4.

On top of that it means the games in that group are pretty much meaningless, which is not very interesting at all.

I am a pretty big womens hockey fan, and I just find the concept boring.

To prevent blowouts from happening basically. If the groups were organized differently you'd have people complain about Canada and the US beating the likes of Hungary and Denmark by 15 goals.

So yeah, I don't really mind it in women's hockey considering that the skill differences are so vast and the top 4 teams are very well defined.

 

[Pasha71]

How do they determine whom to put into Group A? Do they use the previous World Championship results, or the IIHF Rating?

 

[Czechboy]

Won group b 2tournrys in a row!

Nice to avoid canada and us in quarter

I don't think we will pull the upset but it'd be amazing

 

[DeysArena]

Wouldn't it be simpler to just give the United States and Canada a bye to the semi-finals?

 

[Andy Dufresne]

who is generally considered #3 in the world ?
I thought it was Sweden but i guess i've been sleeping on women's hockey for a while. Is it Finland?

 

[TheBeastCoast]

who is generally considered #3 in the world ?
I thought it was Sweden but i guess i've been sleeping on women's hockey for a while. Is it Finland?

Definitely Finland right now. They were screwed out of a Gold Medal in 2019. Don't think there is another nation that could be in the position to even be screwed out of a Gold Medal lol

 

[PanniniClaus]

I'd like someone to have a ten page report on my desk by tomorrow afternoon to tell me how Sweden has slipped below Japan.

 

[Czechboy]

I'd like someone to have a ten page report on my desk by tomorrow afternoon to tell me how Sweden has slipped below Japan.

Meaghen Johnson: Dissecting Sweden’s downward spiral in women’s hockey - TSN.ca

Also... Japan is a legit top 8 .. they are not too bad at all.

 

[North]

I'd like someone to have a ten page report on my desk by tomorrow afternoon to tell me how Sweden has slipped below Japan.

Japan hasn’t looked out of place at all. They’ve been very competitive in their grouping.

 

[PanniniClaus]

Japan hasn’t looked out of place at all. They’ve been very competitive in their grouping.

I've watched them play... they somehow have three wins but i just think about what Sweden used to have, i look at Japan and feel there should be no comparison... Sweden must have completely gone off the rails.. The bottom half of this division has some pretty weak skaters.

I would expect Germany, Denmark and the Czechs to make strides in the coming years.

 

[North]

I've watched them play... they somehow have three wins but i just think about what Sweden used to have, i look at Japan and feel there should be no comparison... Sweden must have completely gone off the rails.. The bottom half of this division has some pretty weak skaters.

I would expect Germany, Denmark and the Czechs to make strides in the coming years.

I get what you’re saying.

I do remember Sweden being just below Canada and the US. Finland seems to have replaced them in that sense.

Hopefully they’re able to turn it around. The more strong teams there are the better it will be for Women’s hockey.

 

[PanniniClaus]

I get what you’re saying.

I do remember Sweden being just below Canada and the US. Finland seems to have replaced them in that sense.

Hopefully they’re able to turn it around. The more strong teams there are the better it will be for Women’s hockey.

agreed

 

[ES]

Sweden had arguably the best goalie (Kim Martin) in the world in mid-2000s. It was much up to her that they got the medals, including the sensational semi-final win in Turin.

Switzerland was kind of similar situation in 2010s with Schelling, but now in downwards trend.