CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada and the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association (OWHA) are pleased to announce that Brampton, Ont., will be the host city of the 2023 IIHF Women’s World Championship from Apr. 5-16, bringing the prestigious international competition to the Greater Toronto Area for the first time since 2000.
On behalf of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), Hockey Canada will organize the tournament in partnership with the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association at CAA Centre in Brampton.
10 teams will compete for gold at the event: Canada, Czechia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States.
Canada has won gold in six of eight women’s worlds played on home ice, including the 2021 edition that was played without fans in Calgary due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fans are able to now sign up for the priority ticket list for their chance to purchase tickets when they become available, giving them the best opportunity to see the top women’s hockey players in the world compete in Brampton.
“Hockey Canada is proud to host the 2023 IIHF Women’s World Championship with the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association and we look forward to welcoming fans of all ages to Brampton in April as we celebrate the best women’s hockey players in the world,” said Marin Hickox, director of women & girls hockey for Hockey Canada. “The legacy of this tournament will go beyond the results on the ice, and we hope that it will inspire the next generation of girls to follow their hockey dreams and show them that they too can wear the Maple Leaf one day.”
Canada, whose captain Marie-Philip Poulin became the first women’s hockey player to win the Northern Star Award as the country’s top athlete last week, will enter the tournament as the reigning Olympic gold medallist and back-to-back world champions.
More than half of the players on Canada’s National Women’s Team roster at the 2022 IIHF Women’s World Championship played in the OWHA. The Ontario Women’s Hockey Association will be hosting its provincial tournaments over the final weekend of the Women’s World Championship, bringing in more than 15,000 female hockey players to Brampton and surrounding communities.
“We are thrilled to bring this championship, which is one of the world’s top sporting events, back to Ontario, the hub of female hockey in the world,” said Fran Rider, president and chief executive officer of the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association. “These events inspire people of all ages and cultures to have the confidence to believe in themselves and to follow their dreams in sport and in life. Women’s hockey continues to unite the world in a positive way and also develops strong female leaders in many countries.”
In addition to being able to inspire children to pursue their own hockey dreams, hosting an event of this size brings a significant benefit to local communities. The most recent women’s worlds hosted in Ontario brought in nearly $15 million of economic impact to Ottawa and surrounding communities in 2013.
“I’m proud that Brampton is hosting the IIHF Women’s World Championship in April,” said Patrick Brown, mayor of Brampton. “As a healthy and safe city where hockey is especially popular, Brampton is an ideal location for this renowned event. We invite local, national and international audiences to attend what is sure to be a thrilling tournament this spring.”
The 2023 IIHF Women’s World Championship is the 22nd edition of the tournament. Canada has won a record 12 gold medals, ahead of the United States’ nine.
“Being able to compete at the 2023 IIHF Women’s World Championship on home ice will be a very special time for Canada’s National Women’s Team,” said Gina Kingsbury, director of hockey operations for Hockey Canada. “We are excited that Canada will get to see the best women’s hockey players in the world, and our team cannot wait to go for a third consecutive gold medal at this event in front of our incredible fans.”
The 2023 IIHF Women’s World Championship schedule and ticket information will be announced in January 2023. Additional community events will be shared leading up to tournament.