2016 Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship

DAY 1 Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship

March 28, 2016

Published by Kamloops This Week

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WOMEN’S WORLD HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP

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DAY 1|MARCH 28, 2016

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UPCOMING

GAMES GROUP

DATE

TIME

PHASE

VENUE

GAME

GAME 1

B

Monday, March 28

1:00 pm

PRE

McArthur Island Centre

SUI < VS > JPN

GAME 2

A

Monday, March 28

3:30 pm

PRE

Sandman Centre

RUS < VS > FIN

GAME 3

B

Monday, March 28

5:00 pm

PRE

McArthur Island Centre

SWE < VS > CZE

GAME 4

A

Monday, March 28

7:30 pm

PRE

Sandman Centre

USA < VS > CAN

GAME 5

B

Tuesday, March 29

1:00 pm

PRE

McArthur Island Centre

SUI < VS > CZE

GAME 6

A

Tuesday, March 29

3:30 pm

PRE

Sandman Centre

FIN < VS > USA

GAME 7

B

Tuesday, March 29

5:00 pm

PRE

McArthur Island Centre

JPN < VS > SWE

GAME 8

A

Tuesday, March 29

7:30 pm

PRE

Sandman Centre

CAN < VS > RUS

GAME 9

B

Thursday, March 31

1:00 pm

PRE

McArthur Island Centre

CZE < VS > JPN

GAME 10

A

Thursday, March 31

3:30 pm

PRE

Sandman Centre

USA < VS > RUS

GAME 11

B

Thursday, March 31

5:00 pm

PRE

McArthur Island Centre

SWE < VS > SUI

GAME 12

A

Thursday, March 31

7:30 pm

PRE

Sandman Centre

CAN < VS > FIN

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WELCOME TO

WOMEN’S WORLD HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP

KAMLOOPS Second to only the Olympic Winter Games, the IIHF Women’s World Championship is the premier event in international women’s hockey.

Teams representing Canada, the United States, Finland, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Japan and the Czech Republic will be in Kamloops for tournament action this week, with preliminary-round action beginning tonight and running through March 31.

Playoff contests will open on Friday, April 1, with puck drop in the goldmedal final slated for 7:30 p.m. on Monday, April 4, at Sandman Centre.

Tournament action will be played on Kamloops’ North Shore at McArthur Island Sport and Event Centre and on the South Shore at Sandman Centre downtown.

The women’s world championship is traditionally a showdown between the game’s two heavy-hitters: Canada and the United States. The two nations have squared off in the championship final of all 16 tournaments and are the overwhelming favourites to meet in the

gold-medal game one week from today, adding another chapter to their storied rivalry.

The world championship tournament was first contested in 1990 and is held annually, though not at the top level during Olympic years. Canada defeated the United States 5-2 in the 1990 tournament, winning its first of eight consecutive titles and 10 overall.

But the Maple Leaf has won only twice since 2005, losing five of the last six gold-medal games to their rivals south of the border.

The Americans have won six world championships, the most recent a 7-5 defeat of the Canadians at the 2015 world championship in Malmö, Sweden.

The preponderance of podium finishes outside of North America have been awarded to Finland, with the nation capturing bronze in 11 of 16 tournaments. Sweden (two), Russia (two) and Switzerland have also captured bronze medals in the tournament’s history.

The world championship’s seeding

is based on the previous year’s tournament, with the top four seeds placed in Pool A and the bottom four seeds grouped in Pool B. Following the conclusion of round-robin action in Kamloops, Pool A’s first- and secondplace teams receive quarter-final byes, advancing directly to the semifinals.

Third place in Pool A will play second place in Pool B in a quarter-final, while fourth place in Pool A will play first place in Pool B, with the winners advancing.

The winner of each semifinal contest will proceed to the gold-medal game, while the losers will play for bronze.

Also on the line this week will be seeding for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea.

The top five teams in the 2016 IIHF Women’s World Rankings, released after the 2016 world championship, as well as host Korea, will automatically qualify for the 2018 Olympics. The two remaining berths will be determined in Olympic qualification play between August 2016 and February 2017.

Heading into this week’s tournament, Canada is No. 1 in the world rankings, followed by the United States, Finland, Switzerland, Sweden, Russia, Germany and Japan.

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DAY 1|MARCH 28, 2016

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TICKET SALES

The world will be both on the ice and in the stands when the 2016 IIHF Women’s World Championship begins in Kamloops today.

While the preponderance of tickets for the annual showdown of women’s hockey have been sold to local fans, spectators representing seven nations, eight provinces and one territory will visit Canada’s Tournament Capital to take in the week’s action.

Canada is represented by all but two of its constituent provinces and two of its territories. Fans from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and across B.C. have purchased tickets in hopes of witnessing the Maple Leaf return to the top of the podium in women’s hockey.

Tickets have been sold as far east as St. John’s, as far north as Whitehorse.

Nashwaak Bridge, N.B., will be in the seats for every Canadian game, a single fan representing the settlement just north of Fredericton.

Meanwhile, tickets have been sold at five overseas nations and will bring fans from Dohma, Germany;

Helensburgh, Exter and Hull, United Kingdom; Moscow, Russia; Oulu, Ruona and Helsinki, Finland; and Sapporo, Japan. Four American states will have membership in tournament crowds, with fans from Downey and Costa Mesa, Calif.; Bothell, Seattle, Blaine and Sammamish, Wash.; Portland, Ore.; and Houston, Texas.

Riley Wiwchar, general manager of the 2016 IIHF Women’s World

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Downstairs

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DAYS HOUSES

Upstairs

THE ROAD TO GOLD

Championship, said ticket sales have been strong and, nearing the end of last week, the gold-medal game and the tournament opener against the United States were both nearing capacity.

A total of 15,522 fans took in the action at the 2015 world championship in Malmö, Sweden, an average of 776 per game. The gold-medal final between Canada and the United States, which the U.S. won 7-5, had an attendance of 1,523.

WOMEN’S WORLD HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP

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WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW The 2015 IIHF Women’s World Championship isn’t far from the mind of anyone in the Team Canada locker room.

Facing off against the United States in the gold-medal game for the 16th time in the championship’s 16 years, Canada suffered a heartbreaking defeat, losing 7-5 to the Americans and settling for their fifth silver medal in the last six tournaments.

The Maple Leaf’s last gold medal was slowly becoming a distant memory, won in the 2012 in championship in Burlington, Vt. Skating in Penticton for pre-tournament action, Canadians who were in Malmö last year still feel the sting of the loss.

Those who weren’t still want to avenge it.

“I think, definitely, it’s in the back of our minds that we want to reclaim the world championship and that’s definitely a goal,” Canadian defenceman Tara Watchorn told KTW. She — along with 16 of her 23 of her teammates in Kamloops — was in Malmö for the loss to the Americans.

“But at the same time, every year the team’s a little different and some of the rookies now have a lot of experience coming in and we’re really starting to gel. So I think we just want to keep that going and keep improving as a team. We feel good about Kamloops and hopefully it all comes together in the end.”

Fans of the tournament won’t have to wait long before the gold-medal grudge match, with Canada and the United States opening preliminary play against one another at Sandman Centre on tonight at 7:30 p.m.

The tournament hosts have brought an experienced lineup to Kamloops. Sixteen players were in the Tournament Capital for the 4 Nations Cup in 2014, a tournament in which

Canada defeated the United States in a shootout to repeat as champions at the annual event — considered the third-most prestigious behind the Olympics and the world championship — which also includes teams from Sweden and Finland.

Thirteen members of the 2016 world championship squad won gold at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia and only two players in Kamloops are making their debuts at worlds.

“We’re looking fast,” said goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer, whose brother, Bronson, played three seasons for the Kamloops Blazers.

She and veteran teammate Charline Labonté are expected to carry the bulk of the load between the pipes in Kamloops.

“The team is really skilled,” Maschmeyer continued. “There’s

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DAY 1|MARCH 28, 2016

a lot of experience on the team and there’s also some new faces. I think it’s a good mix. We’re starting to mesh really well.”

The world championship’s A Pool includes the top four teams from the 2015 championship — Canada, the United States, Finland and Russia — while the B Pool includes the bottom three teams — Sweden, Switzerland and Japan — and the newly promoted Czech Republic, which has only played in the tournament’s elite division once before (2013).

Canada last won gold on home soil in 2007, when the tournament was played in Winnipeg and Selkirk, Man., and the Red and White defeated the U.S. 5-1 in the gold-medal game. Only Labonté and forwards Meghan Agosta and Hayley Wichenheiser are holdovers from that roster.

“This is my third world championship and it’s my first one on

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home soil and I’m beyond excited,” Watchorn said.

“The crowds are amazing, the hype and atmosphere around the rink — it’s unexplainable. I’m just really excited to get going and to experience it.”

Maschmeyer, too, was anxious to start her first world championship in Canada when she spoke with KTW. But maybe more exciting is the opportunity to replace last year’s silver medal with this year’s gold.

“We haven’t openly stated it, but we can feel it,” the goaltender said of Canada’s 2015 loss to the Americans.

“It leaves a chip on our shoulders and gives us motivation to get gold this year. You don’t want any [other] country to win, but we don’t want the U.S. to win for sure.

“We’re planning on taking the gold.”

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2015 SCORING

LEADERS

Player

GP G A Pts

Hilary Knight

5

7

5

12

Brianna Decker

5

5

6

11

Anna Borgqvist

4 5 3 8

Jocelyne Lamoureux 4 5 3 8 Natalie Spooner

5 4 3 7

Kendall Coyne

5 3 4 7

Anne Schleper

4 1 6 7

Monique Lamoureux 5 1 6 7 Erika Grahm

4 4 2 6

Marie-Philip Poulin 5 3 3 6

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Canada’s Tournament Capital welcomes the IIHF Women’s World Championships The City of Kamloops is pleased to welcome this event to our community!

Our city hosts an impressive range of sporting and cultural events that contribute over $10 million to the local economy each year. Continuing to support and invest in the Tournament Capital Program ensures future opportunities for our community, and for the development of sports programs and events to benefit our athletes.

These events would not be possible without the support of local volunteers, business, and sponsors.

We would like to extend a huge thank you to all of our sponsors and volunteers, as well as the organizing committee, for all of their hard work making this amazing event become a reality.

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TEAM CANADA Seeking its first gold medal since the 2012 tournament in Burlington, Vt., Canada has sent an experienced roster to the 2016 IIHF Women’s World Championship in Kamloops.

A total of 17 players who won silver at the 2015 World Championship in Malmö, Sweden — the Canadians fell 7-5 in the gold-medal game against the United States — have made their return to Canada’s 23-woman roster, which will include 13 forwards, seven defencemen and three goaltenders.

Thirteen of the players in the Tournament Capital — including five-time Olympic and 12-time world championship medallist Hayley Wickenheiser — helped Canada win its fourth consecutive gold medal in the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.

A trio of Team Canada mainstays is expected to be the the top offensive

threat, with three-time Olympic gold medallist Meghan Agosta to centre wingers Natalie Spooner, who led Canada in scoring in Malmö, and Marie-Philip Poulin, who won the scoring race in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (the highest women’s league in Canada) this season.

Canada’s attack certainly won’t be one dimensional, however, with Jennifer Wakefield, Rebecca Johnston and Brianne Jenner just a handful of the others who should fill the net for for the Maple Leaf.

Lauriane Rougeau and Laura Fortino will anchor a defence corps of longtime national team members. The seven-woman group — all of whom have previous experience for Canada — is expected to divide play evenly throughout the World Championship.

In the blue paint, three-time Olympian Charline Labonté lends

an experienced hand to Canada’s goaltending, while 2015 world championship silver medallist Emerance Maschmeyer returns to Kamloops, where her brother, Bronson, played junior hockey and where she won a gold medal in the 4 Nations Cup in 2014.

Canada is aiming to win its first World Championship gold medal on home soil since 2007, when the nation posted a 5-1 victory over the United States in Winnipeg.

Canada and the U.S. have met in all 16 championship finals at the women’s worlds, with Canada capturing an alltime best 10 gold medals.

The hosts open the preliminary round tonight against their rivals from the United States. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Sandman Centre.

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DAY 1|MARCH 28, 2016

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UPCOMING

EVENTS MONDAY, MARCH 28TH

STEPH MACPHERSON

KAMLOOPS CURLING CENTRE STAGE • 9:00 pm – 9:30 pm: Steph Macpherson • 9:45 pm – 10:30 pm: Dirty Mountain Band • 11:00 pm – 1:00 am: Neil Young Tribute

9:00 pm – 9:30 pm TONIGHT!

TUESDAY, MARCH 29TH

KAMLOOPS CURLING CENTRE STAGE • 9:00 pm – 10:30 pm: Matt Stanley & The Decoys • 11:00 pm – 1:00 am: David James and Big River - Johnny Cash Tribute

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30TH

KAMLOOPS CURLING CENTRE STAGE • 9:00 pm – 10:30 pm: Dave Coalmine Band • 11:00 pm – 1:00 am: Barracuda – Heart Tribute /Pat Benatar Tribute

THURSDAY, MARCH 31ST

KAMLOOPS CURLING CENTRE STAGE • 9:00 pm – 10:30 pm: Music Mash-up: Country 103 vs The River • 11:00 pm – 1:00 am: The Johnny McCuaig Band

DIRTY MOUNTAIN BAND 9:45 pm – 10:30 pm TONIGHT!

FRIDAY, APRIL 1ST

KAMLOOPS CURLING CENTRE STAGE • 9:00 pm – 10:30 pm: Dodie Goldney’s Instamatics • 11:00 pm – 1:00 am: Paisley Groove with Special Guest Henry Small

SATURDAY, APRIL 2ND

KAMLOOPS CURLING CENTRE STAGE • 9:00 pm – 10:30 pm: Ben Klick • 11:00 pm to 1:00 am: Chris Buck Band A game ticket is required for entrance to the venue.

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WOMEN’S WORLD HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP

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PLAYER BIO

EMERANCE

MASCHMEYER POSITION GOALTENDER HIGHT 5-FOOT-6 WEIGHT 141 LBS. AGE 21 YEARS HOME TOWN BRUDERHEIM, ALTA. CURRENT TEAM HARVARD CRIMSON

Kamloops is starting to feel a lot like home for Emerance Maschmeyer.

The Canadian goaltender’s affair with the Tournament Capital began in 2012. Her brother, Bronson, was then a fan-favourite defenceman for the Kamloops Blazers.

It was the elder Maschmeyer who scored one of the most famous goals in franchise history, finding twine in Game 6 of the Blazers’ WHL Western Conference semifinal against Portland Winterhawks, sending Kamloops to a Game 7 against the American powerhouse.

Emerance made her own Kamloops debut in 2014, backstopping Canada to two victories at the 4 Nations Cup, a tournament in which Canada defeated the United States to capture gold at what was then Interior Savings Centre.

Now, the 21-year-old is on the verge of forging another connection with the River City, playing in her first world championship on Canadian soil this week.

“It’s funny because I think back to when I went to watch him — I watched him in playoffs, his last year,” Emerance said of Bronson. “It’s so funny just thinking back to that and 2014 and now this year.

“It’s definitely feeling like home.”

In reality, home is Bruderheim, Alta., a farming community about 50 kilometres northeast of Edmonton, home to a few more than 1,100 people.

It was a community where Emerance and her four siblings — three brothers and a sister — learned to play on an outdoor rink, she never lacking for shooters and them never lacking a netminder.

Emerance asserted that, despite her brother arguing to the contrary, the family never used frozen cow patties in place of hockey pucks.

The 5-foot-6 goaltender has come

a long way since her days on the backyard sheet, though. She recently completed her university hockey eligibility, fulfilling her lifelong dream of playing for the Harvard Crimson, and represented Canada in the 2012 under-18 world championship, the 4 Nations Cup in 2014 and 2015 and the 2015 world championship.

In the 2015 National Women’s Hockey League draft, she was selected in the second round, seventh overall, by the Boston Pride.

“I think back to my days back in Bruderheim and just how far I’ve gone since then — it’s incredible,” Emerance said.

And though the Crimson were a solid team in her tenure — they made it to the national title game in 2015 — donning the Maple Leaf takes the competition to another level.

“Definitely, when you come to preworld camp and all these different camps and these tournaments, these girls are the best in the country and so it’s another step up,” she said.

“Harvard has definitely prepared me well for it.”

Team Canada hadn’t yet selected a starting netminder when Emerance spoke to KTW and the coaching staff may choose to utilize both her and three-time Olympic gold medallist Charline Labonté between the pipes throughout the Kamloops championship.

But no matter the role, Emerance is hoping to write another chapter in her history with Kamloops this week.

Maybe this one will have another golden ending.

“I’m so excited for it. The atmosphere, I’m sure, is going to be crazy,” she said.

“Thinking back to 2014 at 4 Nations in Kamloops, the atmosphere was unbelievable, so I can only imagine what it’s going to be like now.”

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