Live updates: IIHF Women's Championship heats up despite the weather
The first day of the IIHF Women's World Championship ended on a high note for the Americans, who got off to a slow start before rolling to a 4-0 victory over Switzerland on Wednesday night at the Adirondack Bank Center.
An announced crowd of 3,128 turned out for the Team USA opening win, capping a day in which Sweden beat Denmark 3-1 and Czechia beating Finland 4-0.
Observer-Dispatch and Times Telegram journalists Jon Rathbun and Daniel DeLoach were there for all the action and will be keeping you up to date throughout the tournament. Reporters Amy Neff Roth, Laura Sitterly and Ellen Mintzer will also be bringing you news and updates during the tournament.
Keep checking back here all day as we update on the games and more as Team USA pursues its 11th tournament championship.
Opening day brought chills inside and out
In addition to attending the games, a large crowd came to the tournament village outside the arena, even with the wet and cold weather awaiting them. Local school districts also took advantage of the spring break, bringing in the kids, who filled up parts of the arena.
“They were jumping through puddles on their way in,” said Westmoreland Upper Elementary fourth-grade teacher Rachelle Kent.
Reporter Laura Sitterly also caught up with a group of friends who play on the Utica University women's hockey team.
“It’s cool because the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) is starting to gear up to a bit more physical game so the athletes get to showcase their strength a bit more,” said Carly Stefanini, who is from Massachusetts. “People don’t realize how much skill it takes to play this sport. My older brother played hockey at the college level and whenever we’d compete he’d just hit me off the puck. We can’t do that – it’s all about sheer technique.”
➤ 🏒 Read Laura's story here.
Photos from Czechia's 4-0 victory over Finland
Photos from Sweden's victory over Denmark
IIHF Women's World Championship schedule on Thursday, April 4
All games at Adirondack Bank Center
11 a.m. — China vs. Japan
3 p.m. — Denmark vs. Germany
7 p.m. — Canada vs. Finland
IIHF Women's World Championship schedule on Friday, April 5
11 a.m. — Sweden vs. China
3 p.m. — Switzerland vs. Canada
7 p.m. — Czechia vs. USA
IIHF Women's World Championship schedule on Saturday, April 6
3 p.m. — Japan vs. Germany
7 p.m. — Finland vs. USA
IIHF Women's World Championship schedule on Sunday, April 7
11 a.m. — Sweden vs. Japan
3 p.m. — Canada vs. Czechia
7 p.m. — China vs. Denmark
➤ Here is the full IIHF Women's World Champioship schedule.
More: Players to watch at the IIHF world championship tournament
How to get tickets
Tickets for most of the IIHF Women’s World Championship games are still available and can be purchased by visiting 2024.womensworlds.hockey/tickets or stopping by the Adirondack Bank Center box office. Today's game between China and Japan is sold out.
The marquee pool-play game of the tournament, between USA and Canada at 7 p.m. April 8, is also sold out, as is the gold-medal game, scheduled for 5 p.m. Sunday, April 14.
How to watch the games at home
In the United States, all games will be broadcast on NHL Network, including its streaming service. For international viewers, fans can catch the games on the following networks/streams:
TSN/RDS (Canada)
SVT (Sweden)
Discovery (Finland)
Czech TV (Czechia)
Magenta (Germany)
TBS (Japan)
Swiss TV (Switzerland)
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: IIHF women's hockey championship warms up in Utica, live updates
