World’s Top Women’s Hockey Players to Compete in the Mohawk Valley

Utica is getting ready for the upcoming 2024 International Ice Hockey Federation World Women’s Championship on April 3-14, 2024. USA Hockey will host the event in conjunction with the Upper Mohawk Valley Memorial Auditorium Authority and the Adirondack Bank Center and the Utica University Nexus Center.

Adirondack Bank Center. Photo from the International Ice Hockey Federation.

The IIHF World Women’s Championship is the premier international tournament in women’s ice hockey.

Utica will welcome ten international teams, 350 players, 30,000 local spectators and 20,000 overnight spectators to the Mohawk Valley. From April 3-14, the top women’s hockey players from across the world will play in 29 games. Tickets are on available at EmpireStateTix.com and you can view the full schedule here.

“The 2024 IIHF World Women’s Championship in Utica will mark the next chapter of New York’s winter sports legacy,” Governor Hochul said. “As the home of the 1994 IIHF World Women’s Championship, as well as the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics and this year’s FISU Winter World University Games, New York State is proud of its commitment to winter sports and tourism. Now, thanks to significant State investments and upgrades to local infrastructure, Utica and Oneida County are gearing up to host thousands of athletes and spectators for the world’s most competitive women’s ice hockey tournament and welcome the world to the Mohawk Valley.”

U.S. Women’s World Championship Team

U.S. Women’s World Championship Team. Photo from USAHockey.com.
FRONT ROW (L-R): Abbey Levy, Caroline Harvey, Savannah Harmon, Kelly Pannek, alternate captain Alex Carpenter, alternate captain Lee Stecklein, captain Hilary Knight, alternate captain Megan Keller, Amanda Kessel, Abby Roque, Hayley Scamurra, Cayla Barnes, Nicole Hensley, Aerin Frankel
MIDDLE ROW (L-R): assistant coach Shari Dickerman, assistant coach Brent Hill, Nicole LaMantia, Haley Winn, Tessa Janecke, Gabbie Hughes, Rory Guilday, Taylor Heise, Lacey Eden, Abbey Murphy, Hannah Bilka, Becca Gilmore, Britta Curl, head coach John Wroblewski, assistant coach Josh Sciba, goaltending coach Alli Altmann
TOP ROW (L-R): communications manager Melissa Katz, digital content manager Justin Felisko, video coach Alex Dawes, equipment manager Sis Paulsen, equipment manager Jeff Mobley, hockey operations manager Nick Bryant, general manager Katie Million, strength and conditioning coach Natalie Gallamore, team physician Dr. Ally Howe, athletic trainer Katie Homan, sports dietician Carrie Aprik, athletic trainer Stef Arndt, massage therapist Jennifer Chee
NOT PICTURED: strength and conditioning coach Cal Dietz

According to USAHockey.com,

The U.S. has made it to the gold-medal game in all 22 of the IIHF Women’s World Championships, winning the gold in six of the last eight tournaments (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2023).

The U.S. has captured the top-prize at the IIHF Women’s World Championship 10 times, most recently in 2023, defeating Canada, 6-3, en route to the gold medal.

Adirondack Bank Center. Photo from the International Ice Hockey Federation.

The IIHF World Women’s Championship debuted in 1990 and was last in New York State in 1994 when Lake Placid hosted the competition.

The U.S. has hosted the IIHF Women’s World Championship on four previous occasions, other host cities have included Burlington, Vermont and Minneapolis. Canada and the United States have dominated the Championship since its inception. Canada won gold at the first eight consecutive tournaments and the United States has won gold at ten of the last eleven tournaments.