The 2021 International Ice Hockey Federation’s Women’s World Championships are set to begin Friday, which means the official start to Team USA’s title defense. 

The U.S. has won the last five World Championships, topping Finland in the finals in 2019 behind a seven-goal, 11-point performance by Hilary Knight. The 2020 tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year’s competition will be held in Calgary, Alberta, at WinSport Arena, and will run from Aug. 20-31. Tickets will not be made available to fans during the preliminary rounds. 

The U.S. will take on Switzerland, Finland, Russia, and Canada in pool play before the medal round, which will begin on Saturday, Aug. 28. All games, including Team USA’s pre-tournament contest against Russia, will be broadcast on NHL Network. A full Team USA schedule can be found below. 

Four Minnesotans dot the Team USA roster for the 2021 tournament, including 2018 goal medalists Dani Cameranesi, Kelly Pannek, and Lee Stecklein. In addition to winning gold in Pyeongchang, all three players won gold with Team USA during the 2019 World Championships, and have spent considerable time with the Team USA program. 

Joining the trio will by Excelsior native and former Breck star Grace Zumwinkle, who made last year’s roster before the tournament was canceled. Now a University of Minnesota Golden Gopher, Zumwinkle was a top-three finalist for the 2021 Patty Kazmaier Award, annually given to the top female college hockey player. 

Andover native and hero of the 2018 Olympics, goaltender Maddie Rooney, will be unable too participate in the World Championships due to injury.

*Grace Zumwinkle photo courtesy of Kelly Jo Hagenson/University of Minnesota Athletics