The world has been both on the ice and in the stands at the 2016 IIHF Women’s World Championship in Kamloops.
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 at points this week to take in the 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 Championship, said ticket sales have been strong across the event, with capacity crowds for the gold-medal game on Monday and the tournament opener against the United States earlier this week.
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.