2019 IIHF Women's World Championship Final

The 2019 IIHF Women's World Championship Final was played on 14 April 2019, at Espoo Metro Areena in Espoo, Finland. The United States defeated Finland 2–1 in a game-winning shootout, to win its ninth World Championship (and fifth consecutive).[1]

2019 IIHF Women's World Championship Final
123OTSO Total
 United States 01001 2
 Finland 01000 1
Date14 April 2019
ArenaMetro Areena
CityEspoo
Attendance6,053

Background
Main article: Miracle in Espoo

Since the first IIHF Women's World Championship in 1990 and the first women's tournament at the Winter Olympics in 1998, the American and Canadian national teams have dominated the competitions, winning every single gold medal. They had also won every single silver medal, except one: Sweden's historical run to the finals in the 2006 Winter Olympics.

Finland stunned Canada in the semi-finals, beating them by a score of 4–2, their first-ever semifinal victory and advanced to the gold medal game for the first time in IIHF Women's World Championship history.[2]

Disallowed goal controversy

During the final between the United States and Finland, it appeared Finland had won 2–1 after Petra Nieminen scored what appeared to be the game-winning goal in overtime. It would've been Finland first World Championship.[3] However, since Finnish defender Jenni Hiirikoski had made contact with American goaltender Alex Rigsby just outside of the crease, the Video Goal Judge initiated a video review while the Finnish players were celebrating on the ice. The goal was reviewed for over ten minutes and eventually overturned. The IIHF released a press statement the next day citing rules 186 and 183ii as the reasons for overturning the goal. The two rules read:

-According to IIHF Playing Rule 186 v. Goaltender and Goal/Goal Crease Disallowed: An attacking skater who makes contact other than incidental with a goaltender who is out of his goal crease during game action will be assessed a minor penalty for interference. If a goal is scored at this time, it will not count.

-According to IIHF Playing Rule 183 ii. Protection of a Goaltender: Incidental contact is allowed when the goaltender is in the act of playing the puck outside his goal crease, provided the attacking skater makes a reasonable effort to minimize or avoid such contact.[4]

Despite the goal being disallowed, Rigsby was issued a two-minute penalty for tripping and Hiirikoski was not issued any penalties.[5] Neither team was able to score in the remaining minutes of overtime, with the Americans successfully killing off two power-plays. The United States went on to defeat Finland 2–1 in the shootout.

Finnish goaltender Noora Räty finished with 51 saves on 52 shots and Rigbsy with 26 saves on 27 shots.

Reactions

Following an initial period of uncertainty as the goal was being reviewed, the final decision to overturn the goal sparked a number of strong reactions from players, staff, and fans. Finnish NHLer Kasperi Kapanen spoke out against the decision, stating that "I think they kind of messed it up," with retired Canadian Olympian Hayley Wickenheiser agreeing, stating "That. Was. A. Goal."[6]

Rigsby defended the decision, stating that she had immediately known the goal was illegal, and that "I was the one who got body-slammed. But the ref thinks I tried tripping the player when I was on the ground, and somehow I end up with the penalty. Funny how that went."[7] She, however, still praised Finland, stating that "This is the best Finnish team we’ve ever seen."[8]

Aftermath

After the game, the Finnish ice hockey association announced that it would be giving the players the €7000 bonus for winning gold instead of the €5000 bonus for winning silver. Unlike the men's World Championships, however, there was no IIHF bonus for the players for winning either medal.[9]

Finnish broadcaster Yle released viewership numbers of over 2,3 million people watching the finals on TV in Finland - more than half the country's population.[10] The 2019 Finnish parliamentary election was held on the same day as the finals

After the finals, Finnish legend Riikka Sallinen, considered among the greatest hockey players of all-time, announced her permanent retirement from the game.[11] Finnish veterans Linda Välimäki and Venla Hovi also announced their retirements after the tournament.[12][13]

Road to the final
United States Round Finland
Opponent Result Preliminary round Opponent Result
 Finland 6–2 Game 1  United States 2–6
 Canada 3–2 Game 2  Russia 4–0
  Switzerland 8–0 Game 3   Switzerland 6–2
 Russia 10–0 Game 4  Canada 1–6
Both teams played in Group A:
Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  United States 4 4 0 0 0 27 4 +23 12 Quarterfinals
2  Canada 4 3 0 0 1 19 5 +14 9
3  Finland (H) 4 2 0 0 2 13 14 −1 6
4  Russia 4 1 0 0 3 3 20 −17 3
5   Switzerland 4 0 0 0 4 3 22 −19 0
Source: IIHF
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) result against closest best-ranked team outside tied teams; 6) result against second-best ranked team outside tied teams; 7) seeding before tournament.
(H) Host.
Opponent Result Playoff Opponent Result
 Japan 4–0 Quarterfinals  Czech Republic 3–1
 Russia 8–0 Semifinals  Canada 4–2

Match
14 April 2019
20:00		United States 2–1 GWS
(0–0, 1–1, 0–0)
(OT: 0–0)
(SO: 1–0)		 FinlandEspoo Metro Areena, Espoo
Attendance: 6,053

References
  1. Lucas Aykroyd (14 April 2019). "It's a five-peat for U.S.!". International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  2. Lucas Aykroyd (13 April 2019). "Finland makes history!". International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  3. Weiswerda, Brennin (14 April 2019). "Controversial goalie-interference call costs Finland gold medal, USA wins in shootout". RMNB. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  4. "IIHF - Statement from IIHF". IIHF International Ice Hockey Federation.
  5. https://www.theicegarden.com/2019/4/14/18310629/2019-womens-world-championship-iihf-controversy-finland-usa-gold-medal-game-goalie-interference
  6. https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/leafs-forward-kapanen-thinks-refs-made-wrong-call-in-womens-finals-1.5098630
  7. https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/iihf-offers-explanation-for-call-that-cost-finland-gold-1.5098869
  8. https://www.si.com/nhl/2019/04/14/iihf-united-states-gold-shootout-finland-womens-hockey
  9. https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/finlands_lionesses_to_take_home_smaller_bonuses_than_lions/10743429
  10. https://www.theicegarden.com/2019/4/19/18504217/team-finland-prize-money-increased-naisleijonat-iihf-world-championships-euros
  11. https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2019/06/18/riika-sallinen-retires-hockey-finland/
  12. https://www.theicegarden.com/2019/7/25/20726900/team-finland-forward-linda-valimaki-retires-ilves-blues-naisten-liiga
  13. https://www.theicegarden.com/2019/4/15/18311627/venla-hovi-announces-retirement-cwhl-finland-naisleijonat
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