The IIHF Directorate Awards were handed out after the gold-medal game and, not surprisingly, but finalists were represented. As well, a Russian was named Best Goalie for her efforts in leading her team to the bronze medal with a 2-0 shutout of Sweden. The awards are as follows:

Best Goalie—Valeria Merkusheva (RUS)

Best Defenceman—Cayla Barnes (USA)

Best Forward—Sophie Shirley (CAN)

There were no media all-star team and MVP awarded at this year’s WW18.

The leading scorers in the tournament—and there were four them—all had six points: Lisa Ruedi (SUI), Grace Zumwinkle (USA), Cayla Barnes (USA), and Sophie Shirley (CAN).

Ruedi also led the tournament in goals (five), marking the second year running a Swiss player has had this distinction. Last year it was Alina Muller with seven goals and nine points. Clair DeGeorge (USA) led in assists (five) this year. 

Total attendance for the 21 games was 11,919, marking only the second time the event has exceeded the 10,000 mark in Europe. Not coincidentally, the first time was in Zlin/Prerov in 2012 when some 17,480 fans passed through the turnstiles. 

The final tally of goals per game is 88 in 21 games, an average of 4.19. This is by far the lowest total in the ten years of WW18 competition and points to a competitive balance never seen before as well as excellent goaltending across the board.

The Groups are set for next year’s WW18. Group A will feature United States, Canada, Russia, Sweden.

Group B will have Finland, Czech Republic, Switzerland, and Germany. The Germans won Division I-A today to earn the promotion while Japan will be relegated.

The host city and venues for the 2018 Women’s U18 World Championship have not yet been awarded. This decision is expected to come in May, at the IIHF’s annual congress, in Cologne.

The senior Women’s World Championship will take place in a couple of months in Plymouth, Michigan, United States, 31 March-7 April.