Victory Press: The Best National Ice Hockey Teams in the World: Looking Ahead After Women's Worlds →

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The 2017 IIHF Women's World Championships will forever be remembered in tandem with the stand that the US Women's National Team took -- and won -- in demanding equal treatment from USA Hockey.

But beyond the headlines (which all but wrote themselves), there was a lot to learn about each of the teams that played in the WWC. From a young Czech team that may or may not be relegated, pending possible tournament expansion, to the Americans' labor saga, each squad showed a lot about the state of their team, the development of their programs, and what's on the horizon.

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Victory Press: 2017 IIHF Women's World Championships Notebook -- Day 6 →

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After achieving a landmark victory off the ice just two days before the tournament started, the United States Women's National Team made history on the ice, winning their first ever Women's World Championship on home soil.

They did so in dramatic fashion, with Hilary Knight blocking a shot, passing it to Kendall Coyne and then following her to receive Coyne's pass and score in overtime.

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Sports Illustrated: Women's Worlds notebook: U.S. tops Canada for gold in overtime thriller →

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PLYMOUTH, Mich. Capping off an absolutely phenomenal tournament and in true U.S.-Canada fashion, the gold medal game was decided in overtime. And unlike in 2012, the last time this tournament was played on U.S. soil, the Americans came out on top. 

U.S. forward Hilary Knight blocked a shot from Canada’s Halli Kryzyaniak on the defensive end and fed the puck to Kendall Coyne who used her speed to beat the defense. Knight followed the play and was in a perfect position to score the game-winner when Coyne fed it back to her at 10:43 of the extra frame. 

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Victory Press: 2017 IIHF Women's World Championships Notebook -- Day 5 →

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The Americans put on a dominating performance Thursday night, limiting the Germans to just eight shots and controlling the entire ice. Ten different players scored goals, including three defenders. Through four games, fourteen Americans had scored goals, lending credence to coach Robb Stauber's claims that there are no "number ones" on the team.

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Sports Illustrated: U.S. college system responsible for developing world's top women's hockey talent →

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PLYMOUTH, Mich.—Often lost in the reporting about the United States Women’s National Teams boycott was the players’ demand for USA Hockey to create a comprehensive development program for girls. Preliminary reports say the new agreement will have USAH adding a foundation position that works exclusively with girls developmental teams.

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Victory Press: 2017 IIHF Women's World Championships Notebook -- Day 4 →

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Folks who stayed home or didn't tune in on Tuesday because Team USA and Team Canada weren't playing missed out on quite a day in this tournament. That there's so much to talk about on what many considered a down day speaks volumes about the depth of this field.

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Sports Illustrated: Women's Worlds notebook: Germany, Finland closing the gap with U.S., Canada →

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PLYMOUTH, Mich.—When it comes to women's hockey, the gap between USA and Canada and the rest of the world has never been this narrow, and the growth of the game worldwide has never been more evident. he 2017 Women’s World Championships will be remembered for the historic wins by Finland and now Germany. The gap still exists—no one is contending that true parity has been reached. But in a week where USA Hockey’s Executive Director Dave Ogrean worried that U.S. and Canadian investments in their own programs might harm European hockey, the proof being put forth by these teams feels all the more poignant.

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Sports Illustrated: Women's Worlds Notebook: U.S. survives stiff test from Raty, Finland to finish group play →

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PLYMOUTH, Mich. — Though the Americans ultimately prevailed, the Finns proved that their upset of Canada on Saturday was no fluke with a close game on Monday.

Finland goalie Noora Räty played spectacularly, helping keep the game close, but eight penalties through the first two periods gave an already powerful American squad too much of an advantage. Team USA scored three power-play goals in the win.

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Victory Press: 2017 IIHF Women's World Championships Notebook -- Day 3 →

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Too many penalties kept the Finns from established a rhythm and gave Team USA way too many opportunities on Monday evening.

The Americans are the only team to sweep their opening round games, but Finland took advantage of some lapses, especially on the defensive end. Captain Meghan Duggan repeated more than once that Team USA is focused on their own game and isn't too concerned about one opponent or the other. Monday's game showed places that they can work on with their two subsequent days off.

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Sports Illustrated: Robb Stauber brings a goalie's point of view behind the bench for Team USA →

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PLYMOUTH, Mich.—A catcher in baseball. A point guard in basketball. Soccer and hockey goalies. Each of them has their own set of challenges, but anyone that’s played any of those positions shares a mindset and frame of reference with all the others. They’re the 'big picture' people. 

A striker has a singular focus on the net. A centerfielder sees their slice of the outfield. But the 'big picture' folks see the whole field of play. A goalie sees not just the person with the puck, but whether the lane is open, how the defenders are converging and where the other forwards are heading for passes. They watch the full width of the ice and synthesize all those pieces of information instantly. And they do it without thought. It becomes inherent to who they are and how they participate in the game.

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Victory Press: Women's Worlds Notebook: Finland scores historic upset against Canada on Day 2 →

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Ronja Savolainen scored the go-ahead goal with 1:41 left in the game and Finland killed a penalty to run out time for the Finns’ first-ever World Championships win over Canada on Saturday.

It was a second straight flat start to a game for the Canadians and forward Rebecca Johnston said she didn’t have a reason why.

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Victory Press: 2017 IIHF Women's World Championships Notebook -- Day 1 →

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Finland goaltender Noora Räty raised concerns and complaints about the goals and pegs used on the secondary rink on Friday. She compared the pegs used to those one might see in a beer league and had some strong post-game language about the situation.

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Sports Illustrated: Women's Worlds Notebook: Raty raises questions after Finland's opening loss →

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PLYMOUTH, Mich.—Russia topped Finland thanks to a last-minute power play goal in the teams’ Women’s World Championship opener, though there was some controversy regarding conditions on the tournament’s secondary rink.

Finnish goalie Nora Räty was the first player to enter the mixed zone after the loss and was visibly upset. Her eyes were red and wet and her voice shook as she berated the rink conditions, specifically the break pins used to hold the nets in place.

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Detroit Free Press: Meet teams competing at women's hockey world championships in Plymouth →

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Free Press special writer Nicole Haase breaks down the eight teams competing at the International Ice Hockey Federation Women’s World Championships, which runs Friday through April 7 at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth:

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Sports Illustrated: 2017 Women's World Championship: Breaking down the tournament field →

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The IIHF Women’s World Championships kick off Friday afternoon and they might be the most anticipated women’s hockey tournament in years. The hype around Team USA may be bigger than it normally is before an Olympics—certainly a lot more people will be paying attention when the puck drops at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, MI. With every U.S. game schedule for prime viewing hours and being aired on NHL Network (some on tape delay) and streaming on NHL.com, it’s never been easier for people to tune in and now the pressure is on Team USA to deliver.

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