RECENT ARTICLES
The new ranking includes the results of the 2009-2012 World Championships and the 2010 Olympics, with higher value put on the most recent tournaments.
Russia defended its 2011 top position because it advanced to the gold medal game while sending its closest follower, Finland, to the bronze medal game. The Czech Republic improved from fifth to third place by making the semi-finals at the expense of Sweden (4th) and Canada (5th), which both lost one place.
Slovakia’s gold medal game appearance is behind their impressive move from 10th to 6th place. Thanks to the top-9 position, the Slovaks earn a bye to the 2014 Olympics as do the United States (7th), Norway (8th) and Switzerland (9th).
The other teams will have to battle for the three remaining slots of the men’s ice hockey tournament in Sochi 2014 through qualification tournaments. Germany (10th), Latvia (11th) and Denmark (12th) earned the right to host one of the Final Olympic Qualification events in February 2013.
At the Sochi Olympics, host nation Russia will face Slovakia, the United States and the third-best ranked qualifier in its preliminary-round group.
Also the groups for the 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Stockholm and Helsinki next year have been determined according to the World Ranking.
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2013 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship |
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Group STO |
Group HEL |
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Russia (1) |
Finland (2) |
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Sweden (4) |
Czech Rep. (3) |
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Canada (5) |
Slovakia (6) |
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Norway (8) |
USA (7) |
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Switzerland (9) |
Germany (10) |
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Denmark (12) |
Latvia (11) |
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Belarus (13) |
France (14) |
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Slovenia (18) |
Austria (15) |
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2014 Olympic Winter Games |
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Group A |
Group B |
Group C |
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Russia (1) |
Finland (2) |
Czech Rep. (3) |
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Slovakia (6) |
Canada (5) |
Sweden (4) |
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USA (7) |
Norway (8) |
Switzerland (9) |
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Qualifier 3 |
Qualifier 2 |
Qualifier 1 |
More information on the men’s and women’s ice hockey tournaments at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games and the qualification tournaments.
2014 Olympic Winter Games
OLYMPICS, MEN:
Olympic men’s ice hockey tournament in Sochi 2014
Participants: Nations ranked 1-9 according to the 2012 IIHF Men’s World Ranking plus three qualifiers.
Seeding:
Group A: Russia (1), Slovakia (6), USA (7), Qualifier 3
Group B: Finland (2), Canada (5), Norway (8), Qualifier 2
Group C: Czech Republic (3), Sweden (4), Switzerland (9), Qualifier 1
The eight teams with the best records (the best two teams of each group and the two teams ranked third with the best record) advance to the quarter-finals.
Final Olympic Qualification (3 tournaments, 7-10 February 2013)
Nations ranked 10-18 plus the three winners from the Olympic Pre-Qualification.
Group D in Germany: Germany (10), Austria (15), Italy (16), Qualifier 3
Group E in Riga, Latvia: Latvia (11), France (14), Kazakhstan (17), Qualifier 2
Group F in Denmark: Denmark (12), Belarus (13), Slovenia (18), Qualifier 1
Olympic Pre-Qualification (3 tournaments, 8-11 November 2012)
Nations ranked 19-27 plus qualifiers from any preliminary qualification if required.
Group G in Budapest, Hungary: Hungary (19), Netherlands (24), Lithuania (25), Qualifier
Group H in Kyiv, Ukraine: Ukraine (20), Poland (23), Estonia (26), Spain (29)
Group J in TBA: Great Britain (21), Japan (22), Romania (27), Korea (28)
Olympic Preliminary Qualification (1 tournament, Sep./Oct. 2012)
Group K in Croatia: Croatia (30), Serbia (31), Mexico (32), Israel (33)
OLYMPICS, WOMEN:
Olympic women’s ice hockey tournament in Sochi 2014
Participants: Nations ranked 1-6 according to the 2012 IIHF Women’s World Ranking plus two qualifiers.
Seeding:
Group A: Canada (1), USA (2), Finland (3), Switzerland (4)
Group B: Sweden (5), Russia (6) + two qualifiers
Note: This is the only major change compared to 2010 as the preliminary round will take place in two tiers, as Group A will consist of teams ranked 1-4 while Group B will be comprised of teams ranked 5-8. Quarter-finals: 3A-2B & 4A-1B, semi-finals: 1A vs. winner 4A/1B, 2A vs. winner 3A/2B.
Final Olympic Qualification (2 tournaments, 7-10 February 2013)
Nations ranked 7-12 plus the two winners from the Olympic Pre-Qualification.
Group C in Bratislava, Slovakia: Slovakia (7), Norway (10), Japan (11), Qualifier 2
Group D in Germany: Germany (8), Kazakhstan (9), Czech Republic (12), Qualifier 1
Olympic Pre-Qualification (2 tournaments, 8-11 November 2012)
Nations ranked 13-18 plus qualifiers from any preliminary qualification if required.
Group E in Shanghai, China: China (13), France (16), Great Britain (17), Qualifier 2
Group F in Latvia: Latvia (14), Austria (15), Italy (18), Qualifier 1
Olympic Preliminary Qualification (2 tournaments, Sep./Oct. 2012)
Group G: Denmark (19), Croatia (22), Hungary (23), Spain (26)
Group H: Slovenia (20), Netherlands (21), Korea (24), Poland (25)
INFORMATION FROM http://www.iihf.com