The World Championships are traditionally considered the main ice hockey tournament for national teams under the IIHF. In 2016, the world's leading ice hockey powers will compete for the title of world champion for the eightieth anniversary time.
For the Russian ice hockey fan, the World Championship is the most anticipated tournament of the year (with the exception of the Olympic Games, which are held once every four years). Despite the fact that all the stars of world hockey cannot take part in the hockey world championships due to the latter being involved in the NHL playoffs, the World Championships traditionally host many stars of this sport.
In 2016, the world championship in ice hockey will be held in Russia. The capital of the country, as well as St. Petersburg, a city in which hockey has recently become almost the most popular sport, have been chosen as the cities for hosting the upcoming world championship.
Dating of the 2016 Ice Hockey World Championship
Traditionally, the Ice Hockey World Championship is held in the spring - on the beautiful days of May. By this time, the Gagarin Cup, as well as the main European domestic championships, have ended. The 2016 Ice Hockey World Championship was no exception - the first game in the tournament will take place on May 6th. The end of the world championship is scheduled for the 22nd of the same month.
Ice Hockey World Championship 2016 Group Lineup
In 2016, 16 national teams will take part in the world hockey championship, divided into two subgroups of eight teams each. In the first stage of the tournament, all eight teams in subgroups will play against each other. According to the results of these meetings, the quarterfinalists of the tournament will be determined.
The Russian national ice hockey team, as the host of the championship, got into group A. The main rivals of the Russians at the group stage will be teams from Sweden, the Czech Republic and Switzerland. The full roster of the teams participating in Group A of the 2016 Ice Hockey World Championship is presented below.
Group A members will play their matches in Moscow. In the second subgroup, the favorites are Canadians, Americans, Finns and Slovaks. Group B matches will be held in St. Petersburg. The full list of members of Group B of the upcoming hockey world championship is as follows:
The first matches of the world championship are scheduled for meetings between the national teams of Sweden and Latvia, Canada and the United States. Games will begin on May 6 at 16:15 Moscow time. in Moscow and St. Petersburg. The Russian national ice hockey team begins participation in the tournament on the first day of the championship in the evening at 20:15. The rival of the Russians will be the Czech team.
