Ice Hockey World Championships facts for kids
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IIHF World Championship Cup
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| Sport | Ice hockey |
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| Founded | 1920 (1920 Summer Olympics) 1930 (First individual event |
| No. of teams | 16 (Top division) 12 (Division I) 12 (Division II) 10 (Division III) 4 (Division IV) |
| Country | IIHF member countries |
| Continent | Worldwide |
| Most recent champion(s) |
 Czechia (13th title) |
| Most titles | .svg){kind=small} Canada (28 titles) |
| Official website | IIHF.com |
The Ice Hockey World Championships is a big international ice hockey tournament for men. It happens every year and is run by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). The first official championship was held during the 1920 Summer Olympics.
The IIHF started in 1908. Before the World Championships, there were the European Championships, which began in 1910. The hockey tournament at the 1920 Summer Olympics is seen as the very first Ice Hockey World Championship. From 1920 to 1968, the Olympic hockey winner was also named the World Champion for that year.
The first World Championship held as its own event was in 1930. Twelve countries took part in it. Over time, the tournament format changed a lot. More teams joined, and new divisions were added.
Today, the World Championship has 16 teams in the top group. There are also other divisions for more teams. The top eight teams in the main group play in a playoff round. The team that wins is crowned the World Champion. Over the years, many rules have changed. For example, helmets became a must-have in the 1970s.
For a long time, only "amateur" players could play. This meant players from the National Hockey League (NHL) in North America were not allowed. But starting in 1977, professional players could join. This made the tournament even more exciting.
Canada was very strong at first, winning many titles from 1930 to 1952. Then, the Soviet Union became the top team. They won 20 championships between 1963 and 1991. After the Soviet Union broke up, new countries like Russia and the Czech Republic started playing. Now, the "Big Six" teams are usually the strongest. These are Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Sweden, and the United States.
The tournament happens at the same time as the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs. This means many top NHL players might not be able to play for their home countries. They can only join if their NHL team is out of the playoffs.
The 2024 IIHF World Championship in the Czech Republic had the most fans ever. Almost 800,000 people watched the games!
Contents
How the Championship Started
The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) is the main group that runs ice hockey around the world. It started on May 15, 1908. Back then, organized ice hockey was quite new. The first indoor game was played in Montreal, Canada, in 1875.
In 1910, the Ice Hockey European Championships were held in Switzerland. This was the first official tournament for national teams. Countries like Great Britain, Germany, Belgium, and Switzerland played. Professional hockey grew in North America, and the National Hockey League (NHL) was formed in 1917. The European Championships stopped from 1915 to 1920 because of World War I.
Championship History
Early Years: Olympic Games (1920–1928)
The IIHF sees the ice hockey tournament at the 1920 Summer Olympics as the first World Championship. Seven teams played, including Canada, the United States, and Czechoslovakia. Canada, with the Winnipeg Falcons team, won the gold medal. They scored 27 goals and only let in 1! The United States got silver, and Czechoslovakia won bronze.
After this, every Olympic hockey tournament until 1968 was also counted as the World Championship. Canada won gold at the 1924 and 1928 Winter Olympics.
Canada's Strong Start (1930–1953)
The first World Championship held on its own was in 1930. It took place in France, Austria, and Germany. Canada, represented by the Toronto CCMs, beat Germany to win gold.
In 1933, the United States won the gold medal. This was the first time a team other than Canada won the competition. It's still the only gold medal the U.S. has won at a non-Olympic tournament.
At the 1936 Winter Olympics, Great Britain became the first non-Canadian team to win Olympic gold. Canada won most of the World Championships in the 1930s. The 1939 tournament was the first time Finland played. World War II stopped the championships from 1941 to 1946.
After the war, Czechoslovakia's team got much better. They won the 1947 World Championships. In 1949, they became the third country to win a World Championship when Canada was also playing.
At the 1952 Winter Olympics in Norway, Canada's Edmonton Mercurys won their second straight Olympic gold. This was Canada's 15th World Championship win in 19 tries. It was also the last time a Canadian team won Olympic hockey gold for 50 years. In 1953, Canada didn't play. Sweden won their first World Championship.
Canada vs. Soviet Union Rivalry (1954–1962)
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The 1954 World Championships marked the first time the Soviet Union played in international hockey. They won their first six games. Canada was also undefeated. In the final game, the Soviet Union beat Canada 7–2. This made them the fifth team to win a World Championship.
In 1955, Canada, with the Penticton Vees, beat the Soviets 5–0 to win back the title. At the 1956 Winter Olympics, the Soviets won their first Olympic ice hockey gold medal.
The 1957 World Championships were held in Moscow. Canada and the United States didn't play to protest the Soviet actions in Hungary. Sweden won the gold medal. Canada returned in 1958 and won two titles in a row.
At the 1960 Winter Olympics, the American team surprised everyone. They beat Canada, the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, and Sweden to win their first Olympic gold medal.
In 1961, Canada beat the Soviets 5–1 to win their 19th gold medal. The Trail Smoke Eaters were the last club team to play for Canada. The next year, Canada started a national team program. Canada wouldn't win another World Championship gold until 1994.
Soviet Union's Strong Era (1963–1976)
At the 1963 World Championships, the Soviet Union won gold. They then won nine World Championship golds in a row! At the 1964 Winter Olympics, Canada didn't win an Olympic medal in hockey for the first time. The Soviet Union won gold.
The Soviets were very dominant. Their winning streak was broken by Czechoslovakia at the 1968 Winter Olympics. Even with that loss, the Soviets still won gold. This was the last time the Olympics were also counted as the World Championships.
In 1969, the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia played very emotional games. Czechoslovakia had to give up hosting the tournament because of political events. The tournament was held in Sweden. The Czechoslovak team was determined to beat the Soviets, and they did, winning both games against them.
Because European teams were using their best players, Canada felt their amateur players couldn't compete. Canada wanted to use professional players. The IIHF first agreed, but then changed its mind. So, Canada pulled out of international hockey. Canada's team didn't play in the 1972 and 1976 Winter Olympics.
The Soviet Union, led by amazing players like Vladislav Tretiak and Valeri Kharlamov, won gold in 1970, 1971, and at the 1972 Winter Olympics. In 1972, Czechoslovakia ended the Soviet team's winning streak at the World Championships. The Soviets quickly started winning again in 1973 and 1974.
At the 1976 World Championships, Poland beat the Soviet Union 6–4. This was one of the biggest upsets in hockey history! Czechoslovakia won gold that year.
Open Competition Begins (1976–1987)
In 1975, the IIHF agreed to let all players, both professional and amateur, compete in the World Championships. This meant NHL players could finally join. The tournament was also moved later in the season so NHL players whose teams were out of the playoffs could play.
The 1976 World Ice Hockey Championships was the first to allow professionals. The first fully open World Championship was in 1977. Many Canadian NHL players, including Phil Esposito, played. Canada finished fourth. Czechoslovakia won gold.
The IIHF World Junior Championship, for players under 20, also became an official world championship.
From 1978, the Soviet team won five World Championships in a row. They had a long winning streak until 1985. During this time, Canada won three bronze medals. World Championships were not held in Olympic years (1980, 1984, 1988).
The 1987 World Championships had some arguments. One player, Miroslav Sikora, had played for Poland before. He then became a German citizen and played for West Germany. Finland protested, saying he wasn't allowed to switch teams. The IIHF first agreed with Finland, but a court said West Germany could keep their points. Sweden won gold that year.
End of the Iron Curtain (1989–1992)
Before 1989, players from the Soviet Union and other Eastern European countries could not leave to play in the NHL. In 1989, this changed. Many top Soviet players, like Igor Larionov, wanted to play in the NHL. Soviet officials said they could leave if they played one last tournament for the national team. The players agreed, and the Soviet Union won its 21st World Championship. Soon after, many Soviet players joined the NHL.
The Soviet team won their last title at the 1990 World Championships. In 1991, Sweden won gold. The Soviets won bronze, which was their last medal ever.
The Soviet Union broke up in December 1991. Many new countries, like Russia, Belarus, and Latvia, joined the IIHF. This meant more teams could play in international competitions. The IIHF increased the number of teams in the top division. At the 1992 World Championships, Sweden won gold again. Finland won silver, their first World Championship medal ever.
Modern Era (1993–Present)
Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993. The Czech Republic took Czechoslovakia's spot in the top division. Slovakia started in the lowest division and worked its way up.
The next ten years were mostly won by the "Big Six" teams: Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Sweden, and the United States. From 1992 to 1996, five different teams won the World Championship. In 1993, Russia won its first title as an independent country. In 1994, Canada won its first World Championship since 1961. The next year, Finland won its first World Championship. In 1996, the Czech Republic won its first title as a separate country.
From 1996 to 2001, the Czech Republic won six medals in a row, including three gold medals from 1999 to 2001. In 2002, Slovakia won its first World Championship. In 2003, Canada won gold in overtime against Sweden. Canada won again in 2004.
The 2004–05 NHL season was cancelled because of a player dispute. This meant many top NHL players could play in the 2005 World Championships, which the Czech Republic won. In 2006, Sweden became the first team to win both Olympic gold and a separate World Championship in the same year.
In 2007, Canada won gold. The next year, the tournament was held in Canada for the first time. Russia beat Canada to win their first gold since 1993. Russia won again in 2009.
The 2010 tournament in Germany set a new record for attendance. Over 77,000 people watched the first game! The Czech Republic won gold that year.
The 2011 tournament was held in Slovakia for the first time. Finland won its second world championship. Russia won in 2012. In 2013, Sweden won the tournament at home. This was the first time a home team won since 1986.
The 2014 tournament was held in Belarus. Russia won gold, Finland got silver, and Sweden won bronze. The 2015 tournament in the Czech Republic had the most fans ever. Canada went undefeated and beat Russia 6–1 in the final. Their captain, Sidney Crosby, became the first player to win the Stanley Cup, Olympic gold, and World Championship gold as a captain.
The 2020 tournament was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
How the Tournament Works
Tournament Format Changes Over Time
The first World Championship held on its own in 1930 had 12 countries. Canada got a direct pass to the gold medal game. Other teams played to see who would join them.
In 1931, the format changed to be more like the Olympics. Teams played in groups, and medals were given based on final standings. There wasn't always a gold medal game.
From 1951, teams were split into groups. The top group (Pool A) played for the World Championship. Other groups (like Pool B) played for ranking. This format was used until 1992. People sometimes criticized it because the winner was often known before the final game.
In 1990, the IIHF added a playoff system. As more teams joined, more "pools" (now called divisions) were added. Pool C started in 1961, and Pool D in 1987. In 2001, these pools were renamed Division I, Division II, and Division III.
Modern Championship Group Format (Since 2012)
The main World Championship group has 16 teams. These teams are split into two groups of eight. Each team plays seven games in their group.
The top four teams from each group move on to the playoff stage. In the quarterfinals, the first-place team from one group plays the fourth-place team from the other group. The second-place team plays the third-place team. Winners go to the semi-finals. The winners of the semi-finals play for the gold medal, and the losers play for the bronze medal.
Also, since 2012, the teams that finish last in each of the two main groups are sent down to Division I for the next year.
Other Divisions (Division I, II, III, IV)
Below the main Championship group are Division I, Division II, Division III, and Division IV.
- Division I has two groups of six teams. The top two teams from Group A move up to the main Championship group. The last-place team in Group A goes down to Group B. The winner of Group B moves up to Group A, and the last-place team in Group B goes down to Division II.
- Division II works similarly. Group A promotes one team to Division I and relegates one to Group B. Group B promotes one team to Group A and relegates one to Division III.
- Division III has two groups. Group A promotes one team to Division II and relegates one to Group B. Group B promotes one team to Group A and relegates one to Division IV.
- Division IV is the lowest level, with four teams. The top team moves up to Division III.
Game Rules
How the Game is Played
At the first tournament in 1920, hockey was quite different. Games were played outdoors on natural ice. Forward passes were not allowed. There were seven players per side, including a "rover" position. After the tournament, the IIHF decided to use "Canadian rules," which meant six players per side and three periods.
In 1969, a big rule change happened. Body-checking was allowed in all three zones of the rink, just like in the NHL. Before this, it was only allowed in the defending zone. This made the game much more aggressive. Other rules changed too: players had to wear helmets from 1970, and goaltender masks became a must in 1972.
In 1992, if a medal round game was tied, it would be decided by a shootout. In 1997, the IIHF allowed two-line passes. This helped speed up the game and led to more goals.
There are some small differences between IIHF rules and NHL rules. For example, NHL rinks are a bit narrower. Also, the rules for icing (when a player shoots the puck from their half of the ice all the way to the opponent's goal line) are different. In the NHL, a player has to touch the puck for icing to be called (hybrid icing). In IIHF, play stops as soon as the puck crosses the line (no-touch icing). NHL games also have "major penalties" for more serious fouls, which last five minutes. In IIHF, players who fight are usually kicked out of the game.
Since 2005, the NHL added new rules, some of which the IIHF also adopted, like the shootout. The IIHF also started to call more penalties for hooking, holding, and interference. In 2006, the IIHF changed its points system. A win in regular time gives three points, an overtime win gives two points, and an overtime loss gives one point.
Since 2019, the gold medal game no longer uses a shootout. Instead, if the game is tied, they play multiple 20-minute overtime periods with 3-on-3 players until someone scores. The first goal wins!
Who Can Play?
Since 1977, both professional and amateur players can play in the World Championships. Here are some main rules for players:
- Players must be part of an IIHF member country's hockey system.
- Players must be citizens of the country they play for.
- Players must be at least 18 years old when the championship starts. Players who are 16 or 17 can play if they get special permission.
If a player changes their citizenship and has never played in an IIHF event before, they must play in their new country's leagues for at least two years. If a player has played for one country and wants to switch to another, they must play in their new country for four years. A player can only switch national teams once.
Because the tournament happens during the NHL playoffs, many NHL players can only join their national teams if their NHL team is eliminated. This is why you often see NHL players joining the World Championships already in progress.
Images for kids
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IIHF World Championship Cup
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Bohemian European Champions in 1911
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The gold medal-winning Winnipeg Falcons (representing Canada) en route to the 1920 Summer Olympics.
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Finland national team at the 1939 World Championships
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A gold medal won by Czechoslovakia (1947)
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Jersey of Canada's 1952 World Champion / Olympic Gold Medal team, the Edmonton Mercurys
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The final game at the 1957 World Championships in Moscow was played at the Luzhniki Stadium. It was attended by at least 50,000 people, a tournament record until 2010.
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The game between Canada and the Soviet Union at the 1954 World Championships, which the Soviets won 7–2.
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Soviet Union vs Canada in 1960s
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In 1962, David Bauer established a national team made up of Canada's top amateur players.
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Vladislav Tretiak is one of two players (Alexander Ragulin being the other) to win ten World Championships.
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Soviet forward Igor Larionov won four World Championships before departing to play in the NHL in 1989.
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Alexander Semin scores a goal in the gold medal game between Canada and Russia at the 2008 World Championships.
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The Czech ice hockey world champions at Old Town Square (2010)
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Finland gold medal celebrations at Market Square, Helsinki (2011)
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IIHF third place trophy
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Members of the 2008 World Champion Russian team with President Dmitry Medvedev.
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Chart of Terms
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A game between Canada and Sweden during the 1928 Winter Olympics.
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Winners of the Ice Hockey World Championships with number of wins.
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- IIHF World Women's Championship
- Ice hockey at the Olympic Games
- List of IIHF World Championships by attendance
- List of IIHF World Junior Championship medalists
- IIHF World U18 Championship
