Groups Finalized for Halifax and Quebec City for 2008 Men's Worlds

GN.020.07
|
May 13, 2007
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Following the conclusion of the 2007 IIHF World Men’s Hockey Championship in Russia, at which Canada won its record 24th gold medal, the groups have been finalized for the 2008 championship, the first to be held in Canada in the 100 years of the International Ice Hockey Federation.

The 2008 IIHF World Men’s Hockey Championship will be held in Quebec City, QC and Halifax, NS from May 1-18, 2008.

Note: the actual game schedule will not be officially announced until June, 2007, however ticket packages are on sale for both Quebec City and Halifax.

POOL A - QUEBEC CITY, QC – SWEDEN, SWITZERLAND, BELARUS, FRANCE

The 2006 Olympic and world champions will play their Preliminary Round games at Le Colisée Pepsi, joined by international up-and-comers Switzerland and Belarus, as well as France, who will be making their return to the world championship in 2008.

POOL B – HALIFAX, NS – CANADA, UNITED STATES, LATVIA, SLOVENIA

Canada, the defending gold medalists, and tournament hosts, will be a part of Pool B at the Metro Centre in Halifax, joined by their southern neighbours from the United States, Latvia, and the newly-promoted Slovenians, led by Los Angeles Kings star Anze Kopitar.

POOL C – HALIFAX, NS – FINLAND, SLOVAKIA, GERMANY, NORWAY

The 2007 silver medalists from Finland, who surprised host Russia in an overtime semi-final in Moscow, are the top-ranked team in Pool C in Halifax, joined by Slovakia, Germany and 2007 relegation side Norway.

POOL D – QUEBEC CITY, QC – RUSSIA, CZECH REPUBLIC, DENMARK, ITALY

The Russians will look to improve on their bronze medal showing in 2007 when they take to the ice at Le Colisée Pepsi for Pool D action, joined by the Czech Republic along with Denmark and Italy, both of whom surprised many by making the Qualifying Round in Russia.

The official schedule for the 2008 IIHF World Men’s Hockey Championship will be released by .

Following Canada's gold medal victory on Sunday in Moscow at the Men's World Championship, the IIHF released the updated IIHF World Ranking for the top 16 teams. For more information on the process for the world rankings, visit www.iihf.com.

1. Sweden

2. Canada

3. Finland

4. Czech Republic

5. Russia

6. Slovakia

7. USA

8. Switzerland

9. Belarus

10. Latvia

11. Germany

12. Denmark

13. Italy

14. Norway

15. Slovenia

16. France

For more information:

Esther Madziya
Manager, Communications
Hockey Canada

(403) 284-6484 

[email protected] 

Spencer Sharkey
Manager, Communications
Hockey Canada

(403) 777-4567

[email protected]

Jeremy Knight
Manager, Corporate Communications
Hockey Canada

(647) 251-9738

[email protected]

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