2008 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships

The 72nd Ice Hockey World Championship for Men ( officially: 2008 IIHF World Championship Canada) was held until May 18, 2008 by the second. It was the first A World Cup in Canada, the "mother country" of ice hockey, and also the first tournament of its kind in North America since the World Cup 1962. Another special feature is that the Ice Hockey Federation IIHF in 2008 celebrated its 100th anniversary.

Canada received at the annual meeting of the World Hockey Association in Prague in May 2004, the contract for the alignment. Germany and Sweden had withdrawn their candidacies shortly before the vote, so that Canada ultimately was the only candidate.

• 2.1 Group A in Innsbruck, Austria 2.1.1 Schedule
• Table 2.1.2
• 2.1.3 Division I winning team: Austria

• 2.2.1 Schedule
• Table 2.2.2

• 3.1 Group A in Miercurea Ciuc, Romania 3.1.1 Schedule
• 3.1.2 Final Table

• 3.2.1 Schedule
• 3.2.2 Final Table

• 4.1 Schedule
• 4.2 Final Table
• 4.3 and losers

• 5.1 Schedule
• 5.2 Final Table

World cup

Venues

The venues were the Halifax Metro Centre with 10,595 places in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and the Colisee Pepsi ( 15,399 seats) in Quebec City, which in 2008 its 400th anniversary in town.

Participant

At the tournament, the following 16 teams participated:

Mode changes

At the World Cup 2008, there were in comparison to the previous tournaments four major changes:

• A changed mode in the quarter-finals, in which played within the intermediate round groups; that is, the first place winner meets the fourth position and the second - to third-placed in the same group.
• Relegation is the first held in the mode " best-of -three ", where the group last of the groups A and D, and the last of the groups B and C meet.
• It is for the first time since 1962, played back on the four feet narrower NHL game fields ( 60 × 26 m instead of 60 × 30 m).
• The four- referee system with two main referees and two linesmen is introduced.

Preliminary round

Group A

Group B

Group C

In the match between Germany and Slovakia, which Germany won 4-2, the Canadian-born Jason Holland was used on the German side of the regulations after should not have been playing. In 1996 he played during the World Youth Championship for Canada. After that, he should have played at least four years in Germany. His contract in Ingolstadt was at this time but for only three years. The game should have been counted in arrears, on the " Green Table " 5-0 for Slovakia. The IIHF decided otherwise and justified the retention of the generated German victory, with an otherwise unfair influence on the further course of the tournament.

Group D

Second round

Group E

Group F

The match between the USA and Finland has been influenced by an erroneous decision of a video referee. Shortly after the beginning of the last third of the U.S. team 2-0 in the lead, as the Finn Ville Koistinen could shorten during a number of situation with a slap shot at 1:2. The hit was reviewed by video evidence on accuracy and found to be valid. However, the irregularity of the hit was from the images the camera positioned above the door clearly visible, as the puck from the side - had found its way into the goal - through a hole in the net next to the post. The International Ice Hockey Federation IIHF confirmed after the match, the wrong decision, but stressed that it is in the rating of the game that Finland won 3-2 in the end, would remain as it had been a factual decision. The video referee was involved, however, exempted from further tournament.

Relegation round

Group G

The relegation round was first held in mode " Best-of- Three" to save the teams travel stress. This clashed the fourth placed in Group A, and the fourth in Group D and the two last placed in groups B and C. The teams that could decide first two of three games for himself, remained in the WM group, the two losers were relegated to Division I.

Final round

Quarterfinals

The quarter-final pairings showed the partially large deficits of the "small" Hockey Nations against the favorites to win the tournament. While the games between the Czech Republic and Sweden, and the United States and Finland were not decided in extra time in favor of the two Scandinavian countries, Canadians and Russians had with their opponents from Switzerland and Norway easy game.

• In the first quarterfinal, the reigning Olympic champion Sweden prevailed in extra time against the Czech Republic. For the decisive goal for the 3-2 win ensured Sweden's leading scorer Mattias Weinhandl in the fourth minute of extra time after his teammate Marcus Nilson had balanced the game barely four minutes before the end of normal time.
• The clash between tournament favorites Canada and Norway outsider was only offset up to half, as the Norwegians were able to keep up to then a 2-2 draw. With declining forces but they could during the game no longer resist the superior force of Canadians and eventually lost with 2:8.
• Also clearly fell out of the victory of Russia against Switzerland. Although the Swiss team went with the recommendation of a victory against Sweden in the game, but after only seven minutes of the game was Russia with three -goal lead. During the second period, the Russian team continuously increased his lead on the final score of 6-0. In this case, the Swiss Philippe Furrer underwent a curious own goal.
• In the last quarterfinal Finland managed with a 3-2 victory over the United States as the last team to the semi-finals. The Finns had lain to four minutes before the end of the regular season with two goals ahead in the lead. However, the Americans succeeded with a double strike within 37 seconds or the compensation. Finally, Sami Lepisto scored in the fourth minute of extra time to win for Finland.

Semifinal

In the semi-finals, the two remaining undefeated teams in the tournament prevailed. While Russia won 4-0 against Finland, the reigning world champions Canada struggled in a duel against the reigning Olympic champion Sweden. They came after the 2-1 lead of Sweden in the 23 minutes the first time in the tournament behind. Four hits in the central section finally secured the finals, although Sweden just before the end again was reduced to 4:5.

3rd Place Match

In the bronze medal match to Finland clearly put by 4-0 against Sweden. Despite the clear superiority of Sweden Finland went through goals from Antti Pihlström and Janne Niskala 2-0 in the first intermission. After a scoreless middle section it was in the final period again the Finns, Stefan Liv was able to overcome twice in the Swedish goal while Niklas Backstrom of Finland goalie let despair the Swedish striker. In the third place, the Finns reached for the third time in a row on the podium at the World Championships.

Final

In a fast-paced final in front of 13,339 spectators at the Colisee Pepsi, the Russian national team secured a 5-4 victory in overtime their first title at a World Cup since 1993.

The Canadian team, which used a number of players from the National Hockey League, was a strong favorite in the game. It confided primarily to the broad squad with the forward line to Ryan Getzlaf, Dany Heatley and Rick Nash. The Russians also built on their active players in North America, in its first forward line they sat among other things, Alexander Ovechkin, Sergei Fedorov and Alexander Syomin one. In goal, the Russian team was Evgeni Nabokov.

As early as the second minute game, the Russians went through Alexander Syomin, which had been set by his two storm partners Ovechkin and Fedorov in scene management. The Canadians, however, resembled two and a half minutes later, after a majority situation, through a covert slap shot by Brent Burns from. In the wake of the first third of the Canadian team packed his opponent in the third. Here, the Russian team weakened by fouls and then imposed for individual players time penalties repeatedly Chris Kunitz itself it was finally brought Canada to a puck loss of the Russians in the neutral zone in the lead. Five minutes later, Burns rose with his second goal in a 5 - on-3 majority to 3:1. With this result, both teams went into the first break. Shortly after the break, the Russians shortened by Syomin to 2:3, but suffered by Dany Heatleys twelfth goal of the tournament a renewed two- goal deficit in the 30th minutes. In the final pass, the Russians acted mostly with the superiority with which had shone at the beginning of the game the Canadians. First, Alexei Tereshchenko succeeded eleven minutes from the end of the game the score back to 3:4. Ilya Kovalchuk, the during the whole tournament no hit was successful, the game equalized just six minutes later. In the prior of 4:4, it went into overtime in which the Russian team early on a powerplay was awarded as the Canadian Rick Nash had the puck promoted foul from the game field. In majority Kovalchuk finally succeeded the 5:4 winning goal for Russia.

Final placements

The rankings arise following criteria:

• Locations 1 to 4: Results in the final and in the 3rd place match
• Places 5 to 8 ( losers of the quarter -finals ): after placement - then points, then goal difference in the second round
• Places 9 to 12 ( 5th and 6th in the second round ): after placement - then points, then goal difference in the second round
• Places 13 to 16 ( relegation round ): after victory or defeat in the relegation round - then points, then goal difference in the group stage

Best Scorer

Abbreviations: Sp = Matches, G = Goals, V = templates, Pts = Points, / - = Plus / Minus, SM = penalty minutes; Fat: Turnierbestwert

Best Goalkeeper

Abbreviations: Sp = Games, Min = Ice Age ( in minutes), GT = Goals against, SO = shutouts, GAA = Gegentorschnitt, Sv % = quota; Fat: Turnierbestwert

Title and losers

Awards

Player Trophies

All-Star Team

Division I

A group in Innsbruck, Austria

The World Cup tournament in Group A in the Division I was held until April 19, 2008 in Innsbruck in Austria on 13. All matches were played in the Tyrolean Hydropower Arena, which seats 3,200 spectators.

At the tournament the following six teams participated:

• Austria Austria ( relegated ), Poland Poland, Kazakhstan, United Kingdom UK, Netherlands Netherlands, Flag of South Korea South Korea ( climber )

Austria abolished after the descent at the Ice Hockey World Championship 2007 without loss of points the chances of promotion to the A group. Movers South Korea rose again directly from the Division II.

Schedule

Table

Division I winning team: Austria

Group B in Sapporo, Japan

The tournament in Group B of Division I was also held from 13 to 19 April 2008 was held in Sapporo, Japan. Venue was the Tsukisamu arena which has a capacity of 3,000 seats.

The participants of the tournament are:

• Ukraine Ukraine ( relegated ), Hungary Hungary, Japan, Japan, Estonia, Lithuania Lithuania, Croatia Croatia ( climber )

The team of Hungary succeeded after almost 70 years of absence to rise again in the World Cup group after last 1939 took part in a World Cup tournament. Favorite and relegated Ukraine was only the second place; Estonia got down to Division II.

Schedule

Table

And losers

Division II

Group A Miercurea Ciuc, Romania

From 7 to 13 April 2008, the World Cup tournament in Group A in the Division II took place in Romania in Miercurea Ciuc. The matches were played in the arena vakar Lajos Műjégpálya that offers 4,000 spectators. The participants in the tournament were:

• Romania Romania ( relegated ), Belgium, Israel, Israel, Serbia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Ireland Ireland ( Up )

Hosts Romania succeeded masterfully promotion to the Division I, while newly promoted Ireland no points relegation back to Division III.

Schedule

Final Table

Group B in Newcastle, Australia

The tournament Group B in Division II was also held from 7 to 13 April 2008 and was held in Newcastle, Australia. Venue was the Hunter Ice Skating Stadium ( HISS ).

At the tournament the following teams participated:

• China People's Republic of China ( relegated ), Australia, Spain, Iceland Iceland, Mexico and New Zealand New Zealand ( climber )

Here also succeeded to the host (Australia), the rise in the Division I. New Zealand went straight back into the Division III.

Schedule

Final Table

And losers

Division III in Kockelscheuer, Luxembourg

The World Cup Tournament Division III took place from 31 March to 6 April 2008 at the Luxembourg Kockelscheuer, near the capital city of Luxembourg, instead. The participants of the tournament were:

The matches were played in Kockelscheuer Patinoire de, see the 1,000 spectators. North Korea and South Africa emerged as the top two and advance to the Division II. Mongolia has III discharge as a group Last for next season qualifiers for participation in the Division against other candidates.

Schedule

Final Table

And losers

Qualification to Division III

The qualification for Division III, where the last place was played, was held from February 15 to 17, 2008 in Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina instead. Three teams participated:

The games were held at the Olympic Hall Zetra which can accommodate 12,000 spectators.

Schedule

* Both games counted with 0:5 against Armenia because the Armenian side refused to submit the passports of the players in time.

Final Table