With the 2022 Men’s Ice Hockey World Championships just a few short months away, it is perhaps a good time to take a look at how the competition has been scheduled and what could be expected when each of the nations competing take to the ice.
The Championships will take place in Tampere and Helsinki in Finland between 13 and 29 May 2022, with 14 teams set to compete. This is down from the original 16 that were supposed to initially compete, however the Russian and Belarusian teams were both expelled due to the ongoing political circumstances and the ensuing war in Ukraine.
Team GB’s Ben O’Connor celebration vs Denmark 2021. Photo credit: Ihukmedia
Which teams will be competing in the 2022 IIHF World Championship?
As mentioned, a total of 14 teams will now compete in the competition, with seven teams having been placed in Group A and seven in Group B. Teams in Group A will play their matches in Helsinki, whereas Group B fixtures will be played in Tampere.
The top four teams from each group will qualify for the quarter-finals stage, which means we can expect a great number of interesting clashes on the ice when the tournament starts, which could be great news for those that wish to bet on the action.
Indeed, bettingnews88 is one of the top Thai sports news and betting platforms available to use for Asian bettors at the moment and it is one that will provide interested punters with some of the very best odds that are available to use. Naturally, this means betting on Thai ice hockey World Cup will be something that everyone can enjoy in the coming months.
So, how do the Groups currently look and what is the seeding of each team?
Group A (Helsinki)
Canada (1)
Germany (5)
Switzerland (8)
Slovakia (9)
Denmark (12)
Kazakhstan (13)
Italy (17)
Group B (Tampere)
Finland (2)
United States (4)
Czech Republic (6)
Sweden (7)
Latvia (10)
Norway (11)
Great Britain (16)
Indeed, both groups look incredibly strong without the addition of the ROC and Belarusian teams, thus setting up the competition to be incredibly eventful and enjoyable despite their absences.
Who are the favorites to win the 2022 IIHF World Championship?
Given that Canada continues to be ranked the number one country in the world in ice hockey, it is perhaps hardly a surprise to learn that so many are already believing that the North Americans will be the likely winners of the 2022 World Cup.
However, it is important to note that Finland is also a strong possibility for a variety of different reasons, including the fact that they are the host nation and ranked second in the world. Moreover, they will have been considered strong favorites by many around the world due to their performance at the recent Winter Olympics, as they managed to obtain the gold medal after defeating ROC in the final 2-1 to claim the top prize.
Sweden may also be a contender for the top prize at this year’s competition, and should also be one team to keep a close eye on.
