The Greatest Ice Hockey Competitions within the World

One of many high sports activities on this planet is ice hockey. Performed by individuals throughout the globe, new generations of gamers are being launched to this sensible sport. With followers from nearly all over the place tuning in to look at video games.

When you’re new to ice hockey or simply desire a refresher, it’s necessary to know what among the high ice hockey competitions are. Learn on to seek out out extra.

Winter Olympics
Ice hockey has performed a major position as a sport within the Olympics over the previous century. Ice hockey was launched as a part of the 1920 Summer season Olympics in Antwerp, the place Canada received the gold medal with the USA taking silver and Czechoslovakia within the bronze place.

4 years later, ice hockey moved to the winter video games, with Canada profitable the primary 4 Winter Olympic video games and shedding their first ice hockey match in 1936. The Canadians have dominated ice hockey on the Winter Olympics through the years, having received 22 medals together with 13 gold – making them essentially the most profitable on the sport.

Different international locations which have seen success on the Olympic video games embody Finland, the USA, Russia, Sweden and Slovakia. The subsequent Winter Olympics is because of be held in Beijing China in February of 2026, there’s a number of time for brand new followers to construct their ice hockey information and get excited within the lead up.

Stanley Cup 

The Stanley Cup isn’t really a contest however the trophy that’s awarded yearly to the Nationwide Hockey League playoff champion. The oldest trophy that may be received by skilled athletes throughout North America, the Stanley Cup was first awarded through the 1892-1893 season. The crew that’s received the Stanley Cup essentially the most instances is the Montreal Canadiens, who’ve been awarded the trophy 24 instances.

The Stanley Cup is especially distinctive as all of the gamers within the profitable crew have their names inscribed on the trophy. This has meant that through the years that ‘bands’ on the cup have to get replaced as increasingly names take up area. One other attention-grabbing facet to the Stanley Cup is that every participant will get 24 hours with the cup through the yr that they maintain possession of it. This has meant that the trophy has many a narrative related to it, having attended occasions like pool events and child christenings, and having had beer dranken out of it. In fact, whereas gamers have possession of the cup in a 24 hour interval it’s protected by escorts.

The subsequent Stanley Cup can be hosted through the month of June, with the playoffs kicking off from June eighth. Yearly, simply 16 groups qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs, with many followers having fun with the video games and a few even trying out the Stanley Cup odds. Final yr’s Stanley Cup winners had been Colorado Avalanche who beat the Tampa  Bay Lightning in a 2-1 win.

Ice Hockey World Championships

One other one of many high ice hockey tournaments any fan must learn about are the Ice Hockey World Championships. Organized and run by the Worldwide Ice Hockey federation, it was first held as a person occasion exterior of the Olympics in 1930. As with the Olympics, Canada started because the world’s most dominant crew having received the match 12 separate instances from 1930 to 1952.

The Ice Hockey World Championships usually takes place throughout among the later phases of the Stanley Cup, which implies that many gamers are unable to play for his or her nation’s groups as their NHL profession usually takes priority over it. The crew with the highest rating within the IIHF at the moment is Finland, who’ve been a member since 1928.

World Cup of Hockey

One of many closing ice hockey tournaments that has grow to be well-known through the years is the World Cup of Hockey. Organized by the Nationwide Hockey League and Nationwide Hockey League Gamers’ Affiliation, it’s the successor to the Canada Cup and has been held 3 times on an irregular foundation, with the 2020 version having been deserted.

The league nonetheless has determined that one other version can be held in 2025, which implies that followers have one other match to stay up for within the subsequent few years. Canada has received the title twice, with the US having received the title as soon as.