Slovakia has had its ranking lowered after the world championship in Germany by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) to eighth place and is to play in the same group as Russia, Germany and Slovenia in Bratislava and Košice at the 2011 IIHF World Championships in a years time.

 

Russia is the new IIHF leader after toppling Canada. Russia replaced Canada following lack of success at the Vancouver Olympics on the part of the maple leafs and has now returned to hold the same position as in the previous year after the world championship. Former fifth place holders – Sweden – have been promoted to third place, a position previously held by the USA, who now fall behind Finland and the Czech republic in sixth place. The new world champions – the Czech republic - are now in fifth place. Switzerland comes in before Slovakia and there is a considerable jump for Germany – from twelfth to ninth place.

 

World championship grouping is decided on the basis of IIHF ranking. Organizing Committee of the 2011 IIHF World Championship already know the preliminary groupings. Over the next few days the organizers are to hold negotiations with IIHF representatives, TV companies and marketing partners, after which it will be clear where each group is to play and the entire tournament schedule will be known. Slovakia will be in the preliminary group as the eighth ranked team with Russia as the new ranking leader, ninth ranked Germany and the worst placed team among the elite – Slovenia. Canada, Switzerland, Belarus and France will play In Group B , Sweden, USA, Norway and Austria in group C and Finland, The Czech republic, Latvia and Denmark in group D.

 

2011 IIHF WM preliminary groups:

Group A: Russia, Slovakia, Germany, Slovenia

Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Belarus, France

Group C: Sweden, USA, Norway, Austria

Group D: Finland, Czech republic, Latvia, Denmark

 

IIHF ranking after the 2010 IIHF WM:

1. Russia 3980

2. Canada 3970

3. Sweden 3845

4. Finland 3805

5. Czech republic 3785

6. USA 3650

7. Switzerland 3540

8. Slovakia 3405

9. Germany 3360

10. Belarus 3360

11. Norway 3305

12. Latvia 3265

13. Denmark 3185

14. Austria 2935

15. France 2900

16. Italy 2860

17. Kazakhstan 2790

18. Ukraine 2760

19. Slovenia 2730

20. Hungary 2655