QUEBEC CITY/HALIFAX – Twenty-four games with some surprises have been played at the 2008 IIHF World Championship in Canada and the show will go on already tomorrow with the second stage.
Unbeaten hosts Canada will continue the tournament against Norway tomorrow afternoon in the Halifax Metro Centre while Team USA faces Germany in the evening game. Finland and Latvia also belong to the group with three more games for each team.
In the Colisée Pepsi in Quebec City, a Scandinavian clash awaits the fans between Sweden and Denmark in the afternoon. Surprising leader Switzerland plays the Czech Republic in the evening. Russia and Belarus have a day off.
The biggest surprise in the bottom direction was Slovakia, which is sixth in the World Ranking but might lose one or two places after the Slovaks didn’t make the top-12 qualification round. In their best-of-three relegation series in Halifax against Slovenia, both teams are fighting for their spot within the elite nations. The loser of the series will be relegated to Division I. Same in Quebec City, where France and Italy play the relegation series.
Qualification Round Group E in Quebec City
From Group A: Switzerland, Sweden, Belarus.
From Group D: Russia, Czech Republic, Denmark.
Games on Thursday (EST): Sweden vs Denmark 15:00, Switzerland vs Czech Republic 19:00.
Standings: 1. Switzerland 6 (6-3), 2. Russia 5 (9-5), 3. Czech Republic 4 (9-7), 4. Sweden 3 (8-9), 5. Belarus 0 (6-8), 6. Denmark 0 (3-9).
The first four teams qualify for the quarter-finals which will be played within the group (E1-E4, E2-E3) in the same venue.
Click here for the full schedule.
Qualification Round Group F in Halifax
From Group B: Canada, United States, Latvia.
From Group C: Finland, Norway, Germany.
Games on Thursday (ADT): Canada vs Norway 16:30, United States vs Germany 20:15.
Standings: 1. Canada 6 (12-4), 2. Finland 5 (8-3), 3. Norway 4 (5-5), 4. United States 3 (8-5), 5. Germany 0 (3-8), 6. Latvia 0 (0-11).
The first four teams qualify for the quarter-finals which will be played within the group (F1-F4, F2-F3) in the same venue.
Click here for the full schedule.
Relegation Series (best-of-three)
The two relegated teams will be determined by two series. France vs Italy will play in Quebec City, Slovenia vs Slovakia in Halifax (May 9, 10, and if necessary May 13). The winner of each series qualifies for the 2009 IIHF World Championship in Berne and Zurich-Kloten, Switzerland. The two losers are relegated to the World Championship Division I.
Click here for the full schedule.
