The Qualification Round is now complete and the four quarterfinal games are now set for Thursday. The schedule looks like this:

Cologne:
Finland-Czech Republic, 16:15
Russia-Canada, 20:15

Mannheim:
Sweden-Denmark, 16:15
Switzerland-Germany, 20:15

The winners advance to the semi-finals, both of which will be played in Cologne on Saturday, while the losers go to the airport.

The semi-finals will feature the winner of Russia-Canada against the winner of Switzerland-Germany, while the Sweden-Denmark winner plays the Finland-Czech Republic winner (times still to be determined).

NOTES:

• This is the first time Denmark has appeared in a quarterfinal game.
• Sweden, Canada, Russia, and Czech Republic have appeared in the quarterfinal every year since the playoff format was introduced in 1992 (except Russia in 2000 and 2004)
• Russia-Canada is a repeat of the quarterfinals matchup from the Vancouver Olympics two months ago, won handily by Canada, 7-3.
• Finland-Czech Republic is also a re-match from Vancouver, the earlier game being won by the Finns, 2-0.
• Natural rivals Switzerland and Germany can expect to play before a sold-out SAP Arena; the first time the teams played was back in 1910 at the inaugural European Championship in Les Avants, Switzerland. That game was won by Germany, 9-1.

www.IIHF.com will have previews of all matches tomorrow.

Tickets for the quarterfinals in Cologne and Mannheim, as well as tickets for the semi-finals, bronze medal game and gold medal game (all in Cologne), are available online, by phone or at the ticket offices of the Lanxess Arena in Cologne and the SAP Arena in Mannheim.

More information:

Tickets: English / Deutsch
Hospitality packages: English / Deutsch
Schedule / Spielplan