Despite losing the final to Sweden, Canada remains first in the 2017 IIHF World Ranking thanks to the strong showing in the past three seasons.

Canada stays first in the new IIHF World Ranking and is followed by Russia in second place. New world champion Sweden moved up from fifth to third place after the gold-medal win in Cologne at the expense of Finland and the United States, who both dropped down one place.

The Czechs in sixth and Switzerland in seventh place remain in their positions after qualifying for but losing in the quarter-finals.

World Championship host Germany improved two spots after a strong campaign on home ice in Cologne and is now eighth – the best placing in six years. Norway moved up two spots as well and is ninth while Belarus fell from ninth to tenth place and Slovakia even from eighth to 11th. Latvia, France, Denmark and Slovenia complete the top-15.

Click here for the full 2017 IIHF World Ranking.

MARTIN MERK