MOSCOW – The logo of the 2018 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship in Chelyabinsk and Magnitogorsk, Russia, has been presented today.

The event will take place in the cities of the Ural region from 19 to 29 April 2018.

The key element of the logo are symbols of the region: the Ural mountains and the Ural river that symbolize the special location of the host cities and the natural diversity of the region. Chelyabinsk and Magnitogorsk belong to the biggest cities of the southern Ural area.

The Ural river, which is metamorphosed into a puck shot at high speed in the logo, is the natural water boundary between Asia and Europe. It separates the Chelyabinsk Region – and even the city of Magnitogorsk – between a European and an Asian part.

The tournament’s corporate design visible for example on posters and tickets will include a background with artistically adapted floral ornaments that represent the traditions of Russian folk art.

Group A in Magnitogorsk will include defending champion USA, Sweden, Canada, Switzerland and Belarus.

Group B will be played in Chelyabinsk with Finland, host Russia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and recently promoted France.

Both venues will host two quarter-final games while Chelyabinsk will host the semi-finals and medal games.

The game schedule and the official website with more information will be released in autumn.