The schedule for the 2020 IIHF World Championship was today announced for the tournament taking place in Lausanne and Zürich, Switzerland, returning to the nation for the first time since Bern and Kloten hosted in 2009.

Group A, which will meet in Lausanne, sees last year’s Silver medalists Canada paired up with powerhouses Sweden and Czechia, rounded out by Germany, Slovakia, Denmark, Great Britain and Belarus, promoted from Division IA in 2019. Canada, who finished second, the Czechs, who finished fourth, and the Swedes, whose bid for a three-peat was upended by the eventual champs, will all be looking to make an impact and gain a high medal round seed to redeem themselves, while Germany will look to continue their surprising climb. The likes of the Danes and Slovaks will look to play spoiler, while the Brits will try to spoil another team’s return to Division IA, likely meeting Belarus with Top Division survival on the line.

Group B, which will play in Zürich, features the defending champ Finns, bronze medalist Russians and host Swiss, with the United States, Norway, Latvia, Italy and newly-promoted Kazakhstan completing the group. Finland, who has been dominating international hockey on all levels, particularly in 2019, will be the favourites to take the group, even in spite of not having NHL star power in 2019’s iteration, with Russia looking for vengeance for their Semifinal loss to the Leijonat. The Swiss will look to impress on home ice and capture some of their 2018 Silver magic, and the Americans will look to once and for all end their Gold-less streak, which dates back to 1933. Norway and Latvia will look to surprise, while the Division IA elimination game will likely come down to Kazakhstan looking to remain in the Top Division at the expense of Italy.

The tournament schedule is as follows:

The IHLC champion will certainly be established during the 2020 Euro Hockey Challenge, as the title enters the Euro Hockey Tour circuit this November by virtue of Finland winning the 2019 Worlds. Whether it stays with the “core four” of the Tour, or goes to a non-traditional champion to bring the title into Switzerland will be anyone’s guess!

Photo Credit: 2019 World Championship – IIHF – HHOF – IOC