After a career plagued by injuries, recent releases from Winnipeg and the New York Rangers, and failing to be signed by an NHL club, Ondřej Pavelec today announced his retirement from hockey, a surprising development due to only being 31 years old. Continue reading
Hampered by a degenerative back injury that failed to improve prior to training camp, the Detroit Red Wings today announced that their captain, Swedish power forward Henrik Zetterberg, would be forced to end his 16-season career, spent all in Detroit, at the age of 37.
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Today marks the anniversary of the tragic air disaster of Yak Service Flight 9633 on September 7, 2011, that crashed near Yaroslavl, Russia, and killed the entire roster and staff of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the KHL, and all but one of the flight crew members, when a pilot error caused the aircraft to fail its takeoff, running off the runway and crashing into a tower mast.
IIHF president Rene Fasel declared the crash as “the darkest day in the history of our sport,” as fans from across the world, and in particular Russia and the eight other nations represented by team players and staff, mourned for the shocking and tragic loss. On this sad anniversary, the IHLC commemorates this deep loss, and remember those who perished in the accident.
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From time to time, TheIHLC.com will feature detailed recaps and boxscores of some of the most legendary games in international hockey history, considered to be “IHLC Classics.” Today, in honour of Slovakian Constitution Day, we feature Slovakia’s historic first World Championship Gold Medal from 2002, a stunning upset over Russia less than a decade after gaining independence.
Slovakia 4-3 Russia 
World Championship Gold Medal Game
Scandinavium, Gothenburg 
Saturday, May 11, 2002
When Czechoslovakia split into Czechia and Slovakia on January 1, 1993, the IIHF decided that the team lineage would continue with the Czechs, meaning that while the Czechs could continue in the Top Division and retain their spot at the 1994 Olympics, the Slovaks would be forced to start from the bottom, joining Pool C of the World Championship in 1993.
It should have taken a generation for Slovakia to reach the top, to rejoin the ranks of the best teams in the world and establish a championship program. But, quick to buck expectations, Slovakia was already competing for Gold by 2000, and in 2002, they would upset the Russian Goliath in Gothenburg to win their first World Championship and the International Hockey Lineal Championship.
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The schedule for the 2019 IIHF Women’s World Championship was today announced for the tournament taking place in Espoo, Finland, which for the first time in history sees the field of contenders expand to ten, welcoming both Japan and France into the fold.
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The IIHF has released the full schedule for the 2019 World Championship in Bratislava and Košice, Slovakia, with defending champions Sweden opening the tournament against the Czechs, while hosts Slovakia open the tournament against the United States.
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Chicago Blackhawks legend Stan Mikita, who revolutionized both the way hockey was played and how European players entered the professional North American ranks, passed away today at the age of 78.
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Canada 6-5 United States 
National Junior Evaluation Camp
Sandman Centre, Kamloops
Saturday, August 4, 2018
Ty Dellandrea and Jack Studnicka had a goal and an assist apiece, and Canada opened up a four-goal lead in the second period before hanging on for a 6-5 win over the United States in the finale for both teams Saturday at the Sport Chek World Junior Showcase.
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Canada 4-1 Sweden
National Junior Evaluation Camp
Sandman Centre, Kamloops
Friday, August 3, 2018
Alex Formenton capped a wild final minute of the second period with the game-winning goal, sending Canada to a 4-1 win over Sweden on Friday night at the Sport Chek World Junior Showcase.
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The schedule for the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia has been released, with host nations and defending champions Canada opening the tournament on Boxing Day against Denmark, and facing Russia in their New Year’s tilt to end the group round.
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