
Amid reports of a European “All-Star” team making up a seventh team at the 2016 World Cup Of Hockey, which would be comprised of players from nations not already fielding full teams (Sweden, Finland, Russia and Czechia), much speculation has already begun about what that potential team would look like. Matt Larkin of The Hockey News took the speculation a step further, setting a full projected roster for 2016, which brings up a very unique and interesting looking squad.
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Category Archives: IHLC News
🇸🇪 Lingering Back Injury Forces Daniel Alfredsson Into Retirement

Ending months of speculation on whether he would return for a final season with the Detroit Red Wings, 18-year NHL veteran and longtime Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson has opted to retire, with a nagging back injury ending his career at the age of 41, resigning with Ottawa for the day to retire as a Senator.
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🇨🇦 Jean Béliveau: 1931-2014

The hockey world has lost another giant, as reports today confirmed that Montréal Canadiens legend Jean Béliveau has died at the age of 83.
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🇨🇦 Pat Quinn: 1943-2014

Former NHL player and coach Pat Quinn, who led Canada to their first Olympic Gold Medal in 50 years, along with leading them to a perfect World Cup in 2004, has died in Vancouver at the age of 71.
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🇷🇺 Viktor Tikhonov: 1930-2014

Former Soviet head coach Viktor Tikhonov, who coached the dominant Red Army team from 1977 to 1994, winning eight World Championships, three Olympic Gold Medals and the 1981 Canada Cup, has died in Moscow following a long illness at the age of 84.
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🇫🇮 The Finnish Flash Retires: Teemu Selänne Not Returning To Jokerit

After a brilliant 21-year NHL career, an impressive start with his hometown Jokerit, and one of the greatest international careers in hockey history, Teemu Selänne has confirmed that he will not be making a “victory lap” with Jokerit, after retiring from the Anaheim Ducks at the end of last season.
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World Cup Update: Euro, Rookie All-Star Teams To Compete?

As first reported by Sportsnet, representatives from the NHL and IIHF met in Toronto in advance of the Hockey Hall Of Fame Class of 2014 induction ceremony to discuss the 2016 World Cup Of Hockey logistics, mainly the status of the two final spots to round out a field of eight teams to play in Toronto.
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HHOF Inducts Four International Legends

Tomorrow, the Hockey Hall Of Fame will enshrine four new members into its players category as the Class of 2014 – not just players who shined in their National Hockey League careers, but also for the tremendous careers they achieved internationally. Dominik Hašek, Peter Forsberg, Rob Blake and Mike Modano share numerous Olympic, World Championship and World Cup championships between them, in addition to all having held the International Hockey Lineal Championship in their illustrious careers.
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🇯🇵 Japan Qualifies For 2015 Women’s World Championship

Japan has nabbed the eighth and final qualification spot for the 2015 Women’s World Championship in Malmö, Sweden, defeating the Czechs 2-1 in the third and final game of their qualification playoff series in Yokohama, Japan.
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IHLC Preview – 2014 Karjala Tournament

Thanks to Russia’s dethroning of Finland in the finals of the 2014 IIHF World Championships this past May, the IHLC is guaranteed to join the Euro Hockey Tour circuit, with the first stop being the Karjala Tournament in Helsinki, Finland.
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IHLC Preview – 2014 Four Nations Cup

For the first time since February’s Sochi Olympics, the top four nations in women’s hockey will meet in Kamloops, British Columbia, to compete in the nineteenth annual Four Nations Cup, pitting Canada, the United States, Sweden and Finland against each other.
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🇨🇦 2016 World Cup Set To Be Hosted In Single City: Toronto

As first reported by ESPN, part of the delay for the anticipated 2016 World Cup Of Hockey announcement were discussions between the NHL and the Montréal Canadiens, in the hopes that Centre Bell could co-host the tournament with Toronto in September 2016. However, the league has expressed a desire to keep the entire tournament in a single city, hosted out of the Air Canada Centre (pictured above), home of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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2016 World Cup Of Hockey Details Released

According to a report by Hokej.cz, details regarding the next iteration of the World Cup Of Hockey in 2016 were released at the annual IIHF Congress in Tenerife, Spain, with dates being confirmed for the tournament rumoured to be hosted in Toronto.
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🇰🇷 Korea Granted Berths At 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics

After months of speculation and deliberation over whether the host nation of the 2018 Olympics, Korea, would be granted automatic berths in the games for ice hockey, the IIHF today announced at their IIHF Congress meeting that both the Korean men’s and women’s teams would gain berths to the Games. As reported by the IIHF, the decision was made to increase investment to Korea’s hockey program in the three-plus years leading up to the games to ensure that the Koreans field competitive teams in 2018.
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🇸🇰 Miroslav Hlinka: 1972-2014

As reported by SME, former Slovakian national team forward Miroslav Hlinka, a member of the stalwart team that shocked the world with a Gold Medal performance at the 2002 World Championships, has died of suicide at the age of 42.
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🇫🇮 “Captain K” Hanging It Up: Saku Koivu Retires

After an 18-year NHL career, and an illustrious span as the captain of Finland since 1998, Saku Koivu announced his retirement from the Anaheim Ducks.
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2015 Women’s World Championship Schedule Released

The IIHF has released a new microsite for the 2015 Women’s World Championship in Malmö, Sweden, worldwomen2015.com, and with it released the full schedule for the World Championship in March and April.
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🇺🇸 Bob Suter: 1957-2014

Former U.S. national team defenceman Bob Suter, who helped helm the legendary 1980 U.S. Olympic team to the stunning “Miracle On Ice” victory at the 1980 Olympics over the Soviet Union, has died of a heart attack at age 57.
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🇨🇦 2016 IIHF Women’s World Championship Awarded To Kamloops

Hockey Canada today announced that Kamloops, British Columbia would host the 2016 IIHF Women’s World Championship in April 2016, after the IIHF had awarded Canada with the tournament previously. All games will take place at the Interior Savings Centre (host of the 2014 Four Nations Cup) and the McArthur Island Sports And Event Centre, with specific dates and schedule to follow at a later date.
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Welcome to the IHLC!

Welcome to the official home of the International Hockey Lineal Championship, tracking the best in international hockey in a boxing-style, “king of the hill” lineal format, where every game has the potential to be a “title” match! You can learn more about the IHLC concept, how the rules of the championship work, or peruse the 100+ years of history of the IHLC, including game results and where teams rank amongst the world’s top squads.
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