2018 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship: Rosters, dates, TV schedule
By Simon Vacca
The 2018 IIHF World Championship is set to begin on May 4. Here’s everything you need to know about rosters, game dates, tv schedule and more.
The 2018 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship shall begin on May 4. Taking place in Copenhagen and Herning, Denmark, the tournament promises to be one for the ages, as some of the world’s best players prepare to square off on the international stage.
There are wide-ranging reasons as to why puck lovers enjoy the competition. Despite the fact that it is set in the midst of the Stanley Cup playoffs — which in turn results in the exclusion of certain prominent players — several teams’ rosters are riddled with depth from the National Hockey League. The matchups also showcase the extent of hockey’s influence on a global scale. Most relevant in the context of 2018 is South Korea’s qualification for the tournament, as the team gained promotion following a victory over Ukraine in April of 2017.
Given that the NHL opted to pass on the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, the IIHF World Championship undertakes a significant degree of meaning in the game’s contemporary setting. As such, the competition will serve as the primary avenue through which hockey fans are treated to a surprise that they felt robbed of just months ago.
Teams, Seeding and Rosters
The mere thought of notable stars such as Canada’s Connor McDavid, Sweden’s Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Denmark’s Frederik Andersen and the United States’ Patrick Kane battling it out in a uniquely international framework spells a recipe for stiff contention — the likes of which might even rival the playoffs in the weeks to come.
As per Martin Merk, the groups for the 2018 tournament were developed in conjunction with the 2017 IIHF World Ranking. Official team rosters are comprised of 15-22 skaters, as well as two to three goaltenders. They can be found via the lists below.
Group A
Group B
2018 IIHF World Championship Schedule
Dates: May 4-20 (full schedule available here)
Location: Copenhagen and Herning, Denmark
TV: TSN (Canada), NHL Network (USA)
Time: Varies, typically between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Live Stream: Watch live on Fubo TV. Sign up now for a free trial.
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