IIHF Mens World Rankings - Updated After 2018 WC

[iginlafan77]

Since final results for the 2018 world championships are determined, the IIHF world rankings have been updated accordingly.
For any unfamiliar with the process, it scores teams based on their performance in recent IIHF events, including the last four world championships and most recent olympics.

This full ranking is shown below.

1	Canada	3990	0
2	Sweden	3945	+1
3	Russia	3930	-1
4	USA	3765	+2
5	Finland	3765	-1
6	Czech Republic	3690	-1
7	Switzerland	3590	+1
8	Germany	3575	-1
9	Norway	3270	0
10	Slovakia	3245	0
11	Latvia	3225	+2
12	Denmark	3130	+2
13	France	3115	-1
14	Belarus	3085	-3
15	Slovenia	2915	0
16	Korea	2835	+2
17	Austria	2820	0
18	Kazakhstan	2760	-2
19	Italy	2725	0
20	Hungary	2595	0
21	Poland	2565	0
22	Great Britain	2465	+2
23	Japan	2410	-1
24	Ukraine	2340	-1
25	Lithuania	2200	+1
26	Estonia	2155	+1
27	Croatia	2115	-2
28	Netherlands	2060	0
29	Romania	2030	0
30	Serbia	1830	0
31	Spain	1700	0
32	Iceland	1660	0
33	China	1610	0
34	Israel	1450	+1
35	Mexico	1440	-1
36	Australia	1280	+2
37	Belgium	1250	-1
38	Bulgaria	1210	-1
39	New Zealand	1030	0
40	Georgia	990	+1
41	DPR Korea	925	-1
42	Luxembourg	790	+1
43	Turkey	770	-1
44	South Africa	655	0
45	Hong Kong	600	0
46	Chinese Taipei	425	+2
47	United Arab Emirates	365	-1
48	Bosnia & Herzegovina	360	-1
49	Turkmenistan	200	NEW
50	Kuwait	140	NEW

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

This ranking is used to determine 8 teams which will earn automatic qualification to the 2022 olympics.
The world rankings after the 2015 world championships were used to determine these teams for the 2018 olympics, and therefore ranking after next year's world championship will likely determine those 8 teams qualifying for the 2022 olympics.

Click to read more...

 

[Bixby Snyder]

How the hell is Korea that high?

 

[Signupnow]

Because hockey is a small sport

 

[Urbanskog]

How the hell is Korea that high?

Because they were in the Olympics.

 

[BL92]

Slovakia has utterly collapsed. I feel bad for them, they're a hockey nation after all.

 

[iginlafan77]

Slovakia has utterly collapsed. I feel bad for them, they're a hockey nation after all.

At this point, it very much looks like they’ll have to play their way into the 2022 Olympics with a qualifying tournament.

 

[iginlafan77]

How the hell is Korea that high?

Recent events are weighted more heavily. Their 16th place finish at this year’s world championships and 12th place finish at the Olympics largely contribute to them being so high.

Their qualification to the Olympics as host helps very much.

 

[kabidjan18]

Norway is (somehow) still 9th but it won't be that way for long. The could end up in a group with Swe, Rus, Cze, Sui, Lat, Aut, and Ita, an arrangement they probably finish second last to Italy in.

 

[FDBluth]

Top 10 seem quite accurate based on what you'd expect actually.

 

[iginlafan77]

Norway is (somehow) still 9th but it won't be that way for long. The could end up in a group with Swe, Rus, Cze, Sui, Lat, Aut, and Ita, an arrangement they probably finish second last to Italy in.

If you’re referring to the 2019 world championship, I believe Norway would be with Canada, USA, Finland, Germany, France, Denmark and Great Britain.

 

[Future GOAT]

Slovakia has utterly collapsed. I feel bad for them, they're a hockey nation after all.

I feel bad for them too and the Czech's. I really expected these two countries to be performing well above what they have been lately. I hope they can pick up their play a bit in the coming years.

 

[Urbanskog]

Norway is (somehow) still 9th but it won't be that way for long. The could end up in a group with Swe, Rus, Cze, Sui, Lat, Aut, and Ita, an arrangement they probably finish second last to Italy in.

Norway is always lucky with the qualification. In 2010 and 2018 they were in the easiest qualification group and in 2014 they were conveniently ranked ninth and thus avoided the struggle of having to battle against other teams in the qualifiers. I sure hope someone will take their spot in the next edition.

 

[iginlafan77]

Norway is always lucky with the qualification. In 2010 and 2018 they were in the easiest qualification group and in 2014 they were conveniently ranked ninth and thus avoided the struggle of having to battle against other teams in the qualifiers. I sure hope someone will take their spot in the next edition.

For this tournament, I believe it’s been confirmed that China will qualify as host.
Therefore, 9th place will not be good enough to automatically qualify this time as it was in 2014 when Russia was host.

 

[Urbanskog]

For this tournament, I believe it’s been confirmed that China will qualify as host.
Therefore, 9th place will not be good enough to automatically qualify this time as it was in 2014 when Russia was host.

Indeed, as was the case for this year's tournament. Norway however was placed in the by-far-easiest qualifiers group, the other teams in the group being France, Kazakhstan and Italy. In the Olympics they didn't amount for much although they did beat Slovenia somewhat accidentally thus advancing to the quarterfinals, only to be thrashed by the OAR.

 

[Pieck]

Norway is (somehow) still 9th but it won't be that way for long. The could end up in a group with Swe, Rus, Cze, Sui, Lat, Aut, and Ita, an arrangement they probably finish second last to Italy in.

How does this work? On the Wikipedia page it says the groups look like this, but with a disclaimer that teams might switch groups:

 

[iginlafan77]

Indeed, as was the case for this year's tournament. Norway however was placed in the by-far-easiest qualifiers group, the other teams in the group being France, Kazakhstan and Italy. In the Olympics they didn't amount for much although they did beat Slovenia somewhat accidentally thus advancing to the quarterfinals, only to be thrashed by the OAR.

Their group does appear to be the easiest for sure.
That quarterfinal finish at the Olympics is largely responsible for their ranking.

 

[kabidjan18]

How does this work? On the Wikipedia page it says the groups look like this, but with a disclaimer that teams might switch groups:
View attachment 121997

That is the way the rankings dictate.

The IIHF may switch Norway and Slovakia so Slovakia will place in Kosice.

 

[Pieck]

That is the way the rankings dictate.

The IIHF may switch Norway and Slovakia so Slovakia will place in Kosice.

Oh, I see

 

[Territory]

Rankings always pointless because the best players are rarely playing for each nation.

Best on best tournaments should be the only thing that matters.

 

[iginlafan77]

Rankings always pointless because the best players are rarely playing for each nation.

Best on best tournaments should be the only thing that matters.

What recent tournaments would you consider best on best?

 

[Tomas W]

Rankings always pointless because the best players are rarely playing for each nation.

Best on best tournaments should be the only thing that matters.

1) its IIHF rankings
2) NHL doesnt think there is any need for real best on best championship s, instead they every 10 years or so they hold an invitional competition, with no qualifiers, NA only refs, and with gimmick teams.

It doesnt matter to Canadians though, they use the amount of active NHLers as ranking system.

 

[kudla]

Slovakia has utterly collapsed. I feel bad for them, they're a hockey nation after all.

Yeah the fall is absolutely crazy, but how the hell is Slovakia behind Norway and ahead of Latvia and Denmark?

 

[TheStatican]

Slovakia has utterly collapsed. I feel bad for them, they're a hockey nation after all.

I feel bad for them too and the Czech's. I really expected these two countries to be performing well above what they have been lately. I hope they can pick up their play a bit in the coming years.

I don't feel bad for them at all as they have only themselves to blame. They should've put aside nationalistic pride for the sake of creating a hockey superpower

 

[that is unfortunate]

I feel bad for them too and the Czech's. I really expected these two countries to be performing well above what they have been lately. I hope they can pick up their play a bit in the coming years.

Why? Producing more talent now than ever before. You do realise they only lost 1 game in their group and lost 2 games by only 1 goal each all tournament? (3-2 USA, 3-2 Sweden)

 

[lamini]

Why? Producing more talent now than ever before. You do realise they only lost 1 game in their group and lost 2 games by only 1 goal each all tournament? (3-2 USA, 3-2 Sweden)

Definitely more than in the last decade, but before that, we produced much more talent than now.