Who are most people?
25% of Swedes watched the finals. 25% of Finns watched it (and they weren't even in the finals). Last time the Swiss reached the finals almost 20% of the Swiss watched it.
Just those three countries and we're already north of 5 million viewers. Add Germany, Czech Rep, Slovakia, Russia and I would probably more correctly say that most actually do give **** about the WHC.
The world cup (played in September 2016) as you referenced was not viewed nearly as much though, so I guess you are actually right there, sorry
The thing about smaller nations upsetting bigger ones and having success is not based on facts. Smaller nations have upset bigger ones in IIHF WHC as well as the Olympics. Canada needed OT to beat the Swiss in the last best on best and had trouble against Latvia. Sweden lost to Belarussia in the QF in the Olympics, etc etc. It happens because the players in smaller nations play together much more often and are much more like a team than the teams stacking up with NHL players. That is the reason they manage to do some damage. That being said it is no coincidence that Switzerland, which right now have more and better players than ever in the NHL and just had a 1 OA pick for the first time, went to the finals. It is thanks to that, not despite of it. The most stacked team normally, not always, goes through to the semis and finals and the most stacked team almost always wins.
Edit: to each his own though. I am also glad these post didn't take over the thread sooner, which is what normally happens.