Understanding the Eishockey WM Spielplan (Ice Hockey World Championship Schedule)

The Eishockey WM (Ice Hockey World Championship) is an annual international ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). The Spielplan, or schedule, dictates the flow of the competition and is essential for fans, teams, and organizers alike. Here’s a breakdown of what it typically entails:

Tournament Structure

The tournament typically features 16 national teams, divided into two groups of eight. The division into groups often considers world rankings to ensure a balance of competitive strength.

Group Stage

The group stage is the first phase of the tournament. Each team plays every other team within its group once in a round-robin format. This results in seven games per team. Points are awarded as follows:

• 3 points for a win in regulation time
• 2 points for a win in overtime or a penalty shootout
• 1 point for a loss in overtime or a penalty shootout
• 0 points for a loss in regulation time

Ranking and Qualification

After the group stage, the teams are ranked within their respective groups based on the accumulated points. Typically, the top four teams from each group advance to the quarter-finals.

Playoff Stage

The playoff stage consists of the quarter-finals, semi-finals, bronze medal game, and the final.

• Quarter-Finals: The top four teams from each group compete in a single-elimination format. The matchups are often structured as the top team in Group A vs. the fourth team in Group B, the second team in Group A vs. the third team in Group B, and so on.
• Semi-Finals: The winners of the quarter-finals advance to the semi-finals.
• Bronze Medal Game: The losers of the semi-finals compete for the bronze medal.
• Final: The winners of the semi-finals compete for the gold medal and the title of World Champion.

Relegation

The teams that finish last in their respective groups face potential relegation to a lower division (Division I A). Usually, the two last-placed teams play a best-of-three relegation series to determine which team is relegated.

Schedule Considerations

Creating the Eishockey WM Spielplan involves careful consideration of various factors:

• Venue Availability: The availability of ice rinks and other facilities dictates the scheduling of games.
• Team Travel: Travel distances between venues are minimized to reduce fatigue for the teams.
• Broadcasting Schedules: Television networks and streaming services play a significant role in determining game times to maximize viewership.
• Rest Days: Teams require rest days between games to recover and prepare.
• Fairness: The schedule aims for fairness, avoiding situations where one team has a significantly more challenging schedule than another.

Where to Find the Spielplan

The official Eishockey WM Spielplan is usually released by the IIHF months in advance of the tournament. It can be found on the official IIHF website, sports news websites, and dedicated ice hockey portals. These sources will provide the most up-to-date and accurate information regarding game times, dates, and venues.