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National Team Competition

Almost all European nations have their own national team, if only at one of the age levels. Most compete in the IIHF World Championships at Senior level, as well as Junior U-20 (under 20 at the cut-off date) and Junior U-18.

Olympic Games
The Olympic Winter Games have included ice hockey since 1924. In 1920 the sport was part of the summer games held in Belgium. The IIHF organises the Olympic tournament and its qualification process under sanction of the IOC. The next Winter Olympic Games are in 2006, in Torino, Italy.

IIHF World Championships
Every year the globe's national teams compete in the World Championships. Although the best players in the world are usually competing for the NHL's Stanley Cup at the time, the tournament is always a great celebration of European hockey, and the chance to see some of the European talent that NHL scouts have passed on. Until recently the teams were sorted into Pools A, B, C and D; now the top level is simply called the World Championships, while the rest of the teams are in Divisions I and II. Promotion and relegation take place between the various levels every year.

Euro Hockey Tour >>Info
The Euro Hockey Tour was formed in 1997 to take in the former Isvestija Trophy in Russia, now the Baltika Cup, and similar events held in the other member countries, those being the Czech Republic, Sweden and Finland. The tournaments take place in September, November, December and February, and the tour winner is dubbed 'unofficial European champion'. Most national team coaches use these games for testing players and tactics before the World Championships and Olympics.

Euro Ice Hockey Challenge >>Info
The European Challenge was sanctioned by the IIHF in October 2001 as a structured system of challenge tournaments for national teams around the Division I level. Most teams use the competition as preparation for the World Championships or Olympics, allowing less experienced players to collect valuable ice time in their national colours.

Here we see some colourful action in the Danish league, between Rungsted Cobras (red) and 1999 runners-up Frederikshavn Whitehawks. Although many top Danish players earn their Kroner abroad, mostly in Germany and Sweden, the league is of a reasonably high standard. North American and Eastern European imports add to its flavour.