MINSK, 23 May (BelTA) – Following the 80th edition of the IIHF World Championship, Belarus retained its 9th spot in the men's world ranking of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), BelTA has learned.
Following the final of the 2016 IIHF World Championship in which Canada blanked Finland 2-0, the IIHF renewed its rating of national ice hockey teams. The Belarusian team goes 9th with the total of 2,820 points.
The IIHF ranking is as follows:
1. Canada - 3495
2. Russia - 3380
3. Finland - 3355
4. United States - 3290
5. Sweden - 3275
6. Czech Republic - 3210
7. Switzerland - 2910
8. Slovakia - 2870
9. Belarus - 2820
10. Germany - 2815
11. Norway - 2765
12. Latvia - 2730
13. Denmark - 2700
14. France - 2655
15. Slovenia - 2530
16. Kazakhstan - 2470.
Germany has made the biggest progress following the tournament in Saint Petersburg and Moscow, moving from the 13th to 10th position. Germany finished 7th at this year's world championship. Belarus was 12th.
In the mid August the Belarusian national team will start preparations for the Olympic qualification games slated for 1-4 September. Dave Lewis' men will face Denmark (1 September), Poland (2 September), and Slovenia (4 September) in the competition for the Olympic berth in Pyeongchang.
