MINSK, 28 October (BelTA) - The second arena to host the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Finland has been announced, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Ice Hockey Federation.
One preliminary round group and two quarterfinal games will be played at Hartwall Arena, a venue that has already hosted the men's World Championship four times in the past: in 1997, 2003, 2012 and 2013. One preliminary round group, two quarter-final games, both semi-final games and the medal games will be played at the Tampere Deck Arena, which is under construction. The venue sitting 13,500 spectators is on track to be complete in 2021.
Finland will host the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship from 13 to 29 May 2022. In addition to the host, the championship will feature 13 teams that will qualify following the 2021 world championship in Belarus and Latvia. Two best-placed teams from the second division will also advance to the worlds in Finland.
Finland got the right to host the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship at the 2017 IIHF Annual Congress, for the ninth time in its history. Finland co-hosted the event in 2012 and 2013 together with Sweden.
