Vancouver 2010 to Feature 12 Men’s Teams. IIHF World Ranking Following Canada 2008 Will Determine the Eight Automatic Olympic Qualifiers.
++ The representatives of the hockey authorities of seven countries discussed the IIHF-NHL Player Transfer Agreement which will expire after the 2006-2007-season. Further steps will be decided after internal reviews in the national associations and leagues.
++ The IIHF briefed the participants about the status and preparations for the 71st IIHF World Championship in Moscow, April 27 – May 13, 2007.
++ The group discussed ideas regarding the format for the men’s tournament for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. The final format will be determined later. President René Fasel, who also is the chairman of the Vancouver 2010 Evaluation Commission, informed the participants that the men’s tournament will again be played with 12 teams. The current proposal will see the top eight teams in the IIHF World Ranking following the 2008 IIHF World Championship in Canada receive automatic entry to Vancouver 2010. The four remaining teams will earn the remaining four spots through the Olympic qualification system which will be concluded by February 2009.
The final proposal will be presented to the IIHF Congress in Moscow in May 2007.
++ IIHF General Secretary Horst Lichtner informed the participants about ambitions for an expanded European club competition. As of now, there is no concrete format proposal. The discussions will continue at the upcoming 2007 European Champions Cup in St. Petersburg, Russia.
For further information:
Szymon Szemberg
IIHF Information & Media Relations Manager
Brandschenkestrasse 50, 8027 Zürich, Switzerland
0041-44-562 22 75 (direct), 0041-79-774 07 11 (mobile)
0041-44-562 22 39 (Fax)