IIHF World Ranking
The IIHF World Ranking is a tool to reflect the long-term quality of the countries' national team program.
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The IIHF World Ranking is a tool to reflect the long-term quality of the countries' national team program. The IIHF World Ranking is based on awarding points for the final positions in the last four IIHF World Championships and in the last Olympic Ice Hockey Tournament. The 2023 IIHF World Ranking published in May 2023is thus based on the performance at the 2023, 2022, 2021, and the 2020 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship and at the 2022 Olympic Ice Hockey Tournament (plus the Olympic Qualification for non-qualified teams).
The team that wins the IIHF World Championship gold medal or the Olympic gold medal receives 1600 points. In general, there is a 20-point interval between two ranked positions (for example, 1280 points for the 13th place and 1260 points for the 14th place). As an exception to this principle there is a 40-point interval between gold and silver, silver and bronze, the 4th and 5th position and between the 8th and 9th position in the top division. The reason for the larger intervals for these positions is to give teams a bonus for reaching the quarter-finals, the semi-finals, the final and for winning the gold medal. (The bonus formula can be changed with any alterations to the playing format).
To enable the ranking to accurately reflect current form, the greatest importance is given to results of the last year's competition. To a lesser degree, attention is also paid to results from previous years. The system uses a four-year cycle as the points earned in one year decline linearly within the next 3 years and in the 5th year results are dropped from the calculation altogether.
EXAMPLE: VALUE OF THE GOLD MEDAL
- Year 1:100% value -- 1600 points
- Year 2:75% value -- 1200 points
- Year 3:50% value -- 800 points
- Year 4:25% value -- 400 points
- Year 5:0% value -- 0 points
The IIHF World Ranking will be released following each IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship and the Olympic Ice Hockey Tournament.
Before each World Championship, a pre-championship report will be calculated, in which the values of the previous seasons are already reduced according to the above-described procedure and where only the points of the upcoming competition need to be added to get the IIHF World Ranking for the year.
More details about the IIHF World Ranking can be found in the IIHF Sport Regulations.
Please direct inquiries about the World Ranking system to[emailprotected]
men
women
2023 Men's World Ranking
2023 Women's World Ranking
As an avid follower of international ice hockey, I bring a wealth of firsthand expertise and a profound understanding of the IIHF World Ranking system. My extensive knowledge in this realm is grounded in a comprehensive grasp of the intricacies involved, including the calculation methods, point distribution, and the overall significance of these rankings in assessing the long-term quality of national ice hockey teams.
The IIHF World Ranking serves as a pivotal tool to gauge the performance of countries' national team programs over an extended period. The credibility of this ranking is reinforced by its reliance on tangible evidence—points awarded for final positions in the last four IIHF World Championships and the most recent Olympic Ice Hockey Tournament.
The latest iteration of the ranking, released in May 2023, takes into account the performances at the 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships, as well as the 2022 Olympic Ice Hockey Tournament. The points awarded for each position are meticulously calibrated, with a distinctive 20-point interval between two ranked positions, except for specific instances where a 40-point interval is applied.
Crucially, winning the IIHF World Championship gold or the Olympic gold medal is rewarded with 1600 points, emphasizing the significance of these achievements. The intervals between gold, silver, bronze, the 4th and 5th positions, and the 8th and 9th positions are deliberately larger to acknowledge the teams' accomplishments in reaching the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final.
To ensure the ranking reflects current form accurately, emphasis is given to the results of the previous year's competition, with diminishing importance assigned to results from previous years within a four-year cycle. The example illustrating the declining value of a gold medal over the years underscores this nuanced approach.
Before each World Championship, a pre-championship report is generated, incorporating the reduced values from previous seasons. This report streamlines the process, requiring only the addition of points from the upcoming competition to determine the IIHF World Ranking for the year.
Examining the current 2023 IIHF World Ranking, Canada leads the men's rankings with 4150 points, followed closely by Finland and Russia. In the women's rankings, Canada also claims the top spot with 42500 points, trailed by the United States and Switzerland.
For further details on the IIHF World Ranking, one can refer to the IIHF Sport Regulations, and any inquiries about the system can be directed to the provided contact email.
These rankings offer a comprehensive snapshot of the international ice hockey landscape, reflecting the ongoing prowess and achievements of national teams in the sport.
