2025 in ice hockey

The following is a list of the events taking place in ice hockey for the year 2025 throughout the world.

Olympic qualification

Final qualifications for women's tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics took place from February 6 to February 9. ^[1]

• Group G: Tomakomai
  • Final Round Robin placements: 1.   Japan, 2.   France, 3.   China, 4.   Poland
• Group H: Gävle
  • Final Round Robin placements: 1.   Sweden, 2.   Denmark, 3.   Norway, 4.   Netherlands
• Group I: Bremerhaven
  • Final Round Robin placements: 1.   Germany, 2.   Hungary, 3.   Austria, 4.   Slovakia
• Japan, Sweden, and Germany qualified for the women's tournament at the Olympics.
• If the IIHF chooses to extend Russia's tournament ban, France will additionally qualify.

World Championships

2025 World Ice Hockey Divisions for the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) will take place between December 9, 2024 and May 25, 2025.

World Junior Ice Hockey Championships

• December 26, 2024 – January 5: 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa
  • The   United States defeated   Finland, 4–3 in overtime, to win their second consecutive and seventh overall World Junior Ice Hockey Championship title.
  •   Czechia defeated   Sweden, 3–2 in a shootout, to win the bronze medal.
  •   Kazakhstan was relegated to Division I – Group A for 2026.

Divisions

• December 9 – 15, 2024: Division I – Group A in Bled
  • Final Round Robin placements: 1.   Denmark, 2.   Austria, 3.   Norway, 4.   Slovenia, 5.   France, 6.   Hungary
  • Denmark was promoted to the Top Division for 2026.
  • Hungary was relegated to Division I – Group B for 2026.
• December 11 – 14, 2024: Division III – Group B in Bangkok
  • Final Round Robin placements: 1.   Thailand, 2.   Kyrgyzstan, 3.   South Africa, 4.   Luxembourg
  • Thailand was promoted to Division III – Group A for 2026.
• January 6 – 12: Division II – Group A in Zagreb
  • Final Round Robin placements: 1.   Lithuania, 2.   Romania, 3.   Croatia, 4.   Great Britain, 5.   China, 6.   Netherlands
  • Lithuania was promoted to Division I – Group B for 2026.
  • Netherlands was relegated to Division II – Group B for 2026.
• January 11 – 17: Division I – Group B in Tallinn
  • Final Round Robin placements: 1.   Ukraine, 2.   Japan, 3.   Italy, 4.   Estonia, 5.   Poland, 6.   South Korea
  • Ukraine was promoted to Division I – Group A for 2026.
  • South Korea was relegated to Division II – Group A for 2026.
• January 19 – 25: Division II – Group B in Belgrade
  • Final Round Robin placements: 1.   Spain, 2.   Israel, 3.   Serbia, 4.   Australia, 5.   Iceland, 6.   Belgium
  • Spain was promoted to Division II – Group A for 2026.
  • Belgium was relegated to Division III – Group A for 2026.
• January 27 – February 2: Division III – Group A in Istanbul
  • Final Round Robin placements: 1.   New Zealand, 2.   Chinese Taipei, 3.   Bulgaria, 4.   Turkey, 5.   Bosnia and Herzegovina, 6.   Mexico
  • New Zealand was promoted to Division II – Group B for 2026.
  • Mexico was relegated to Division III – Group B for 2026.

IIHF World Women's U18 Championship

• January 4 – 12: 2025 IIHF World Women's U18 Championship in Vantaa
  •   Canada defeated   United States, 3–0, to win their eighth World Women's U18 Championship title.
  •   Czechia defeated   Sweden, 2–1, to win the bronze medal.
  •   Japan was relegated to Division I – Group A for 2026.

Divisions

• January 5 – 11: Division I – Group A in Budapest
  • Final Round Robin placements: 1.   Hungary, 2.   Italy, 3.   Germany, 4.   Norway, 5.   France, 6.   Austria
  • Hungary was promoted to the Top Division for 2026.
  • Austria was relegated to Division I – Group B for 2026.
• January 7 – 13: Division I – Group B in Katowice
  • Final Round Robin placements: 1.   Denmark, 2.   Poland, 3.   Spain, 4.   China, 5.   Australia, 6.   South Korea
  • Denmark was promoted to Division I – Group A for 2026.
  • South Korea was relegated to Division II – Group A for 2026.
• January 18 – 23: Division II – Group B in Istanbul
  • Final Round Robin placements: 1.   Turkey, 2.   Iceland, 3.   Belgium, 4.   Mexico, 5.   South Africa
  • Turkey was promoted to Division II – Group A for 2026.
  • South Africa was relegated to Division III for 2026.
• January 20 – 26: Division II – Group A in Riga
  • Final Round Robin placements: 1.   Great Britain, 2.   Kazakhstan, 3.   Latvia, 4.   Netherlands, 5.   New Zealand, 6.   Chinese Taipei
  • Great Britain was promoted to Division I – Group B for 2026.
  • Chinese Taipei was relegated to Division II – Group B for 2026.
• January 23 – 26: Division III in Zagreb
  • Final Round Robin placements: 1.   Romania, 2.   Thailand, 3.   Croatia, 4.   Lithuania
  • Romania was promoted to Division II – Group B for 2026.

IIHF Women's World Championship

• April 9 – 20: 2025 IIHF Women's World Championship in České Budějovice

Divisions

Main article: 2025 Women's Ice Hockey World Championships

• February 13 – 18: Division III – Group B in Sarajevo
  • Final Round Robin placements: 1.   Bulgaria, 2.   Israel, 3.   Estonia, 4.   Bosnia and Herzegovina, 5.   Singapore
  • Bulgaria was promoted to Division III – Group A for 2026.
• March 2 – 8: Division III – Group A in Belgrade
• April 7 – 13: Division II – Group A in Bytom
• April 9 – 15: Division I – Group B in Dumfries
• April 13 – 19: Division I – Group A in Shenzhen
• April 14 – 20: Division II – Group B in Dunedin

IIHF World U18 Championships

• April 23 – May 3: 2025 IIHF World U18 Championships in Frisco and Allen

Divisions

• February 28 – March 6: Division III – Group B in Bangkok
• March 2 – 8: Division III – Group A in Mexico City
• March 17 – 23: Division II – Group B in Sofia
• April 13 – 19: Division II – Group A in Asiago
• April 13 – 19: Division I – Group B in Kaunas
• April 20 – 26: Division I – Group A in Székesfehérvár

IIHF World Championship

• May 9 – 25: 2025 IIHF World Championship in Stockholm and Herning

Divisions

Main article: 2025 Men's Ice Hockey World Championships

• April 13 – 19: Division IV in Yerevan
• April 21 – 27: Division III – Group A in Istanbul
• April 26 – May 2: Division I – Group B in Tallinn
• April 27 – May 3: Division III – Group B in Querétaro
• April 27 – May 3: Division II – Group B in Dunedin
• April 27 – May 3: Division II – Group A in Belgrade
• April 27 – May 3: Division I – Group A in Sfântu Gheorghe

National Hockey League (NHL)

• October 4, 2024 – April 17: 2024–25 NHL season
• December 31, 2024: 2025 Winter Classic at Wrigley Field in Chicago
  • The St. Louis Blues defeated the Chicago Blackhawks, by the score of 6–2.
• February 12 – 20: 2025 4 Nations Face-Off at TD Garden in Boston and the Bell Centre in Montreal
• March 1: 2025 Stadium Series at Ohio Stadium in Columbus
  • The Columbus Blue Jackets will play the Detroit Red Wings.
• April – June: 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs

Kontinental Hockey League (KHL)

• September 3, 2024 – March 23: 2024–25 KHL season

North America

Minor league professional (AHL/ECHL/SPHL)

• October 11, 2024 – April 20: 2024–25 AHL season
  • April – June: 2025 Calder Cup playoffs
• October 18, 2024 – April 13: 2024–25 ECHL season
  • April – June: 2025 Kelly Cup playoffs
• October 18, 2024 – April 5: 2024–25 SPHL season

Junior (OHL/QMJHL/USHL/WHL)

• September 18, 2024 – April 12: 2024–25 USHL season
  • April – May: 2025 Clark Cup playoffs
• September 20, 2024 – March 22: 2024–25 QMJHL season
  • March – May: 2025 QMJHL playoffs
• September 20, 2024 – March 23: 2024–25 WHL season
  • March 28 – May: 2025 WHL playoffs
• September 25, 2024 – March 23: 2024–25 OHL season
  • March – May: 2025 OHL playoffs
• May 22 – June 1: 2025 Memorial Cup at the Colisée Financière Sun Life in Rimouski

Collegiate

NCAA–Division I (USA)

• March 13 – 23: 2025 NCAA Division I women's ice hockey tournament (Frozen Four at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis)
• March 28 – April 12: 2025 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament (Frozen Four at Enterprise Center in St. Louis)

U Sports (Canada)

• March 20 – 23: 2025 U Sports University Cup Tournament at TD Place Arena in Ottawa
• March 20 – 23: 2025 U Sports Women's Ice Hockey Championship at Woolwich Memorial Centre in Elmira

Women's professional (PWHL)

• November 30 – May 3: 2024–25 PWHL season
  • May: 2025 Walter Cup playoffs

Europe

Tournaments

• September 5, 2024 – February 18: 2024–25 Champions Hockey League
  • The ZSC Lions defeated Färjestad BK, 2–1, to win their first Champions Hockey League title.
  • Genève-Servette HC and Sparta Praha finished in joint third place, as the losing semi-finalists.
• September 20, 2024 – January 19: 2024–25 IIHF Continental Cup
  • Final Ranking: 1. Cardiff Devils, 2. Brûleurs de Loups, 3. GKS Katowice, 4. HC Arlan
  • HC Arlan withdrew from the tournament prior to the final round, due to travel and timing issues. The IIHF ultimately elected to proceed with only the three remaining finalists. ^[2]
• December 26 – December 31: 2025 Spengler Cup in Davos

Leagues

• September 10, 2024 – March 15: 2024–25 Liiga season
  • Kiekko-Espoo joined the league after promotion from the Mestis.
  • March – April: 2025 Liiga playoffs

• September 17, 2024 – March 1: 2024–25 National League season
  • March – April: 2025 National League playoffs

• September 17, 2024 – March 4: 2024–25 Czech Extraliga season
  • March – April: 2025 Czech Extraliga playoffs

• September 19, 2024 – March 7: 2024–25 DEL season
  • March – April: 2025 DEL playoffs

• September 21, 2024 – March 11: 2024–25 SHL season
  • Brynäs IF joined the league after promotion from the HockeyAllsvenskan.
  • March – April: 2025 SHL playoffs

Asia

• September 7, 2024 – March 23: 2024–25 Asia League Ice Hockey season
  • March – April: 2025 ALIH Finals

Deaths

January

• Larry Kish, 83, Canadian defenceman (Providence Friars) and coach (Hartford Whalers) ^[3]
• Al MacNeil, 89, Canadian defenceman (Chicago Black Hawks), coach (Montreal Canadiens), and executive (Calgary Flames), four-time Stanley Cup champion (1971, 1978, 1979, 1989) ^[4]
• Dwight Foster, 67, Canadian right wing (Boston Bruins, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Red Wings) ^[5]
• Mickey Roth, 97, Canadian centre (Lethbridge Maple Leafs, Stratford Indians, Buffalo Bisons), World Championships gold medalist (1951) ^[6]
• Hilpas Sulin, 90, Finnish player (HPK) and coach (HPK) ^[7]
• Brian Gibbons, 77, Canadian defenceman (Ottawa Nationals, Toronto Toros, Denver Spurs/Ottawa Civics) ^[8]
• Dave Lucas, 92, Canadian defenceman (Detroit Red Wings, Johnstown Jets) ^[9]
• Hans Dobida, 95, Austrian executive (Austrian Ice Hockey Association, International Ice Hockey Federation), IIHF Hall of Fame inductee ^[10]
• Marcel Bonin, 93, Canadian left wing (Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens), four-time Stanley Cup champion (1955, 1958–1960) ^[11]
• Tom McVie, 89, Canadian coach (Washington Capitals, Winnipeg Jets, New Jersey Devils), Avco Cup champion (1979) ^[12]
• George Faulkner, 91, Canadian left winger and defenceman (Shawinigan-Falls Cataracts, Jacksonville Rockets) ^[13]
• Willard Ikola, 92, American goaltender (Detroit Auto Club, Michigan Wolverines), coach (Edina High School), and scout (New York Islanders), Olympic silver medalist (1956) ^[14]
• Shawn Simpson, 56, Canadian goaltender (Baltimore Skipjacks), scout (Washington Capitals, Toronto Maple Leafs), and television broadcaster (TSN) ^[15]

February

• Richard Meredith, 92, American forward (Minnesota Golden Gophers, Minneapolis Millers), Olympic gold medalist (1960) and silver medalist (1956) ^[16]
• Miika Elomo, 47, Finnish left wing (TPS, Washington Capitals, Espoo Blues) and coach (Jokers de Cergy-Pontoise) ^[17]
• Mike Lange, 76, American radio and television broadcaster (Pittsburgh Penguins), Foster Hewitt Memorial Award winner ^[18]

See also

• 2024 in ice hockey
• 2025 in sports

References

1. "Qualification System – XXV Olympic Winter Games" (PDF). International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
2. "Continental Cup goes ahead with three teams". IIHF. January 8, 2025. Retrieved 2025-01-16.
3. "Former Men's Hockey All-American Larry Kish '64 Passes Away". Providence Friars. January 4, 2025. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
4. Ellis, Brandon (January 6, 2025). "Al MacNeil, long-time Flames coach, executive, dies at 89". Calgary.CTVNews.ca. Bell Media. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
5. Treppedi, Sean (January 6, 2025). "Red Wings Alumnus Dwight Foster Dead at 67". Newsweek. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
6. "Lyle Arnold "Mickey" Roth". Ottawa Citizen . January 18, 2025. Archived from the original on 2025-01-18. Retrieved 2025-01-18– via Remembering.ca.
7. "Suru-uutinen: HPK Hall of Fame jäsen Hilpas Sulin on poissa" [Sad news: HPK Hall of Fame member Hilpas Sulin is gone] (in Finnish). HPK. January 15, 2025. Retrieved 2024-01-15.
8. Mercer, Nicholas (January 17, 2025). "NL hall of famer Brian Gibbons remembered for contributions to hockey". The Telegram . Retrieved 2025-01-19.
9. Duff, Bob (January 18, 2025). "Obit: Red Wings Lucas Joined His Only NHL Game in Progress". Detroit Hockey Now. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
10. Pakarinen, Risto (January 17, 2025). "Hockey family mourns Dr. Hans Dobida". International Ice Hockey Federation . Retrieved 2025-01-19.
11. "The Canadiens are saddened to learn of the passing of Marcel Bonin". NHL.com. NHL Enterprises, L. P. January 19, 2025. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
12. "Tom McVie, longtime Boston Bruins assistant, dies at 89". ESPN.com. ESPN Enterprises, Inc. January 20, 2025. Retrieved 2025-01-20.
13. Dwyer, Mark (January 19, 2025). "Provincial senior hockey legend George Faulkner passes away at age 91". ntv.ca . Retrieved 2025-01-29.
14. Hauser, Tom (January 21, 2025). "Hockey legend Willard Ikola dies at 92". KSTP-TV . Retrieved 2025-01-29.
15. Brennan, Don (January 30, 2025). "Former radio broadcaster Shawn 'Simmer' Simpson passes away at 56". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 2025-01-30.
16. Knudsen, Cory (February 7, 2025). "Gopher alumni and 2-time Olympic medalist Dick Meredith dies at 92". KSTP-TV . Retrieved 2025-02-08.
17. Cerullo, Chris (February 10, 2025). "Miika Elomo, former Capitals first-round draft pick, passes away at age 47". Russian Machine Never Breaks . Retrieved 2025-02-13.
18. Yohe, Josh (February 19, 2025). "Legendary Penguins broadcaster Mike Lange dies at 76". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2025-02-19.