IIHF World Championship Division II

Last updated
IIHF World Championship Division II
Most recent season or competition:
2025 IIHF World Championship Division II
Sport Ice hockey
Founded1961 (Pool C)
2001 (Division II)
No. of teams12
Most recent
champion(s)
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia (Group A)
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium (Group B)
Most titlesFlag of Romania.svg  Romania (8)
Promotion to Division I
Relegation to Division III
Official website IIHF.com

The IIHF World Championship Division II are an annual sports event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation. The division championships are played in two groups, part of the Ice Hockey World Championships

Contents

From 2001 until 2011, the two national teams that finished last in their groups in Division I were relegated to Division II for next year's World Championships. At the Division II Championship, the winner of each group was promoted to next year's Division I. In contrast, the loser of each group was relegated to the IIHF World Championship Division III. Beginning in 2012, the Group A champion was promoted to Division I Group B, and was replaced by that tournament's last placed team. The Group B champion was promoted to Group A, and was replaced by the team relegated from there. Last place in Group B is relegated to Division III, being replaced by their champion.

The Division II World championships have been played in their current format since 2001. Division II was formed from the teams ranked 29th to 40th, which were the five lowest-placing teams in Pool C, and the seven best teams from Pool D. Beginning in 2012, the two groups became tiered rather than parallel. Teams qualified for Group A by either being relegated from Division I, or placing 2nd or 3rd in their 2011 groups. Group B teams were formed from the teams placing 4th, 5th, or promoted from Division III.

Results

YearPromotedRelegated
2001 Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea Flag of Romania.svg  Romania Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico
2002 Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia Flag of Lithuania (1988-2004).svg  Lithuania Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg
2003 Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland
2004 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Flag of Lithuania (1988-2004).svg  Lithuania Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
2005 Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia Flag of Israel.svg  Israel Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland
2006 Flag of Romania.svg  Romania Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
2007 Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea
2008 Flag of Romania.svg  Romania Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
2009 Flag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg  Serbia Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
2010 Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey Flag of Israel.svg  Israel
2011 Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Flag of Romania.svg  Romania Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland
YearPromotedRelegated
To Division I BTo Division II ATo Division II BTo Division III
2012 Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
2013 Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia Flag of Israel.svg  Israel Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria
2014 Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Flag of Israel.svg  Israel Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey
2015 Flag of Romania.svg  Romania Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
2016 Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria
2017 Flag of Romania.svg  Romania Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey
2018 Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg
2019 Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia Flag of Israel.svg  Israel Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea
2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [1]
2021 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2022 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China, Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia, Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland --
2023 Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico
2024 Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey
2025 Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia Flag of Israel.svg  Israel Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand

Pool C

Champions (1961–2000)

Following the year 2000, Pool C became Division II and was split into two sections as a result of an influx of competing teams.

YearNational team
1961Flag of Romania (1952-1965).svg  Romania
1963Flag of Austria.svg  Austria
1966Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
1967Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg  Japan
1969Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg  Japan
1970Flag of Austria.svg  Austria
1971Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg  Romania
1972Flag of Austria.svg  Austria
1973Flag of Norway.svg  Norway
1974Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland
1975Flag of Norway.svg  Norway
1976Flag of Austria.svg  Austria
1977Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
1978Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
1979Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  Yugoslavia
1981Flag of Austria.svg  Austria
1982Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg  Japan
1983Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
1985Flag of France.svg  France
1986Flag of Norway.svg  Norway
1987Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg  Japan
1989Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
1990Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  Yugoslavia
1991Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark
1992Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
1993Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia
1994Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia
1995Flag of Belarus (1918, 1991-1995).svg  Belarus
1996Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan
1997Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine
1998Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary
1999Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
2000Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary

Summary of participation

52 championships

TeamTimesFirstLastGoldSilverBronzeTotalBest finish (first/last)Hosted [N2]
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 27 1974 2025 04372nd (2008/2018)3
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 7 1963 1981 51171st (1963/1981)1
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 33 1961 2025 03362nd (2003/2015)0
Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus 2 1994 1995 11021st (1994)0
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 42 1963 2025 01452nd (1975)5
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 31 1972 2022 164111st (2022)2
Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei 2 2024 2025 000011th (2024)0
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 14 2001 2024 415101st (2005/2013/2024)5
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 20 1963 1991 13591st (1991)3
Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia 8 1995 2014 40261st (2002/2014)2
Flag of France.svg  France 16 1961 1985 12251st (1985)2
Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 5 2019 2025 00008th (2022)0
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 8 1971 1992 10011st (1992)1
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 25 1963 2000 236111st (1998/2000)3
Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 2 2008 2011 000012th (2008/2011)0
Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland 20 2001 2025 01122nd (2014)1
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 21 1993 2025 01012nd (2005)0
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 6 1966 1979 24061st (1966/1977)0
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 5 1967 1997 40041st (1967/1987)0
Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 4 1993 1996 11131st (1996)0
Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 17 1979 2009 22151st (2003/2009)2
Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 1 1993 10011st (1993)0
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 6 1997 2004 11241st (2004)1
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 3 2002 2018 000011th (2004)0
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 17 2001 2023 00007th (2008)2
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 16 1961 2025 72091st (1978/2025)3
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 3 1973 1986 30031st (1973/1986)0
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 17 2001 2025 00004th (2011)2
Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea 20 1974 2019 01012nd (1992)0
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 18 1961 2017 823131st (1961/2017)5
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 11 1961 2015 00113rd (1966)1
Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia [N1] 13 2007 2025 13481st (2019)4
Flag of Yugoslavia (1992-2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003-2006).svg  Serbia and Montenegro [N1] 9 1995 2006 00113rd (2003)2
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 5 1993 1997 01122nd (1997)2
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 29 1977 2023 13151st (2023)10
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 2 1969 1974 11021st (1974)2
Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 1 1994 10011st (1994)1
Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 1 2025 00000
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 9 2002 2024 000011th (2002/2023)2
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 5 1993 1997 12251st (1997)0
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 3 2023 2025 00223rd (2024/2025)0
Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  Yugoslavia [N1] 7 1961 1990 23161st (1979/1990)2

See also

References

  1. Steiss, Adam. "2020 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship cancelled". iihf.com. IIHF. Retrieved 21 March 2020.