Up and Coming
2006 World Hockey Championship
The 2005 World Hockey Championship held in May saw the Czech Republic regain the title, with Canada finishing second after holding the title for 2003 and 2004. This was a tight round and all teams played well. It will be interesting to see those teams go toe to toe again in the 2006 season.
The playoff round on Sunday May the 15th saw the Bronze Medal Game Between Russia and Sweden end with a 6-3 score. While the Gold Medal Game finished up with a score of Czech Republic 3 and Canada 0.
So what do the 2006 World Hockey Championships hold?
The IIHF has already held the annual draw which determines the preliminary round groups for the 2206 World Hockey Championships which will be held in Riga Latvia.
In the A group are the defending champions Czech Republic, Finland, Slovenia, and the Latvia the host team.
The draw placed all 16 World Championship into the preliminary rounds in groups. These groups are based on the teams' world ranking.
The luck of the draw keeps the preliminary round very interesting to watch. Lots of surprises here! Group A is going to be very popular with the fans!
Latvia's plays the defending champion the Czech Republic, toss Finland with their frenzied fans into the pot and you've got some real excitement to look forward to!
Arturs Irbe the Latvian goal tender will be playing goal against Slovenia, Finland, and Czech Republic.
In Group B are Sweden and Switzerland, while Group C holds Russia and Slovakia. And Group D is going to show some real excitement with Canada and the USA pitted against each other. It's sure to be a real show!
The top four teams in the draw were Czech Republic the defending champs, Canada with the silver medal, Sweden, and Slovakia. This should be an exciting round with all the top IIHF point ranked teams combined with the two top teams from 2005. There's going to be some great hockey to watch here!
The second level included Russia the bronze medal holder, USA, Switzerland, and Finland. Although Russia holds a metal they were placed in the second tier because of their overall IIHF Ranking.
In the third level Latvia the hosting country, Belarus, Denmark, and Ukraine are found. While the fourth level holds Italy, Kazakhstan, and Slovenia.
Based on the levels the 4 Groups for the 2006 World Hockey Championship will be as follows:
In Group A you'll find the Czech Republic, Finland, Latvia, and Slovenia. While Group B will consist of Sweden, Switzerland, Italy and the Ukraine. Group C is made up of Slovakia, Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan. The last group is Group D which consists of the USA, Canada, Denmark, and Norway.
During the qualifying rounds Group A will be matched against Group D and Group B will be matched against Group C.
If you have the opportunity to go over to Latvia and take in a couple of these games, go for it! It's a great experience and Latvia has plenty to offer.
The hotels in Riga Latvia where the games are hosted are already booked solid for the games so you'll have to find accommodation outside the city.
While your there taking in the World Hockey Championship don't forget to take in some of wonderful sites and sounds this Baltic area has to offer. Latvia is a country rich in traditions and history. It even has wonderful medieval castles to offer, along with spectacular old towns. Don't forget about the recreation and entertainment opportunities Latvia offers.
Riga the capital where the games are being held is deep in history. It celebrated it 800th anniversary in 2001. Riga has 806,000 residents and offers more amenities and attractions than any other Baltic City. It is located at the mouth of the Daugava River on the shores of the Riga Gulf of the Baltic Sea.
It offers a complete and easy to use transportation system, including taxis, rental cars, and public transportation. It's easy to get there with flights coming in and out regularly.
So if you've got the time do think about visiting Latvia and taking in the 2006 World Hockey Championship. If you're like most of us you'll have to be content watching the games on TV. Get ready for a great hockey season!
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