Russia braced for Worlds onslaught

ZURICH, Switzerland: Defending champions Russia face challenges from hungry pretenders as the top 16 national teams square off in Switzerland from Friday for the annual World Ice Hockey Championship.

Russia, who won their second crown last year after defeating host nation Canada 5-4 in a sudden-death final, come into the event aiming to confirm their status as the sport's world superpower.

A victory would seal the Red Machine's first consecutive world hockey titles in the post-Soviet era.