Other Sports

Giants arrive in Moscow to vie for ice hockey world crown

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-04-27 13:51

The top 16 ice hockey teams across the world are set to compete in the annual world ice hockey championships to be opened here on Friday.

Reigning world champions and Turin Olympic champions Sweden come into action hoping to win a second consecutive world title for the first time.

However, a group of teams are determined to stage challenges, including last year's runners-up the Czech Republic, bronze medallists Finland and traditional powerhouse Canada.

The Euro Hockey Tour runners-up Russia, who are hosting the championship, also dream of reclaiming the glory that achieved before the fall of the Soviet Union.

The world's top 16 teams will start their quest for the title in four preliminary round groups.

Sweden top Group A in Moscow against Switzerland, Latvia and Italy.

Czech Republic head Group B, in Mytishchi, and play against the United States, Belarus and Austria.

Canada will fight it out with the 2002 world champions Slovakia, Norway and Germany for the top place in Group C, also in Mytishchi.

Finland face Russia in Group D, in Moscow, alongside Ukraine and Denmark.

The top three squads in each group proceed to the qualification round, where the teams from groups A and D play-off against each other and those from B and C do likewise to decide the eight quarter-finalists.

The title winner will be decided in the final match on May 13 in Moscow.