The IIHF World Championships, rings together the top nations in the world to compete for the top prize at ice hockey’s highest profile annual international tournament. This year’s tournament, being hosted by Sweden and Finland, will culminate on May 19th after the sixteen participating nations have been whittled down to two. The big guns of North America, Canada and the United States are in the mix, along with the best that Europe has to offer like Russia, Sweden and Finland. The main event sees the sixteen nations split over two groups of eight, with the top four advancing through to the play off round at the quarter final stage. There is a lot of grueling work on the ice to be put in to win the gold medal here.
With the tournament being ran at the same time that the NHL playoffs are taking part, naturally some of the world’s top stars from the game are not in attendance. Still, nations can benefit from taking the best from the NHL teams that didn’t make it into the playoffs, like Canada’s star from the Tampa Bay Lightning, Steven Stamkos, and the New Jersey Devils’ Russia great Ilya Kovalchuk. There is still enough quality around to produce some thrilling matches at the tournament, as the nations battle it out to reach the final on May 19th, 2013 at the Ericsson Globe in Stockholm, Sweden. It is Canada who are leading the way as favourites to win the tournament at a price of 7/4 as they have some quality in depth in their squad. It has been a while since the Canadians won the gold medal though, the most recent victory coming back in 2007.
The USA probably don’t have the depth in quality to make a big impact and that is why they have been trading back at a price of around 11/1 to win the tournament. Still, with a strong start to the group stage, they could make the best dark horse shot. A much stronger option is the all powerful Russian team, who are also the reigning champion. Russia arguably has the most professional set up for Ice Hockey outside of North America and it is they who have been dominating the Ice Hockey World Championships in recent times, winning three of the last five editions, two of those victories coming over Canada. The Russians have a spattering of NHL players, including quality goaltenders, but the bulk of the squad play and know each other from the Russian hockey league. It makes them a tight knit, physical, quick and powerful side.
From the rest of the European contenders, the home talents of Sweden and Finland, with home support on their side, should be able to make an impact. The Swedes are perhaps a more pragmatic side, but there is flair and considerable talent in the Finnish set up and they were looking like one of the stand out sides of the group stage. Finland won the 2011 Ice Hockey World Championships for the second time in their history, beating Sweden in the final. Sweden are priced in at 5/1 to take the 2013 edition, while Finland are tremendous value at 9/1.
Ice Hockey Betting Prices
With the tournament being ran at the same time that the NHL playoffs are taking part, naturally some of the world’s top stars from the game are not in attendance. Still, nations can benefit from taking the best from the NHL teams that didn’t make it into the playoffs, like Canada’s star from the Tampa Bay Lightning, Steven Stamkos, and the New Jersey Devils’ Russia great Ilya Kovalchuk. There is still enough quality around to produce some thrilling matches at the tournament, as the nations battle it out to reach the final on May 19th, 2013 at the Ericsson Globe in Stockholm, Sweden. It is Canada who are leading the way as favourites to win the tournament at a price of 7/4 as they have some quality in depth in their squad. It has been a while since the Canadians won the gold medal though, the most recent victory coming back in 2007.
The USA probably don’t have the depth in quality to make a big impact and that is why they have been trading back at a price of around 11/1 to win the tournament. Still, with a strong start to the group stage, they could make the best dark horse shot. A much stronger option is the all powerful Russian team, who are also the reigning champion. Russia arguably has the most professional set up for Ice Hockey outside of North America and it is they who have been dominating the Ice Hockey World Championships in recent times, winning three of the last five editions, two of those victories coming over Canada. The Russians have a spattering of NHL players, including quality goaltenders, but the bulk of the squad play and know each other from the Russian hockey league. It makes them a tight knit, physical, quick and powerful side.
From the rest of the European contenders, the home talents of Sweden and Finland, with home support on their side, should be able to make an impact. The Swedes are perhaps a more pragmatic side, but there is flair and considerable talent in the Finnish set up and they were looking like one of the stand out sides of the group stage. Finland won the 2011 Ice Hockey World Championships for the second time in their history, beating Sweden in the final. Sweden are priced in at 5/1 to take the 2013 edition, while Finland are tremendous value at 9/1.
Ice Hockey Betting Prices
