Category: Men Seniors

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has released the 2021 IIHF Men’s World Ranking and with this the groups for the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship have become known.

The groups for Tampere and Helsinki are based on the World Ranking taking into consideration organizational wishes by the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Organizing Committee.

The best two teams at the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship are also the best two teams in the 2021 IIHF Men’s World Ranking. New world champion Canada defended first place while silver medallist Finland overtook Russia for second place. Great Britain moved up 3 places to #16.

Andrew Mangiapane was named as the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship MVP after his arrival sparked Canada’s golden run.

The other seven-goal forward in Latvia was Great Britain’s Liam Kirk. The 21-year-old, the first English born and developed player to be selected in an NHL draft, led the way for his country. His two goals against Belarus set up GB’s first regulation time victory at this level since 1962 and helped to earn him a place alongside Mangiapane in the media’s All-Star select. The third forward to make that team was Conor Garland, whose 13 (6+7) points for team USA placed him second in overall scoring and helped to secure a bronze for the Americans.

Great Britain forward Liam Kirk has finished as joint-leading goalscorer at this year’s World Championship in Latvia.

The 21-year-old scored seven goals in seven matches, which was the same tally as Andrew Mangiapane who was part of Canada’s gold medal-winning side as the Canadians beat Finland 3-2 in overtime in the final.

Liam Kirk, Mark Richardson and Ben Bowns were named as Great Britain’s official players of the World Championship..
The trio were awarded special cufflinks after GB’s final game in Group A against Switzerland.