The 2008 IIHF World Championship Division III consisted of two tournaments: the qualification tournament, which was held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, from 15 to 17 February 2008, and the main tournament, held in Kockelscheuer, Luxembourg, from 31 March to 6 April 2008. Greece won the qualification tournament and qualified for the main tournament. North Korea and South Africa finished in the top two spots of the main tournament and were promoted to next year's Division II.

Qualification tournament

The 2008 IIHF World Championship Division III qualification tournament was held from 15 to 17 February 2008 at the Olympic Hall Zetra in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The winners of the tournament, Greece, advanced to the Division III main tournament.

Bosnia and Herzegovina debuted at the IIHF World Championships and Greece made their first appearance since the 1999 tournament.

The directorate of the IIHF World Championship Division III qualification decided that both games of Armenia would be forfeited and count as 5–0 wins for their opponents, Greece and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Armenia refused to show the passports of their players on four occasions until their first game was in progress. Originally, Armenia lost to Greece 8–5 and won against Bosnia and Herzegovina 18–1. Even without the forfeit, Greece earned the promotion outright to this year’s World Championship Division III with two victories on the ice.

Participating teams

TeamQualification
ArmeniaWithdrew from 2007 Division III Championship and were relegated.
GreeceFirst participation since 1999.
Bosnia and HerzegovinaHosts; first participation in World Championship.

Final standings

PosTeamPldWOTWOTLLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Greece22000151+1462008 Division III main tournament
2Bosnia and Herzegovina21001610−43
3Armenia20002010−100

Match results

All times are local.

15 February 2008 20:30Greece10–1 (1–0, 4–1, 5–0)Bosnia and HerzegovinaOlympic Hall Zetra, Sarajevo
16 February 2008 20:30Armenia0–5 (forfeit)GreeceOlympic Hall Zetra, Sarajevo
17 February 2008 17:00Bosnia and Herzegovina5–0 (forfeit)ArmeniaOlympic Hall Zetra, Sarajevo

Main tournament

The 2008 IIHF World Championship Division III main tournament was held from 31 March to 6 April 2008 in Kockelscheuer, Luxembourg. The tournament was contested by five nations who already qualified by way of last year's tournament and one nation which was determined after the conclusion of the 2008 Division III qualification tournament.

Participating teams

TeamQualification
TurkeyPlaced 6th in Group A of 2007 Division II Championship and were relegated.
North KoreaWithdrew from Group B of 2007 Division II Championship and were demoted to Division III.
LuxembourgHosts; placed 3rd in 2007 Division III Championship.
South AfricaPlaced 4th in 2007 Division III Championship.
MongoliaPlaced 5th in 2007 Division III Championship.
GreecePlaced 1st in 2008 Division III Qualification.

Final standings

PosTeamPldWOTWOTLLGFGAGDPtsPromotion
1North Korea55000406+3415Promoted to the Division II for 2009
2South Africa540012916+1312
3Luxembourg512022213+97
4Turkey520122724+37
5Greece510131728−114
6Mongolia500051159−480

Match results

All times are local.

31 March 2008 13:00Greece1–5 (0–2, 0–0, 1–3)South AfricaKockelscheuer Ice Rink
Dimitrios Kalyvas 40:19GoalsJared Joyce 02:04, Carel Esterhuizen 19:08, Marc Giot 54:57, Jack Valadas 56:26, David Watson 58:15
Dimitrios Kalyvas 40:19GoalsJared Joyce 02:04, Carel Esterhuizen 19:08, Marc Giot 54:57, Jack Valadas 56:26, David Watson 58:15
31 March 2008 16:30North Korea17–0 (6–0, 5–0, 6–0)MongoliaKockelscheuer Ice Rink
Kim Chang Min 08:29, Ri Kum Song 09:49, 23:31, 56:17 Ri Se Gwang 11:44, 38:44, Kim Kyong Il 13:08, 14:28, Ri Chol Min 19:22, Mun Chol 20:59, 31:55, 36:35, Song Chung Song 42:41, 58:05 Ju Sung Hyok 48:18, 53:06, Jong Song Il 55:56Goals
Kim Chang Min 08:29, Ri Kum Song 09:49, 23:31, 56:17 Ri Se Gwang 11:44, 38:44, Kim Kyong Il 13:08, 14:28, Ri Chol Min 19:22, Mun Chol 20:59, 31:55, 36:35, Song Chung Song 42:41, 58:05 Ju Sung Hyok 48:18, 53:06, Jong Song Il 55:56Goals
31 March 2008 20:15Luxembourg5–4 (OT) (2–1, 0–2, 2–1) OT: 1–0TurkeyKockelscheuer Ice Rink
Benny Welter 11:15, 45:56 Ronny Scheier 16:39, Georges Scheier 49:18, Thierry Holtzem 63:39GoalsEmrah Ozmen 02:43, 28:26, 50:34 Erdogan Coskun 29:09
Benny Welter 11:15, 45:56 Ronny Scheier 16:39, Georges Scheier 49:18, Thierry Holtzem 63:39GoalsEmrah Ozmen 02:43, 28:26, 50:34 Erdogan Coskun 29:09
1 April 2008 13:00Mongolia4–10 (1–2, 1–5, 2–3)GreeceKockelscheuer Ice Rink
Neguun Ganbat 14:19, Altengeral Ichinnorov 21:48, 54:48, Batzayaagiin Pürevdorj 55:21GoalsDimitrios Kalyvas 08:08, 15:41, 20:46, 28:57, 30:30, 35:16, 37:31, 49:37, Ioannis Koufis 52:46, 59:44
Neguun Ganbat 14:19, Altengeral Ichinnorov 21:48, 54:48, Batzayaagiin Pürevdorj 55:21GoalsDimitrios Kalyvas 08:08, 15:41, 20:46, 28:57, 30:30, 35:16, 37:31, 49:37, Ioannis Koufis 52:46, 59:44
1 April 2008 16:30Turkey1–7 (0–1, 1–1, 0–5)South AfricaKockelscheuer Ice Rink
1 April 2008 20:00North Korea2–1 (0–0, 0–0, 2–1)LuxembourgKockelscheuer Ice Rink
Mun Chol 45:01, Kim Kwang Hyok 57:20GoalsFrancois Schons 54:59
Mun Chol 45:01, Kim Kwang Hyok 57:20GoalsFrancois Schons 54:59
3 April 2008 13:00Turkey11–3 (5–1, 3–2, 3–0)MongoliaKockelscheuer Ice Rink
3 April 2008 16:30North Korea7–3 (2–1, 2–0, 3–2)GreeceKockelscheuer Ice Rink
3 April 2008 20:00Luxembourg4–5 (1–1, 1–3, 2–1)South AfricaKockelscheuer Ice Rink
5 April 2008 13:00South Africa0–6 (0–3, 0–2, 0–1)North KoreaKockelscheuer Ice Rink
5 April 2008 16:30Greece1–9 (0–3, 1–3, 0–3)TurkeyKockelscheuer Ice Rink
5 April 2008 20:00Mongolia0–9 (0–1, 0–4, 0–4)LuxembourgKockelscheuer Ice Rink
6 April 2008 13:00South Africa12–4 (3–2, 5–1, 4–1)MongoliaKockelscheuer Ice Rink
6 April 2008 16:30Turkey2–8 (3–2, 5–1, 4–1)North KoreaKockelscheuer Ice Rink
6 April 2008 20:00Luxembourg3–2 (GWS) (0–0, 1–0, 1–2) OT: 0–0, GWS: 1–0GreeceKockelscheuer Ice Rink