The IIHF World Championship Division II are an annual sports event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation. The division championships are played in two groups, part of the Ice Hockey World Championships.

From 2001 until 2011, the two national teams that finished last in their groups in Division I were relegated to Division II for next year's World Championships. At the Division II Championship, the winner of each group was promoted to next year's Division I. In contrast, the loser of each group was relegated to the IIHF World Championship Division III. Beginning in 2012, the Group A champion was promoted to Division I Group B, and was replaced by that tournament's last placed team. The Group B champion was promoted to Group A, and was replaced by the team relegated from there. Last place in Group B is relegated to Division III, being replaced by their champion.

The Division II World championships have been played in their current format since 2001. Division II was formed from the teams ranked 29th to 40th, which were the five lowest-placing teams in Pool C, and the seven best teams from Pool D. Beginning in 2012, the two groups became tiered rather than parallel. Teams qualified for Group A by either being relegated from Division I, or placing 2nd or 3rd in their 2011 groups. Group B teams were formed from the teams placing 4th, 5th, or promoted from Division III.

Results

YearPromotedRelegated
2001South KoreaRomaniaNew ZealandMexico
2002EstoniaLithuaniaTurkeyLuxembourg
2003South KoreaBelgiumMexicoIceland
2004ChinaLithuaniaLuxembourgSouth Africa
2005CroatiaIsraelTurkeyIceland
2006RomaniaChinaSouth AfricaNew Zealand
2007CroatiaSouth KoreaTurkeyNorth Korea
2008RomaniaAustraliaIrelandNew Zealand
2009SerbiaSouth KoreaNorth KoreaSouth Africa
2010SpainEstoniaTurkeyIsrael
2011AustraliaRomaniaNorth KoreaIreland
YearPromotedRelegated
To Division I BTo Division II ATo Division II BTo Division III
2012EstoniaBelgiumNew ZealandSouth Africa
2013CroatiaIsraelSpainBulgaria
2014EstoniaSpainIsraelTurkey
2015RomaniaChinaAustraliaSouth Africa
2016NetherlandsAustraliaChinaBulgaria
2017RomaniaChinaSpainTurkey
2018NetherlandsSpainIcelandLuxembourg
2019SerbiaIsraelBelgiumNorth Korea
2020Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2022China, NetherlandsGeorgia, Iceland--
2023SpainUnited Arab EmiratesGeorgiaMexico
2024CroatiaBelgiumIcelandTurkey
2025NetherlandsGeorgiaIsraelThailand
2026

Pool C

Champions (1961–2000)

Following the year 2000, Pool C became Division II and was split into two sections as a result of an influx of competing teams.

YearNational team
1961Romania
1963Austria
1966Italy
1967Japan
1969Japan
1970Austria
1971Romania
1972Austria
1973Norway
1974Switzerland
1975Norway
1976Austria
1977Italy
1978Netherlands
1979Yugoslavia
1981Austria
1982Japan
1983Netherlands
1985France
1986Norway
1987Japan
1989Netherlands
1990Yugoslavia
1991Denmark
1992Great Britain
1993Latvia
1994Slovakia
1995Belarus
1996Kazakhstan
1997Ukraine
1998Hungary
1999Netherlands
2000Hungary

Summary of participation

52 championships

  • In 1992, 1994, and 1995, Group C was played in two independent tiers, the results for the nations who were not given the opportunity to win Group C (known as Group C2) in those years are presented along with Group D/Division III.
  • Division II teams (2001–present) are ranked one through twelve, with this chart assessing gold, silver, and bronze to the nations who ranked 29th, 30th, and 31st overall.
TeamTimesFirstLastGoldSilverBronzeTotalBest finish (first/last)Hosted[N2]
Australia271974202504372nd (2008/2018)3
Austria71963198151171st (1963/1981)1
Belgium331961202503362nd (2003/2015)0
Belarus21994199511021st (1994)0
Bulgaria421963202501452nd (1975)5
China3119722022164111st (2022)2
Chinese Taipei220242025000011th (2024)0
Croatia1420012024415101st (2005/2013/2024)5
Denmark201963199113591st (1991)3
Estonia81995201440261st (2002/2014)2
France161961198512251st (1985)2
Georgia52019202500008th (2022)0
Great Britain81971199210011st (1992)1
Hungary2519632000236111st (1998/2000)3
Ireland220082011000012th (2008/2011)0
Iceland202001202501122nd (2014)1
Israel211993202501012nd (2005)0
Italy61966197924061st (1966/1977)0
Japan51967199740041st (1967/1987)0
Kazakhstan41993199611131st (1996)0
South Korea171979200922151st (2003/2009)2
Latvia1199310011st (1993)0
Lithuania61997200411241st (2004)1
Luxembourg320022018000011th (2004)0
Mexico172001202300007th (2008)2
Netherlands161961202572091st (1978/2025)3
Norway31973198630031st (1973/1986)0
New Zealand172001202500004th (2011)2
North Korea201974201901012nd (1992)0
Romania1819612017823131st (1961/2017)5
South Africa111961201500113rd (1966)1
Serbia[N1]132007202513481st (2019)4
Serbia and Montenegro[N1]91995200600113rd (2003)2
Slovenia51993199701122nd (1997)2
Spain291977202313151st (2023)10
Switzerland21969197411021st (1974)2
Slovakia1199410011st (1994)1
Thailand1202500000
Turkey920022024000011th (2002/2023)2
Ukraine51993199712251st (1997)0
United Arab Emirates32023202500223rd (2024/2025)0
Yugoslavia[N1]71961199023161st (1979/1990)2

See also

  • Duplacey, James (1998). . Total Sports. pp. . ISBN 0-8362-7114-9.
  • Podnieks, Andrew (2010). IIHF Media Guide & Record Book 2011. Moydart Press.

External links