These countries will replace Russia and Belarus in the World Hockey Championships

Finland defeated Russia in the Olympic finals in Beijing. EPA / AOP

Austria and France will advance to the main series of the Men’s World Hockey Championships, the IIHF reports.

France will replace Russia in Block A in Helsinki. Austria moves to Group B in Tampere. Finland will play in Group B in the May home competitions.

The teams were the highest ranked countries outside the main league countries in the International Hockey Federation rankings.

At the same time, a vacuum of two countries will remain in Division 1A, which will be filled in Lithuania rising from Division 1B to Division 1A. The first divisions are played in two blocks of five teams. The top two countries in Division 1A will be in the main series next year.

Other changes

Latvia, on the other hand, will take the place of Russia at the World Championships for men under 20. The World Championships for under-18s will shrink to a tournament in eight countries.

Sweden will take the tenth place in the Women’s World Cup. Slovakia will enter the women’s under-18 competition.

At the end of the IIHF bulletin, the date of a possible return to Russia and Belarus will also be announced. Russia and Belarus are not yet involved in the IIHF due to the hostilities in Ukraine.

– As long as it is safe for Russian and Belarusian teams to return to the IIHF competitions, the IIHF Council will decide how the national teams will be returned to the IIHF World Cup program, the press release reads.

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