The 2025 IIHF World Championship was co-hosted by Stockholm, Sweden, and Herning, Denmark, from 9 to 25 May 2025. This decision regarding Sweden was made at the 2018 semi-annual International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) congress in Malta, and was officially announced on 24 May 2019, at the IIHF's annual congress during the World Championships in Bratislava, Slovakia. At the same time, it was announced that Denmark would co-host the championship.
In the quarterfinals, co-host country Denmark defeated Canada 2–1, in what was widely considered one of the biggest upsets in IIHF World Championship history. Denmark subsequently played in their first-ever semifinal, while Canada did not finish in the top four for the first time since 2014. Since the IIHF re-introduced a playoff system in 1992, the United States reached the World Championship final for the first time after having lost 12 consecutive semifinals, and secured their first World Championship medal since winning bronze in 2021. After losing their semifinal and the subsequent bronze medal game, Denmark finished in the top four for the first time in tournament history.
The United States won the title for the third time, beating Switzerland 1–0 in overtime, ending the Americans' 92-year gold medal drought after winning the standalone World Championship for the first time since 1933. It was also the team's first top two finish since 1960. Switzerland lost its second consecutive final.
This tournament was also the first time since the 2019 IIHF World Championship that both promoted teams (Hungary and Slovenia) stayed in the top division.
Participants Qualified as hosts
Automatic qualifier after a top 14 placement at the 2024 IIHF World Championship
Qualified through winning promotion from the 2024 IIHF World Championship Division I
Seeding The seedings in the preliminary round are based on the 2024 IIHF World Ranking, at the end of the 2024 IIHF World Championship, using the serpentine system while allowing the organizers, "to allocate a maximum of two teams to separate groups," while ensuring hosts Sweden and Denmark will be in separate groups.
Group A (Stockholm) (1) (3) (7) (9) (10) (13) (14) (19)
Group B (Herning) (4) (5) (6) (8) (11) (12) (15) (18)
Marketing Slogan The slogan of the competition was pulse, and main phrase of it was "Feel the Pulse".
Mascot The mascot of the event was called Beaty, a character with a heart-shaped face and bright cheeks.
Rosters
Each team's roster consisted of at least 15 skaters (forwards and defencemen) and two goaltenders, and at most 22 skaters and three goaltenders. All 16 participating nations, through the confirmation of their respective national associations, had to submit a "Long List" no later than two weeks before the tournament, and a final roster by the Passport Control meeting prior to the start of the tournament.
Match officials 16 referees and linesmen were announced on 7 May 2025.
Referees Linesmen Christian Ofner Michael Campbell Mike Langin Jan Hribik Mads Frandsen Riku Brander Mikko Kaukokari Kristian Vikman André Schrader Andris Ansons Peter Stano Tobias Björk Christoffer Holm Mikael Holm Michael Tscherrig Sean MacFarlane Tarrington Wyonzek Daniel Hynek Jiří Ondráček Albert Ankerstjerne Onni Hautamäki Tommi Niittylä Patrick Laguzov Danny Beresford Dāvis Zunde Oto Durmis Ludvig Lundgren Anders Nyqvist Dominic Schlegel Nick Briganti Jake Davis Shane Gustafson
Venues Sweden Denmark Stockholm Herning Avicii ArenaCapacity: 12,530 Jyske Bank BoxenCapacity: 10,500
Preliminary round The groups were announced on 30 May 2024, with the schedule being revealed on 19 August 2024.
Group A
9 May 2025 1–2 5–0 10 May 2025 0–4 4–2 1–4 11 May 2025 3–1 1–7 4–3 (OT) 12 May 2025 3–2 (GWS) 1–2 13 May 2025 2–5 5–0 14 May 2025 2–1 0–6 15 May 2025 9–1 5–1 16 May 2025 5–2 4–0 17 May 2025 2–1 0–4 7–0 18 May 2025 2–3 (GWS) 1–5 19 May 2025 1–3 1–2 (GWS) 20 May 2025 1–6 1–2 3–5
Group B
9 May 2025 4–5 (OT) 0–5 10 May 2025 1–2 6–1 2–5 11 May 2025 6–0 4–1 1–2 12 May 2025 0–3 7–2 13 May 2025 2–5 2–4 14 May 2025 6–5 (OT) 1–5 15 May 2025 5–1 6–1 16 May 2025 2–8 3–0 17 May 2025 6–3 8–1 6–3 18 May 2025 1–6 0–10 19 May 2025 0–5 0–1 20 May 2025 4–1 2–5 1–2 (GWS)
Playoff round
There was a re-seeding after the quarterfinals.
Final
Final standings Teams finishing fifth in the preliminary round were ranked ninth and tenth, teams finishing sixth were ranked 11th and 12th, and so on.
Statistics Scoring leaders List shows the top skaters sorted by points, then goals.
Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM POS David Pastrňák 8 6 9 15 +7 4 F Elias Lindholm 10 8 6 14 +8 0 F Roman Červenka 8 6 8 14 +8 4 F Nathan MacKinnon 8 7 6 13 +9 10 F Travis Konecny 8 3 10 13 +9 12 F Frank Nazar 10 6 6 12 +7 6 F Nick Olesen 10 5 7 12 −3 4 F Sidney Crosby 8 4 8 12 +8 6 F Logan Cooley 10 4 8 12 +4 10 F Tyler Moy 10 4 8 12 +8 0 F GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/− = Plus/Minus; PIM = Penalties in Minutes; POS = Position Source: IIHF
Goaltending leaders Only the top five goaltenders, based on save percentage, who have played at least 40% of their team's minutes, are included in this list.
PlayerTOIGAGAASASv%SO Leonardo Genoni 424:32 7 0.99 150 95.33 4 Daniel Vladař 219:52 4 1.09 81 95.06 1 Jordan Binnington 239:15 5 1.25 90 94.44 2 Juuse Saros 358:50 10 1.67 174 94.25 0 Samuel Ersson 259:06 5 1.16 76 93.42 2 TOI = time on ice (minutes:seconds); SA = shots against; GA = goals against; GAA = goals against average; Sv% = save percentage; SO = shutouts Source: IIHF.com
Awards The awards were announced on 25 May 2025.
Media All Stars Position Player Goaltender Leonardo Genoni Defenceman Zach Werenski Defenceman Dean Kukan Forward David Pastrňák Forward Elias Lindholm Forward Nick Olesen MVP Leonardo Genoni
Individual awards Position Player Goaltender Leonardo Genoni Defenceman Zach Werenski Forward David Pastrňák
IIHF contributors' awards The annual IIHF contributors' awards ceremony was on 24 May 2025, prior to the semifinal games of the men's championship.
Award recipients Jon Haukeland of Norway received the Paul Loicq Award for outstanding contributions to international ice hockey. Leszek Laszkiewicz of Poland received the Torriani Award for a player with an outstanding career from non-top hockey nation. The IIHF Milestone Award was given to the 2002/2003 Denmark men's national ice hockey teams, and the 2006 Sweden men's national ice hockey team. Jim Aldred of Portugal received the Johan Bollue Award for contributions to growth and development in youth ice hockey. Paul Graham of The Sports Network received the IIHF Media Award for outstanding contributions to international hockey through television, print, and radio.
IIHF Hall of Fame induction The IIHF Hall of Fame induction ceremony took place on 25 May 2025, during the medal presentations of the men's championship.
IIHF Hall of Fame inductees Zdeno Chára, Slovakia Kai Hietarinta, Finland Henrik Lundqvist, Sweden Kim Martin Hasson, Sweden Frans Nielsen, Denmark Vicky Sunohara, Canada David Výborný, Czechia
Notes
References
External links Official website