The IIHF World Championships in Germany (May 7th till 23rd)

Group A

Russia
Belarus
Slovakia
Kazakhstan

Group B

Canada
Switzerland
Latvia
Italy

Group C

Sweden
Czech Republic
Norway
France

Group D

Finland
USA
Denmark
Germany

After a single round-robin series in each group, the top three teams from each group advance to the Qualification Round while the fourth-placed team in each group moves to the Relegation Round.

The Qualification Round consists of two groups (E=A+D and F=B+C) with six teams each, playing a single round robin. The teams carry the points from the Preliminary Round with the teams that they played and advance with. Teams, which have played in the Preliminary Round, do not meet again in the Qualification Round.

The Quarterfinals will be played cross-over. The first-place team in each Qualification Round group plays the fourth-place team from the other group, while the second-place team plays the third-place team from the other Qualification Round group. 1E-4F, 2E-3F, 1F-4E, 2F-3E. The winning teams advance to the semi-finals.

Semi-final pairings: Winner 1E-4F vs Winner 2F-3E, Winner 1F-4E vs Winner 2E-3F.

The winning teams of the semi-final games advance to the gold medal game while the semi-final losing teams play for Bronze

The four last-placed teams will continue to play in the Relegation Round. The two relegated teams will be determined by round-robin. The best two teams will return to the 2011 World Championship in Slovakia.

The teams promoted to the 2011 World Championship will be the the Division I winners, Austria and Slovenia.

The tie-breaking system for two teams with the same number of points in a standing will be the game between the two teams, the winner of the game taking precedence.

Due to the fact that the three-point system does not allow a game to end in a tie, then the following tie breaking procedure is applicable when three or more teams are tied in points in a Championship standing.

Should three or more teams be tied on points, then a tie breaking formula will be applied as follows, creating a sub-group amongst the tied teams. This process will continue until only two teams remain tied. The game between the two remaining tied teams would then be the determining tie-breaker as the game between these two teams could not end as a tie.

Step 1:
Taking into consideration the games between each of the tied teams, a sub-group is created applying the points awarded in the direct games amongst the tied teams from which the teams are then ranked accordingly.

Step 2:
Should the teams still remain tied then the better goal difference in the direct games amongst the tied teams will be decisive.

Step 3:
Should the teams still remain tied then the highest number of goals scored by these teams in their direct games will be decisive

Step 4:
Should three or more teams still remain tied then the results between each of the three teams and the closest best-ranked team outside the sub-group will be applied. In this case the tied team with the best result (1. points, 2. goal difference, 3. more goals scored) against the closest best ranked-team will take precedence

Step 5:
Should the teams still remain tied, then the results between each of the three teams and the next highest best-ranked team outside the sub-group will be applied.

Step 6:
Should the teams still remain tied after these five steps have been exercised then Sport considerations will be applied and the tied teams will be ranked following their 2009 IIHF World Ranking Positions.

COLOGNE





MANNHEIM





GELSENKIRCHEN

Country - Broadcaster

Austria - ORF
Belarus - BTRC
Canada - TSN/TSN2/RDS
Czech Republic - ČT
Denmark - TV2 Sport
Finland - YLE
France - Sport+
Germany - SPORT1
Latvia - Viasat Sport Baltic
Russia - VGTRK
Slovakia - STV
Sweden - TV6
Switzerland - SRG SSR idée suisse
United States - Universal Sports

In Estonia as in Latvia the broadcaster is VSB and I will be commenting 6 of the group gamees incluning the opening game from Gelsenkirchen...

TEAM RUSSIA

Head Coach: V. Bykov

30 Alexandr Eremenko (Ufa Salavat Yulayev) 10.04.1980
40 Semeon Varlamov (Washington Capitals) 27.04.1988
83 Vassili Koshechkin (Magnitogorsk Metallurg) 27.03.1983

5 Ilya Nikulin (Kazan Ak Bars) 12.03.1982
6 Denis Denisov (Moscow Dynamo)31.12.1981
7 Dmitri Kalinin (Ufa Salavat Yulayev) 22.07.1980
22 Konstantin Korneev (Moscow CSKA) 05.06.1984
27 Vitaly Atyushov (Magnitagorsk Metallurg) 04.07.1979
37 Denis Grebeshkov (Nashville Predators) 11.10.1983
43 Dmitry Kulikov (Florida Panthers) 29.10.1990
74 Aleksei Emelin (Kazan Ak Bars) 25.04.1986

8 Aleksandr Ovechkin (Washington Capitals) 17.09.1985
10 Sergei Mozjakin (Moscow reg. Atlant) 30.03.1981
23 Aleksei Tereshenko (Kazan Ak Bars) 16.12.1980
24 Aleksandr Frolov (Los Angeles Kings) 19.06.1982
28 Aleksandr Semin (Washington Capitals) 03.03.1984
29 Sergei Fedorov (Magnitogorsk Metallurg) 13.12.1969
33 Maksim Sushinsky (St.Petersburg SKA) 01.07.1974
41 Nikolai Kulemin (Toronto Maple Leafs) 14.07.1986
42 Artem Anisimov (New York Rangers) 24.05.1988
52 Viktor Kozlov (Ufa Salavat Yulayev) 14.02.1975
61 Maksim Afinogenov (Atlanta Thrashers) 04.09.1979
71 Ilja Kovalchuk (Neew Jersey Devils) 15.04.1983
76 Jevgeni Artyukhin (Atlanta Thrashers) 04.04.1983

TEAM BELARUS

Head Coach: E. Zankovets

1 Vitali Koval (Minsk Dinamo) 31.03.1980
31 Andrei Mezin (Minsk Dinamo) 08.07.1974
35 Sergei Shabanov (Minsk Yunost) 04.02.1974

4 Aleksandr Makritski (Minski Dinamo) 11.08.1971
5 Nikolai Stasenko (Khabarovsk Amur) 15.02.1987
7 Vladimir Denissov (Minsk Dinamo) 29.06.1984
24 Ruslan Salei (Colorado Avalanche) 02.11.1974
25 Sergei Kolossov (Detroit Red Wings) 22.05.1986
43 Viktor Kostiuchenok (Moscow Spartak) 07.06.1979
52 Aleksandr Ryadinski (Minsk Yunost) 01.04.1978
? Kirill Gotovets (St. Mary Shattuck) 25.06.1991

8 Andrei Mikhailev (Minsk Dinamo) 23.02.1978
11 Aleksandr Kulakov (Minsk Dinamo) 15.05.1983
16 Mikhail Stefanovich (Québec Remparts) 27.11.1989
18 Aleksei Ugarov (Balasikha HK MVD) 02.101.1985
19 Dmitri Meleshko (Minsk Dinamo) 08.11.1982
21 Konstantin Zakharov (Minsk Dinamo) 02.05.1985
26 Andrei Stas (Minsk Dinamo) 18.10.1988
59 Sergei Demagin (Nizhnekamsk Neftekhimik) 19.07.1986
68 Jaroslav Chupris (Minsk Dinamo) 12.09.1981
71 Alexey Kalyuzhny (Moscow Dynamo) 13.06.1977
84 Mikhail Grabovski (Toronto Maple Leafs) 31.01.1984
88 Evgeniy Kovryshin (Minsk Dinamo) 25.01.1986

TEAM SLOVAKIA

Head Coach: Jan Filc

31 Peter Budaj (Colorado Avalanche) 18.09.1982
35 Rastislav Stana (Cherepovets Severstal) 10.01.1980
Peter Hamerlik (Trinec Ocelari) 02.01.1982

8 Ivan Majesky (Skellefteå) 02.09.1976
15 Dominik Granak (IK Rogle) 11.06.1983
19 Tomas Starosta (Nizhnekamsk Neftekhimik) 20.05.1981
41 Richard Lintner (Minsk Dinamo) 15.11.1977
44 Andrej Sekera (Buffalo Sabres) 08.06.1986
56 Vladimir Michalik (Norfolk Admirals) 29.01.1987
Peter Frühauf (HC Banska Bystrica) 15.08.1982
Tomas Slovak (Sverdlovsk Avtomobilist) 05.04.1983

14 Andrej Podkonicky (HC Liberec) 09.05.1978
16 Roman Kukumberg (Kazan Ak Bars) 08.04.1980
17 Michal Macho (HC Mlada Boleslav) 17.011.1982
20 Miroslav Zalesak (HK 36 Skalica) 02.01.1980
21 Marek Zagrapan (Cherepovets Severstal) 06.12.1986
22 Vladimir Dravecky (HC Kosice) 03.06.1985
27 Ivan Cernik (Cologne Haie) 30.10.1977
28 Richard Panik (Norfolk Admirals) 07.02.1991
40 Marek Svatos (Colorado Avalanche) 17.06.1982
61 Milan Bartovic (HC Liberec) 09.04.1981
88 Tomas Bulik (HC banska Bystrica) 27.08.1985
90 Tomas Tatar (Grand Rapids Griffins) 01.12.1990
97 Stanislav Gron (HC Kosice) 28.10.1978

TEAM KAZAKHSTAN

Head Coach: Y. Sagynbayev

Team full roster as soon as available. Team left to Europe with 23 skaters and 3 goalies, so there are 3 extra guys...

1 Pavel Zhitkov (Astana Barys) 04.06.1984
20 Alexey Kuznetsov (Astana Barys) 01.02.1983
26 Vitaly Yeremeyev (Moscow Dynamo) 23.09.1975

2 Roman Savchenko (Astana Barys) 28.07.1988
4 Anton Kazantsev (Astana Barys) 26.08.1986
6 Alexey Litvinenko (Chekov Vityaz) 07.03.1980
7 Maxim Semeonov (Moscow reg. Atlant) 09.02.1984
9 Vladimir Antipin (Astana Barys) 18.04.1970
29 Alexey Vasilchenko (Astana Barys) 29.03.1981
38 Evgeniy Fadeev (Jekaterinburg Avtomobilist) 09.07.1982
52 Alexey Koledayev (Novokuznetsk Metallurg) 27.03.1976
Alexey Bondarev (Omsk Avangard) 09.01.1983

17 Alexandr Koreshkov (Astana Barys) 28.10.1968
21 Dimitriy Dudarev (Novokuznetsk Metallurg) 23.02.1976
23 Andrei Spiridonov (Astana Barys) 21.05.1982
25 Ilya Solarev (Astana Barys) 02.08.1982
26 Konstantin Savenkov (Ust-Kamenogorsk Kazzic-Torpeedo) 25.03.1990
33 Andrey Gavrilin (Astana Barys) 24.07.1978
37 Evgeniy Bumagin (Novokuznetsk Metallurg) 07.04.1982
48 Roman Strachenko (Astana Barys) 12.05.1986
49 Aleksandr Shin (Astana Barys) 21.11.1985
54 Alexey Vorontsov (Astana Barys) 18.01.1986
62 Vadim Krasnoslobodtsev (Astana Barys) 16.08.1976
78 Talgat Zhailauov (Astana Barys) 07.07.1985
88 Evgeniy Rymarev (Astana Barys) 09.09.1988
Konstantin Saftranov ()

TEAM CANADA

General Manager: Mark Messier
Head Coach: Craig MacTavish

30 Chris Mason (St.Louis Blues) 20.04.1976
31 Chad Johnson (New York Rangers) 10.06.1986

2 Kris Russell (Columbus Blue Jackets) 02.05.1987
4 Michael del Zotto (New York Rangers) 24.06.1990
5 Mark Giordano (Calgary Flames) 03.10.1983
8 Brent Burns (Minnesota Wild) 09.03.1985
18 Marc Staal (New York Rangers) 13.01.1987
22 Francois Beauchemin (Toronto Maple Leafs) 04.06.1980
28 Kyle Cumiskey (Colorado Avalanche) 02.12.1986
57 Tyler Myers (Buffalo Sabres) 01.02.1990

9 Steve Downey (Tampa Bay Lightning) 03.04.1987
10 Corey Perry (Anaheim Ducks) 16.05.1985
13 Ray Whitney (Carolina Hurricanes) 08.05.1972
17 Rene Bourque (Calgary Flames) 10.12.1981
19 Evander Kane (Atlanta Thrashers) 01.08.1991
20 John Tavares (New York islanders) 20.09.1990
21 Brooks Laich (Washington Capitals) 23.06.1983
29 Steve Ott (Dallas Stars) 19.08.1982
47 Rich Peverley (Atlanta Thrashers) 08.07.1982
91 Steven Stamkos (Tampa Bay Lightning) 07.02.1990
92 Matthew Duchesne (Colorado Avalanche) 16.01.1991
94 Ryan Smyth (Los Angeles Kings) 21.02.1976

TEAM SWITZERLAND

Head Coach: S. Simpson

Roster here soon.

26 Martin Gerber (Moscow reg. Atlant)
52 Tobias Stephan (Geneva Servette) 21.01.1984
79 Daniel Manzato (Raperswil-Jona Lakers) 17.01.1984

3 Julien Vauclair (HC Lugano) 02.10.1979
6 Timo Helbing (HC Lugano) 21.06.1981
13 Felicien Du Bois (Kloten Flyers) 18.10.1983
31 Mathias Seger (Zürich ZSC Lions) 17.12.1977
33 Steve Hirschi (HC Lugano) 18.09.1981
57 Goran Bezina (Geneva Servette) 21.03.1980
90 Roman Josi (SC Bern) 01.06.1990

10 Anders Ambühl (Hartford Wolf Pack) 14.09.1983
14 Roman Wick (Kloten Flyers) 30.12.1985
18 Thomas Deruns (Geneva Servette) 01.03.1982
25 Thibaut Monnet (Zürich ZSC Lions) 02.02.1982
28 Martin Plüss (SC Bern) 05.04.1977
30 Marcel Jenni (Kloten Flyers) 02.03.1974
32 Ivo Rüthemann (SC Bern) 12.12.1976
67 Romano Lemm (HC Lugano) 25.06.1984
88 Kevin Romy (HC Lugano) 31.01.1985
96 Damien Brunner (EV Zug) 09.03.1986
Nino Niederraiter (Portland Winterhawks) 08.09.1992

TEAM LATVIA

Head Coach: O. Znaroks

1 Martins Raitums (Hull Stingrays) 14.04.1985
30 Edgars Lūsiņš (Fischtown Penguins)
31 Edgars Masalskis (Riga Dinamo) 31.08.1980


3 Arvids Rekis (Wolfsburg Grizzly Adams) 01.01.1979
11 Kristaps Sotnieks (Riga Dinamo) 29.01.1987
13 Guntis Galvins (Riga Dinamo) 25.01.1986
14 Janis Andersons (Trinec Ocelari) 07.10.1986
15 Aleksandrs Jerofejevs (Metallurg Novokuznetsk) 12.04.1984
22 Māris Jass (HK Nitra) 18.01.1985
25 Jēkabs Rēdlihs (Riga Dinamo) 29.03.1982
71 Georgijs Pujacs (Novosibirsk Sibir) 11.06.1981

5 Janis Sprukts (Riga Dinamo) 31.01.1982
6 Juris Štāls (Quad City Mallards) 08.04.1982
9 Martins Karsums (Riga Dinamo) 26.02.1986
10 Lauris Darzins (Riga Dinamo) 28.01.1985
12 Herberts Vasiljevs (Krefeld Pinguine) 27.05.1986
16 Kaspars Daugavins (Bingham Senators) 18.05.1988
17 Aleksandrs Nizivijs (Riga Dinamo) 16.09.1976
23 Andris Dzerins (Riga Dinamo) 14.02.1988
24 Mikelis Redlihs (Riga Dinamo) 01.07.1984
27 Sergejs Pecura (Moscow Krylja Sovetov) 14.06.1987
47 Martins Cipulis (Riga Dinamo) 29.11.1980
87 Gints Meija (Riga Dinamo) 04.09.1987

TEAM ITALY

Head Coach: Rick Cornacchia

1 Adam Russo (Port Huron Icehawks) 12.04.1983
30 Daniel Bellissimo (HC Asiago) 15.08.1984
34 Thomas Tragust (ESV Kaufbeuren) 27.05.1986

5 Trevor Johnson (HC Bolzano 2000) 25.01.1982
6 Michele Strazzobosco (HC Asiago) 06.02.1976
7 Armin Hofer (HC Valpusteria) 19.03.1987
19 Matthew De Marchi (HC Asiago)
26 Armin Helfer (HC Valpusteria) 31.05.1980
44 Nick Plastino (HC Asiago) 20.02.1986
50 Christian Borgatello (HC Bolzano 2000) 10.02.1982

2 Stefan Zisser (EV Bozen 84) 26.03.1980
3 Max Oberrauch (HC Valpusteria) 26.04.1984
8 John Parco (HC Asiago) 25.08.1971
10 Giulio Scandella (Rögle BK) 18.09.1983
11 Roland Ramoser (HC Bolzano 2000) 03.09.1972
16 Patrick Iannone (HC Valpellice) 09.02.1982
19 Matthew De Marchi (HC Asiago) 04.05.1981
22 Stefano Margoni (SHC Fassa) 12.05.1975
27 Michael Souza (SG Cortina) 28.01.1978
28 Manuel De Toni (Alleghe Hockey) 10.01.1979
39 Jonathan Pittis (HC Bolzano 2000) 25.01.1982
71 Luca Ansoldi (Ritten Sport) 05.01.1982
87 Nicola Fontanive (Alleghe Hockey) 25.10.1985

TEAM SWEDEN

Head Coach: B.A. Gustafsson

25 Jacob Markström (Gävle Brynäs) 31.01.1990
35 Anders Lindbäck (Timrå IK) 03.05.1988
50 Jonas Gustafsson (Toronto Maple Leafs) 24.10.1984

3 Oliver Ekman Larsson (Leksands IF) 17.07.1991
5 Christian Bäckman (Gothenburg Frölunda Indians) 28.04.1990
6 Magnus Johansson (HC Linköping) 04.09.1973
7 David Rundblad (Skellefteå AIK) 08.10.1990
8 Sanny Lindström (Karlstad BK Färjestad) 24.12.1979
11 Carl Gunnarsson (Toronto Maple Leafs) 09.11.1986
65 Erik Karlsson (Ottawa Senators) 31.05.1990
77 Victor Hedman (Tampa Bay Lightning) 18.12.1990

9 Tony Mårtensson (HC Linköping) 23.06.1980
12 Frederik Pettersson (Gothenburg Frölunda Indians) 10.06.1987
18 Nicklas Bergfors (Atlanta Thrashers) 07.03.1987
20 Andreas Engqvist (Stockholm IF Djurgården) 23.12.1987
21 Jimmie Ericsson (Skellefteå AIK) 22.02.1980
22 Niklas Persson (Nizhnekamsk Neftekhimik) 26.03.1979
23 Linus Omark (Moscow Dynamo) 05.02.1987
24 Johan Harju (Moscow Dynamo) 15.05.1986
26 Marcus Nilson (Stockholm IF Djurgården) 01.03.1978
51 Rickard Wallin (Toronto Maple Leafs) 09.04.1980
71 Jonas Andersson (Minsk Dinamo) 24.02.1981
80 Mattias Weinhandl (Moscow Dynamo) 01.06.1980
91 Magnus Pääjärvi-Svensson (IK Timrå) 12.04.1991
92 Michael Nylander (Helsinki Jokerit) 03.10.1972

I fear we will be humiliated in every single game...again.

TEAM CZECH REPUBLIC

Head Coach: Vladimir Ruzicka

30 Tomas Vokoun (Florida Panthers) 02.07.1976
31 Ondrej Pavelec (Atlanta Thrashers) 31.08.1987
33 Jakub Stepanek (Ostrava HC Vitkovice Steel) 20.06.1986

3 Michal Roszival (New York Rangers) 03.09.1978
4 Karel Rachunek (Moscow Dynamo) 27.08.1979
5 Filip Novak (Balasiha HK MVD) 07.05.1982
6 Tomas Mojzis (Ornskoldsvik MoDo) 02.05.1982
23 Petr Gregorek (Ceske Budejovice Mountfield) 25.05.1978
36 Petr Caslava (Timrå IK) 03.09.1979
44 Miroslav Blatak (Ufa Salavat Yulayev) 25.05.1982
73 Angel Krstev (Karlstad BK Färjestad) 15.12.1980

10 Roman Cervenka (Prague Slavia) 10.12.1985
11 Petr Hubacek (Brno Kometa) 02.09.1979
12 Jiri Novotny (Mytischi Atlant) 12.08.1983
14 Petr Vampola (Plzen HC 1929) 21.01.1982
15 Jan Marek (Magnitogorsk Metallurg) 31.12.1979
20 Jakub Klepis (Omsk Avangard) 05.06.1984)
22 Lukas Kaspar (Oulu Kärpät) 23.09.1985
27 Martin Ruzicka (Trinec Ocelari) 15.12.1985
42 Petr Koukal (Pardubice Eaton) 16.08.1982
60 Tomas Rolinek (Magnitogorsk Metallurg) 17.02.1980
68 Jaromir Jagr (Omsk Avangard) 15.02.1972
91 Marek Kvapil (Ostrava HC Vitkovice Steel) 05.01.1985
93 Jakub Voracek (Columbus Blue Jackets) 15.08.1988

TEAM NORWAY

Head Coach: R. Johansen

Roster here soon.

30 Ruben Smith (Hamar IL Storhamar Dragons) 15.04.1987
33 Pål Grotnes (Fredrikstad Stjernen) 07.03.1977

4 Brede Csiszar (Oslo Vålerenga) 26.03.1987
5 Juha Kaunismäki (Stavanger IK Oilers) 06.05.1979
6 Jonas Holøs (Karlstad BK Färjestad) 27.08.1987
7 Tommy Jakobsen (Lørenskog LIK) 10.12.1970
? Henrik Solberg (Stavanger IK Oilers) 15.04.1987
? Lars Løkken Østli (Hamar IL Storhamar Dragons) 21.11.1986
55 Ole Krsitian Tollefsen (Detroit Red Wings) 29.03.1984

9 Marius Holtet (Karlstad BK Färjestad) 31.08.1984
10 Lars Erik Spets (Oslo Vålerenga) 02.04.1985
14 Peter Lorentzen (Stavanger IK Oilers) 02.09.1983
19 Knut Henrik Spets (Oslo Vålerenga) 07.11.1982
20 Anders Bastiansen (Karlstad BK Färjestad) 31.10.1980
22 Martin Røymark (Gothenburg Västra Frölunda Indians) 10.11.1986
24 Andreas Martinsen (Lillehammer LIK) 13.06.1990
26 Kristian Forsberg (Ornsköldsvik MoDo) 05.06.1986
28 Anders Fredriksen (Oslo Vålerenga) 17.02.1981
41 Patrick Thoresen (Ufa Salavat Yulayev) 07.11.1983
46 Mathis Olimb (Gothenburg Västra Fröunda Indians) 01.02.1986
47 Alexander Bonsaksen (Ornsköldsvik MoDo) 24.01.1987
48 Mats Zuccarello Aasen (Ornsköldsvik MoDo) 01.09.1987
? Ken Andre Olimb (Frisk Asker Tigers) 21.01.1989

TEAM FRANCE

Head Coach: Dave Henderson

Roster here soon...

1 Eddy Fehri (Grenoble Les Bruleurs de Loups) 26.11.1979
42 Fabrice L'Henry (Rouen Dragons) 29.06.1972
Florian Hardy (Dijon Ducs)

3 Vincent Bachet (Amiens Les Gothiques) 29.04.1978
16 Benoit Quessandier (Epinal Les Dauphins) 02.12.1985
27 Baptiste Amar (Rögle) 11.11.1979
38 Thomas Roussel (Arizona Sundogs) 25.11.1985
44 Antonin Manavian (Grenoble Les Bruleurs de Loups) 26.04.1987
55 Johan Auvitu (Jyväskylä D Team) 27.07.1989
71 Kevin Igier (Angers Ducs) 04.03.1987
74 Nicolas Besch (Grenoble Les Bruleurs de Loups) 25.10.1984

5 Stephane Da Costa (Merrimack University)
7 Yorick Treille (HC Vitkovice) 15.07.1980
10 Laurent Meunier (Timrå IK) 16.01.1979
18 Luc Tardif Jr. (Rouen Dragons) 30.11.1984
20 Damien Raux (Briançon Les Diables Rouges) 03.11.1984
22 Brian Henderson (Amiens Les Gothiques) 22.11.1986
24 Teddy Da Costa (Zaglebie Sosnowiec) 17.02.1986
26 Anthoine Lussier (Lausanne) 08.02.1983
28 Laurent Gras (Chamonix Les Chamois) 15.03.1976
29 Erwan Pain (Dijon Ducs) 14.02.1986
41 Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (Skellefteå) 06.03.1985
77 Sascha Treille (Malmö Red Hawks) 06.11.1987
84 Kevin Hecquefeuille (Kölner Haie) 2 0.11.1984
87 Loic Lamperier (Rouen Dragons) 07.08.1989

TEAM FINLAND

General Manager: Jari Kurri
Head Coach: Jukka Jalonen

30 iiro Tarkki (Espoo Blues) 01.07.1985
31 Petri Vehanen (Kazan Ak Bars) 09.10.1977
35 Pekka Rinne (Nashville Predators) 03.11.1982

3 Petteri Nummelin (HC Lugano) 25.11.1972
5 Lasse Kukkonen (Omsk Avangard) 18.09.1981
6 Topi Jaakola (Södertälje) 15.11.1983
7 Mikko Mäenpää (Hämeenlinna HPK) 19.04.1983
11 Juuso Hietanen (Brynäs) 14.06.1985
21 Janne Niskala (Gothenburg Västra Frölunda Indians) 22.09.1981
42 Pasi Puistola (Jönköping HV-71) 16.09.1978
44 Sami Vatanen (Jyväskylä JYP) 03.06.1991

15 Juha-Pekka Hytönen (Jyväskylä JYP) 22.05.1981
20 Antti Miettinen (Minnesota Wild) 03.07.1980
22 Tommi Santala (Kloten Flyers) 27.06.1979
23 Riku Hahl (Gothenburg Västra Frölunda Indians) 01.11.1980
24 Sami Kapanen (Kuopio KalPa) 14.06.1973
26 Jarkko Immonen (Kazan Ak Bars) 19.04.1982
27 Petri Kontiola (Magnitogorsk Metallurg) 04.10.1984
29 Lauri Korpikoski (Phoenix Coyotes) 28.07.1986
36 Jussi Jokinen (Carolina Hurricanes) 01.04.1983
40 Antti Pihlström (Jyväskylä JYP) 22.10.1984
45 Oskar Osala (Albany River Rats) 26.12.1987
50 Juhamatti Aaltonen (Lahti Pelicans) 04.06.1985
52 Jori Lehterä (Tampere Tappara) 23.12.1987
71 Leo Komarov (Moscow Dynamo) 23.01.1987

TEAM USA

General Manager: Mr. B. Burke
Head Coach: Scott Gordon

1 Ben Bishop (Peoria Rivermen) 21.11.1986
30 Scott Clemmensen (Florida Panthers) 23.07.1977
33 David Leggio (Turku TPS) 31.07.1984

2 Matt Greene (Los Angeles Kings) 13.05.1983
3 Jack Johnson (Los Angeles Kings) 13.01.1987
6 Andy Greene (New Jersey Devils) 30.10.1982
38 Jack Hillen (New York Islanders) 24.01.1986
39 Mike Lundin (Tampa Bay Lightning) 24.09.1984
41 Taylor Chroney (Edmonton Oilers) 27.04.1987
97 Matt Gilroy (New York Rangers) 20.07.1984

13 Tim Kennedy (Buffalo Sabres) 30.04.1986
16 Ryan Poultny (Edmonton Oilers) 05.09.1984
17 Brandon Dubinsky (Neww York Rangers) 29.04.1986
18 T.J. Galiardi (Colorado Avalanche) 22.04.1988
20 Christian Hanson (Toronto Maple Leafs) 10.03.1986
19 Chris Kreider (Boston College) 30.04.1991
21 Kyle Okposo (New York Islanders) 16.04.1988
22 Ryan Carter (Anaheim Ducks) 03.08.1983
23 Eric Nystrom (Calgary Flames) 14.02.1983
25 David Moss (Calgary Flames) 28.12.1981
71 Nick Foligno (Ottawa Senators) 31.10.1987
74 Timothy Junior Oshie (St.Louis Blues) 23.12.1986
93 Keith Yandle (Phoenix Coyotes) 09.09.1986

TEAM DENMARK

General Manager: Kim Pedersen
Head Coach: P.O. Bäckman

Sill not 100% official roster

30 Frederik Andersen (Frederikshavn White Hawks) 02.10.1989
31 Peter Hirsch (Coventry Blaze) 06.03.1979

2 Philip Hersby (Hvidovre Ligahockey) 25.07.1984
3 Philip Larsen (Dallas Stars) 07.12.1989
4 Mads Bødker (Rogle) 31.08.1987
5 Daniel Nielsen (Herning Blue Fox) 31.10.1980
6 Stefan Lassen (IF Leksand ) 01.11.1985
7 Jesper Damgaard (Malmö Red Hawks) 06.05.1975
14 Jesper Duus (Rødovre Mighty Bulls) 24.11.1967
27 Mads Bech Christensen (Frederikshavn White Hawks) 03.11.1984

8 Mikkel Bødker (Phoenix Coyotes) 16.12.1989
9 Kasper Degn (SC Bietigheim-Bissingen) 25.02.1982
12 Peter Regin (Ottawa Senators) 16.04.1986
13 Morten Green (Malmö Red Hawks) 19.03.1981
15 Frans Nielsen (New York Islanders) 24.04.1984
16 Lars Eller (St.Louis Blues) 08.05.1989
18 Mads Christensen (Iserlohn Roosters) 02.04.1987
19 Kim Staal (Malmö Red Hawks) 10.03.1978
20 Kim Lykkeskov (SønderjyskE) 20.07.1973
21 Thor Dresler (Herning Blue Fox) 10.03.1979
24 Alexander Sundberg (Hvidovre Ligahockey) 19.01.1981
29 Morten Madsen (Orsnsköldsvik MODO) 16.01.1987
32 Nichlas Hardt (Malmö Red Hawks) 06.07.1988
33 Julian Jakobsen (Södertälje) 11.04.1987

TEAM GERMANY

Head Coach: U. Krupp

1 Dimitrij Kotschnew (Moscow Spartak) 15.07.1981
44 Dennis Endras (Augsburg Panther) 14.07.1985
72 Rob Zepp (Berlin Eisbären) 07.09.1981

3 Justin Krueger (Cornell University) 06.10.1986
5 Korbinian Holzer (Düsseldorf Metro Stars) 16.02.1988
6 Sven Butenschön (Mannheim Adler) 22.03.1976
20 Robert Dietrich (Milwaukee Admirals) 25.07.1986
52 Alexander Sulzer (Nashville Pedators) 30.05.1984
77 Nikolai Goc (Hannover Scorpions) 17.06.1986
90 Constantin Braun (Berlin Eisbären) 11.03.1988

11 Sven Felski (Berlin Eisbären) 18.11.1974
16 Michael Wolf (Iserlohn Roosters) 24.01.1981
18 Kai Hospelt (Wolfsburg Grizzly Adams) 23.08.1985
21 John Tripp (Hamburg Freezers) 04.05.1977
24 Andre Rankel (Berlin Eisbären) 27.08.1985
25 Marcel Müller (Cologne Haie) 10.07.1988
29 Alexander Barta (Hamburg Freezers) 02.02.1983
47 Christoph Ullmann (Cologne Haie) 19.05.1983
50 Patrick Hager (Krefeld Pinguine) 09.09.1988
55 Felix Schütz (Portland Pirates) 03.11.1987
57 Marcel Goc (Nashville Predators) 24.08.1983
87 Philip Gogulla (Buffalo Sabres) 31.07.1987

Can we have video (or audio) of that ?

I do not know if it is possible to follow it via internet...

Perry with 2 G / 1 A in the 4-1 win against host Germany.

BOXSCORE

On 13th August 2001, a new age began for FC Schalke 04. At an inauguration ceremony full of atmosphere, the Royal Blues ushered in the era of the VELTINS-Arena. The traditional German football club had built itself a new home, a home that in terms of functionality and modernity represented a quantum leap, not only in comparison with its predecessor, the Park Stadium. With its retractable pitch, closable roof, movable South Stand and videocube, the Arena immediately assumed the mantle of Europe's most modern stadium. Hi-tech that ensures that football matches can be staged in front of 61,673 fans (and more than 70,000 for pop concerts) 365 days a year.

In its first two years of operation the stadium exceeded even the most optimistic of expectations. Whereas the club reckoned with an annual attendance of 1.5 million at 30 events, some 4.1 million visitors have already passed through its doors at the 76 events held to date. The decision to build the Arena in the largest conurbation in Europe has thus paid off. A total of 6.4 million people live within 50 kilometres of the multipurpose stadium, and as many as 60 million in the wider catchment area within a 250 kilometre radius.

And they have had plenty to choose from in the first 24 months, from opera and pop concerts to top-class winter sport. Whatever the event, thanks to its independence from the weather, the Arena always draws a large crowd.
An important factor in this success is that almost anything is possible in the VELTINS-Arena.

The security technology at this magnificent venue also came in for high praise. The Arena therefore merited an excellent testimonial simply for the planning that had gone into it, added Siegler, and set standards that had few equals anywhere in the world.

Yet the Arena has also built up an impressive reputation outside the realm of major events. Whether it's a meeting or an anniversary, a congress or an office party, a registry office marriage or a church wedding, the ultra-modern venue with its elegant and cosy ambience is well placed to cope with any requirement. And so, observers soon come to realise what the extraordinary technology already suggests - the Arena "AufSchalke" is more than just a stadium.

The Ice Hockey Championship by the opening game between Germany and the USA team in the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen. Capacity of the FC Schalke 04 stadium has been risen from the common 61 673 seats to 76 152 places. In case the arena will be fully crowded it would be the greatest visit at the ice-hockey game at all, worthy of the Guiness World Record. (Just a reminder - the opening game of the 2010 WC in Hockey between Germany and USA will be played in front of 76,152 spectators (new WR which will be entered in Guiness Book during the 2nd intermission - they will beat the Michigan State 74,000 game) in VELTINS Arena soccer stadium.)

Awaited 500.000 spectators at 56 World Championship games of the world's 16 best Ice Hockey nations. Some 650 million viewers worldwide will follow the 2010 IIHF World Championship on up to 200 TV stations.

Excellent reporting, brother. Keep up the good work.

btw, are your wife and kids there with you?
Naah, the children are probably in school, yeah?
So mama has to stay home and look out for the homefront.
You get all the fun.

The game, which starts on Friday at 20:15, is expected to break the old record of 74,554 spectators, set in a 2001 game between Michigan State University and the University of Michigan. And it will also break the World Championship record attendance of 55,000 spectators, set in the 1957 World Championship in Moscow when the deciding game between the Soviets and Sweden was played in the Lenin Stadium (now: Luzhniki Stadium).

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There's also an amateur and junior hockey club that’s affiliated with the organization, EHC Gelsenkirchen Schalker Haie. The hockey team made headlines in 1994 when the club, then a semi-pro team in the third division, signed Czech superstar Jaromir Jagr for one game during the lockout. The Pittsburgh sniper racked up one goal and ten assists.

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More than 100,000 people are expected in or around the stadium. The Fan Fest opens at 14:00 with a stage program, food and drinks before the gates open at 17:15.

Officials of both teams will welcome the crowd with a warm-up game before the welcome show, “Germany on Ice”, begins at 17:40.

An old-timers game starts around 18:00 with Germany’s “100 plus legends” (all team members have played at least 100 games for the national team) and the Gazprom team with greats of Russian and Soviet hockey, captained by IIHF Council member and Russian league president Alexander Medvedev.

The game will feature big names from both nations like Valeri Kamensky, Alexander Yakushev, Andrey Kovalenko, Alexei Kasatonov, Didi Hegen and Peppi Heiss.

German TV moderator Claudia Kleinert and Germany-based Ukrainian boxing star Wladimir Klitschko will conduct live interviews at the game.



In addition, the warm-up with Team USA and the German national team will be special, as they will use green pucks to highlight a new anti-doping campaign of the IIHF and WADA. A video with hockey celebrities, promoting the fight against doping and drugs, will be published on Friday on IIHF.com.

Scooter, the German techno band that produced the official World Championship song, “Stuck on Replay”, as well as the official mascot Urmel, will also perform before the big game begins on 20:15.

German Federal President Horst Köhler, IIHF President René Fasel, and German Ice Hockey Association President Uwe Harnos will make opening speeches before the national teams of the United States and Germany take to the ice for an unforgettable evening.

More than 25 million recordings sold, over 80 gold and platinum records from all over the world and with 23 top ten hits, the most successful German band in chart history – those are the facts surrounding the unprecedented international triumph of the three musicians from Hamburg around front man H. P. Baxxter. Now SCOOTER will be providing their sound for the 2010 IIHF World Championship.

The official song of the 2010 IIHF World Championship will be "Stuck On Replay", produced in best arena sound. Its catchy refrain "I got this feeling down deep in my soul that I just can't lose - Guess I'm on my way" not only encourages fans to sing along, it also symbolizes the attitude that the 16 championship teams will take onto the ice with them. The song is from the latest SCOOTER album "Under The Radar Over The Top" and will be released as a single in March 2010. Album and single will then feature the 2010 IIHF World Championship logo and a notice of the official song.

"SCOOTER’s fast, hard rhythms are perfect for ice hockey,” enthuses Henner Ziegfeld, head of PR in the World Championship organizing committee, about the musical coup and adds, “With SCOOTER we will present a top act from Germany for the World Championship that is currently ‘in’ and is a big name in the other countries participating in the World Championship as well. We are aware that SCOOTER can be controversial, but their style is definitely anything but boring and will give the World Championship its own unmistakable sound."

In addition to "Stuck On Replay" other songs from the latest SCOOTER album will be part of the musical program of the 56 World Championship games. Additionally, various promotional activities before and during the World Championship will signal the cooperation between SCOOTER and the organizing committee. For example, SCOOTER will feature the IIHF World Championship during their "Under The Radar Over The Top Tour 2010" from March 11 to 20, the official song will be a backdrop in a commercial for the World Championship, the song will be integrated into the official World Championship website www.iihfworlds2010.com and SCOOTER’s music already gets fans in the right World Championship rhythm at scheduled games of the German National Team and the leagues. Furthermore, a live performance of SCOOTER at the World Championship opening game in Gelsenkirchen is being planned.

USA - GERMANY 1:2 OT (0:0;0:1;1:0;0:1)

07.05.2010 20:15 CET Gelschenkirchen

30 Clemmensen - 44 Endras

25:20 0:1 GER 16 Wolf (25 Müller, 47 Ullmann)
48:28 1:1 USA 22 Carter
60:21 1:2 GER 55 Schütz

The messages of the campaign are simple and clear. “Doping is not hockey” and “doping is offside” are the slogans written on the green pucks that will be used for the warm-up and that are supported by prominent players, coaches, referees and other hockey personalities from around the globe that can be seen on the video below this text.

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) believes in the true spirit of sports and rejects any use of doping and drugs. This message is underlined in the campaign in co-operation with the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA).

Personalities including Zdeno Chara, Peter Forsberg, Wayne Gretzky, Sergei Kostitsyn, Jari Kurri, Mikko Koivu, Olegs Znaroks, Kim Martin, Mark Streit, Hayley Wickenheiser and Henrik Zetterberg bring their messages to the future of hockey in different languages to encourage players to stay away from performance-enhancing drugs.

“The IIHF was one of the first international federations to be WADA Code compliant,” IIHF President René Fasel said. “Although doping is a rarity in international ice hockey, we realize that we are not immune to people who want to cheat by taking banned substances. This is why the IIHF, together with WADA, has launched the Green Puck campaign. Our main goal is to create awareness about the risks of doping.”

The IIHF is the first international sport organization to use the concept of green sport equipment for such a campaign together with WADA. Other federations are also being encouraged to adopt idea to promote the spirit of sport without doping.

Marcel Goc from the German national team and the NHL’s Nashville Predators was the first player to get a glimpse of the green pucks that arrived in Gelsenkirchen. The Germans and Team USA will use the green pucks to promote the campaign in the warm-up before playing for the first three points to be given in the 2010 IIHF World Championship.

It is the first time in IIHF history that pucks of another colour than black have been used.

Finland vs. Denmark in Cologne and Switzerland vs. Latvia in Mannheim are the other two games to utilize green pucks.

During the first weekend of the World Championship, there will be an information booth for the spectators in all three venues in Gelsenkirchen, Cologne and Mannheim. When fans visit the booth they can get both educational material and win their own green puck in a quiz. The video messages will also be shown at all World Championship venues.

---

IIHF e-mail: All doping control samples collected during the 2010 IIHF World Championship Division II Group B in Narva, EST, have been found to be negative.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank your athletes and team staff for their excellent cooperation and dedication towards keeping our sport drug-free!

Found such a green puck... Not part of current anti-doping campaign.

Welcome to the future. The future is now. Gelsenkirchen has put on a show for the ages, one that should become an annual event. American college had its “Cold War”. The NHL has its “Winter Classic”. So why not a “Championship Challenge” every year to kick off the IIHF World Championship?

After all, big outdoor games began in Moscow in 1957 when the Soviets and Swedes played before an estimated 55,000 fans on a makeshift sheet of ice at a football stadium.

Are you up for the Challenge, Slovakia (2011)? Finland and Sweden (2012 and ’13)? Belarus (’14)?

Every great hockey nation has its rival. Imagine if Slovakia played the Czech Republic in such a place, or Sweden and Finland battled it out. Imagine if Canada and the United States played their gold-medal game at Vancouver’s football stadium! Gelsenkirchen is the way of the future.

And if anyone from the Toronto Maple Leafs executive was at the game tonight, he’d be drooling right now. Imagine building a palace specifically for hockey that seats 50,000! All those long-suffering Leafs fans who have been on the season’s tickets waiting list for decades could finally get to a game (well, most of them, anyway).

What was so great about tonight’s game? Big picture answer: everything. But let’s look at a few details.

Appearances. The people here in Gelsenkirchen had fans around the rails, filling in the usual dead space of a football field between the playing area and the stadium seating. When you walk into Gelsenkirchen for the first time and look around, you really have no idea you’re in a football stadium. And, there are no kilometres of tubes and ice freezing equipment all around the field. There are no play areas, no distracting, smaller patches of ice for kids, no loitering stadium employees. Just like a typical arena, it’s all ice and fans.

The ice. Although not flawless, there were no delays to fill in holes, no worried conversations between referees and coaches, no pucks bouncing wildly. The ice definitely got more than usually snowy as the period went on, but not so much as to affect play.

Indoor-outdoor. Because the World Championship is taking place in May in Germany, with snow long gone, a true outdoor game wasn’t possible. Moving the game indoors, but to a larger arena, was the main reason for the game’s success.

Sightlines. From the media tribune, near the back of the seating area, sightlines were excellent. In fact, there didn’t seem to be a bad seat in the house. There were no obstructed views from afar (though likely there were some closer to the action). What Gelsenkirchen shows is that you CAN have more than 50,000 fans for a hockey game without sacrificing the quality of the experience compared to a traditional 20,000-seat arena.

Cool moments. How strange is it to watch a game and have a bird fly by your laptop? How cool is it to watch the Zambonis drive out from underneath the stadium, making their way through the crowd like Ali approaching the ring? How spectacular was it to not be able to hear the referee’s whistle, the smack of the puck against the stick, the crunch of bodies against the glass because the chanting, drumming, and cheering of 77,803 fans were deafening? And how about the "Spiderman camera" that moved in the huge expanse of air above the ice and fans via a network of cables?

Welcome to the Championship Challenge. Oh, and by the way, Germany won the game, 2-1, in overtime no less!

What a way to start the 2010 World Championship for the host country. With a loud and boisterous world record crowd of 77, 803 looking on at Veletins Arena, Felix Schutz tipped a shot into the USA net 21 seconds into overtime to give to Germany a 2-1 victory in the opening game of the International Ice Hockey Federation's annual showcase event on Friday.

"It felt more like a World Cup soccer game than a hockey game," said Sven Butenschon. "When you hear the roar of 80,000 people, it is a different noise."



"It was trying to yell to my linemates but they could not hear me," added USA forward TJ Oshie.

The game had anything and everything the flag-waving fans who packed the home stadium of the fabled football team Schalke 04 could have asked for.

First of all, Germany tuned in a solid effort in preventing the USA from extending its streak to six straight victories in the opening game of the world championship.

Organizers were hoping to break the old record of 74,554 spectators, set in a 2001 game between Michigan State University and the University of Michigan, and they did just that, and more.

The history-making audience also broke the World Championship record attendance of 55,000 spectators, set in the 1957 world tournament in Moscow when the deciding game between the Soviets and Sweden was played in the Lenin Stadium (now: Luzhniki Stadium).

There was even a marriage proposal flashed across the big screen in the first intermission, with the bride-to-be beaming with joy in the stands as she said yes.

The Germans are known as a team that stresses defence over offence but had more scoring chances than their opponents and capitalized on a smart play to open the scoring.



Germany was pressuring the USA when forward Marcel Muller won a race to a loose puck in the corner to the right of goaltender Scott Clemmensen. Muller sent a cross-crease pass to Michael Wolf, who was hovering about one meter off the lip of the crease to Clemmensen's left, and all Clemmensen could do was watch as Wolf ripped a wrist shot into a wide open net.

German goalie Dennis Endras turned in a solid effort.

"Their goalie was phenomenal," said defencmen Jack Johnson.

Endras was quick to close his legs and prevent a snap shot by Nick Foligno midway through the first period.

Then early in the second period, Endras kicked out a low shot by TJ Galiardi, and the crowd chanted "Deutschland, Deutschland."

"You feed off that," said German defencman Nicolai Goc.

Endras wasn't at fault when Ryan Carter jammed a rebound into the net at 8:28 of the third period. Carter banged at a loose puck in the crease and it came to a stop across the goal line after the puck deflected off the goalie's right pad.

Schutz then sent the fans home with a smile on their face.

"It was an amazing way to end the game. We could have not asked for more," said Goc.

Playing in front of a record crowd was nothing new for two members of the USA team, Eric Nystrom and David Moss, both played their first collegiate game in the match that determined the previous world record.

and the power rankings are back
love 'em, miss 'em and glad to see 'em

1.RUSSIA
Mother Russia is the greatest! Soon the gold will be ours.

2.CANADA
Must win gold. Must win gold. Gold and getting better each day, that's all we think about.

3.SWEDEN
It certainly would be nice if we won gold, wouldn't it?

4.FINLAND
Why do we never win gold? Something always goes wrong...

5.CZECH REPUBLIC
It's so depressing when we don't win gold, like a Kafka novel

6.USA
Man, these European cities are beautiful!

7.SLOVAKIA
If Peter Bondra came out of retirement, we'd win gold

8.SWITZERLAND
If we didn't have so much gold in our bank vaults, we'd probably want gold more

9.BELARUS
Hey, we'll take any old medal...we're not picky

10.LATVIA
If we win gold, our fans will go insane! If we play relegation, our fans will go insane!

11.NORWAY
We're known more for black metal than for gold

12.DENMARK
Hans Christian Andersen's Happy Prince was covered with gold -- unlike us

13.FRANCE
With our great literature, cuisine, and romantic prowess, we 'ave no need of this vulgar...'ow do you call it?...gold

14.GERMANY
As the hosts, we're guaranteed a berth in the gold medal game...wait, we're not???

15.ITALY
What's gold?

16.KAZAKHSTAN
Yeah, we were wondering about that too

CANADA - ITALY 5:1 (2:1;2:0;1:0)

08.05.2010 16:15 CET Mannheim

50 Mason - 1 Russo

1:0 02:43 CAN 10 Perry (91 Stamkos, 17 Bourque)
1:1 12:44 ITA 6 Strazzobosco (44 Plastino, 27 Souza)
2:1 19:12 CAN 2 Russel (13 Whitney) PP
3:1 25:57 CAN 92 Duchene (13 Whitney, 8 Burns)
4:1 30:37 CAN 91 Stamkos (92 Duchene, 28 Cumiskey)
5:1 57:19 CAN 17 Bourque (57 Myers)

FINLAND - DENMARK 1:4 (1:2;0:1;0:1)

08.05.2010 20:15 CET Cologne

35 Rinne - 30 Andersen

0:1 02:20 DEN 51 Nielsen (19 Staal, 33 Jakobsen)
0:2 05:19 DEN 93 Regin (9 Degn)
1:2 06:47 FIN 27 Kontiola (50 Aaltonen, 3 Nummelin)
1:3 21:19 DEN 33 Jakobsen (21 Dresler)
1:4 59:13 DEN 51 Nielsen

SWITZERLAND - LATVIA 3:1 (1:0;1:0;1:1)

08.05.2010 20:15 CET Mannheim

26 Gerber - 31 Masalskis

1:0 02:26 SUI 10 Ambuhl (96 Brunner, 25 Monnet)
2:0 22:28 SUI 90 Josi (96 Brunner, 10 Ambuhl)
2:1 42:35 LAT 87 Meija (6 Stals, 25 Redlihs)
3:1 59:58 SUI 28 Pluss (57 Bezina)

Good to see that Gerber's back, I guess his neck injury's healed

Pssst: It's "Gelsenkirchen", not Gelschenkirchen. I actually don't really care for the city, but today it's important to me

PPS: Were you sitting in the press lounge, Ahti?

I was there as well, and man was that unbelievable. I'm also happy to hear how much you enjoyed it, ahti!

Dat looks like a crowd, for sure!

Perry score 1st Canada goal

Guys, last night was AMAZING!!!! I can´t find the right words for this experience!!!!!!!!!!

Awesome atmosphere it seems. Thanks for the pix Pavlo

Matt Duchene and Steve Stamkos had a goal and assist each to lead Canada to a 5-1 win over Italy today at the SAP Arena in Mannheim. Elder statesman Ray Whitney, who celebrated his 38th birthday today, chipped in with two assists as well.

The opening game win at the World Championship in Germany gives them the first three points of play in the Group B standings.

"I was pretty happy with how things went with our line," Duchene said of the combination he played on with Whitney and John Tavares. "We connected right away. Razor [Ray Whitney] had a great game. We created some stuff. As a team, we started a bit slow. Big ice hockey is pretty different from back home."

Canada opened the scoring just 2:43 into the game as Stamkos tried a wraparound. Goalie Adam Russo made the save but Corey Perry pushed home the rebound from in close.

Soon enough, though, Canada was on its heels thanks to a pair of penalties that saw the Azzurri gain a lengthy 5-on-3. They thought they had scored at one point, but video review showed the puck hadn’t crossed the goal line. After one Canadian player came back on the ice, Italy took a penalty to nullify the advantage.

Nevertheless, the Italians tied the game at 12:44 on a great one-timer from the point by Michele Strazzabosco. Canadian goalie Chris Mason was a little slow to get over on the cross-ice pass.

Mason made up for it a little while later when he made a fine save off Nicola Fontanive on a partial breakaway while short-handed. Mason cut off the angle nicely and left the Italian with little room.

The Italians skated hard and had some good rushes, but Canada got the final goal of the period on a late power play. Ray Whitney came down the right side, faked a shot to freeze Russo, and slid a lovely pass to Kris Russell to the back side of the goal.

Duchene made it a 3-1 game at 5:57 of the second when he took a nice little pass again from Whitney inside the Italian blue line and ripped a shot to the short side, surprising Russo.

"Ray's a guy who likes to slow things down a bit, and I like to speed them up," Duchene noted. "He slows things down, pulls the other team to him, and then dishes to me. That's what happened on my goal. He's more of an east-west guy and I'm more of a north-south."

Canada made it 4-1 on a delayed penalty, Duchene in the thick of it again. He got to a loose puck behind the Italian goal and made a nice pass to Steve Stamkos right at the blue ice. Stamkos just redirected the puck past Russo.

The Italians could take some measure of satisfaction from the period as they killed off a 4-minute minor to Strazzabosco combined with a single minor to Fontanive which gave Canada a full two minutes with a 5-on-3. Despite several one-timers from Stamkos, Canada could not extend its lead.

Canada played a solid but unspectacular third period, and the Italians were outmatched and unable to mount any sort of rally. Rene Bourque rounded out the scoring with a late goal, his quick snap shot flying past a screened Daniel Bellissimo, who started the period in relief of Russo.

Despite the goal, Bellissimo might have earned a start in the next game for his fine period.

"Overall, we did some things well," Stamkos said. "It's a good win for us. We'll take it, but we have things to improve on: making smarter plays with the puck, getting pucks in, going in on the forecheck instead of making those pretty plays. It's difficult when you're playing with some great players. You want to make some good plays. But at the end of the day, when we scored, it was getting pucks to the net, getting traffic in front, getting some dirty goals. Once we realized that, we scored some goals."

Canada next plays on Monday night against Latvia while earlier that day Italy and Switzerland square off.

Finland lost to Denmark - I am in shock. Latvia to Switzerland. I'm also in double depression...

Bellissimo What a name. He should be a musician, or a cook

Can you just imagine how loud the cheering would be from this huge crowd?

Oh yeah! You know this is World Championship Competition!