The 2022 International Ice Hockey Federation's World Championship starts play Friday in Helsinki and Tampere, Finland. It's an annual tournament that is often underrated and overlooked because it's played opposite the Stanley Cup Playoffs and made up of players whose club teams either didn't qualify for the postseason or have been knocked out of the postseason. But that doesn't stop it from producing compelling hockey.
Sixteen countries have qualified and are split into two groups. The teams will play each country in their group to determine who will move on to the medal rounds. Group A includes Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Slovakia, Denmark, Kazakhstan, France, and Italy. Group B is Finland, the United States, Czechia, Sweden, Latvia, Norway, Great Britain, and Austria.
The top four teams in each group will advance to the playoffs to determine a Gold Medalist. Games will be broadcast live on NHL Network and ESPN+. A full schedule can be found here .
Things kick off Friday with a fun game between Germany and Canada, which just might be a head-to-head matchup between Kraken goalies Philipp Grubauer from Germany and Chris Driedger for Canada. The two goalies are just two of five Kraken who are playing for their countries.
Morgan Geekie is also with Canada while Karson Kuhlman is playing for Team USA, and Adam Larsson will be on the Swedish blue line.
The Canadians will look to defend the gold they won last year but will face fierce competition. Here's a look at some of the notable teams.
Former New York Rangers and Boston University coach Dave Quinn is back to lead the American contingent this year. Team USA has become an international power over the last decade and Quinn will have a formidable roster of young players that includes Kraken forward Karson Kuhlman. The 25-year-old previously played for the U.S. at the 2012 Ivan Hlinka Tournament (a U18 event) and again in 2013 at the World Junior A Championships when he was 18. Seattle claimed Kuhlman off waivers from the Boston Bruins on Jan. 17 and with the Kraken he played 25 games while scoring twice with eight points.
Other notables playing for the U.S. include both Caleb and Seth Jones from the Chicago Blackhawks and formerly of the WHL's Portland Winterhawks. University of Michigan defenseman Luke Hughes will play with the Americans. He was the fourth overall pick by the New Jersey Devils in last summer's NHL draft and is coming off a strong season with Matty Beniers for the Wolverines.
Always a threat to medal, the Canadians will be in the mix to do so again here. Kraken fans will want to watch Morgan Geekie and goalie Chris Driedger, who both are on the team. Playing for Team Canada is a revered honor north of the border and Geekie will be representing his country for the first time. Driedger has never played for Team Canada but did play for Canada West in the World Under 17 tournament in 2011.
Other players of note wearing the maple leaf will be former Seattle Thunderbirds star Mathew Barzal of the New York Islanders. Young Buffalo Sabres star Dylan Cozens will be with the Canadians as will the fifth overall pick from the 2021 NHL Draft, Kent Johnson.
Kraken defenseman Adam Larsson highlights the Swedish roster. The veteran blueliner is familiar with wearing the iconic blue and yellow Swedish jerseys. Starting when he was 15 at the 2008 World U16 tournament, Larsson has played for Sweden internationally nine times including twice at the World Junior Championship and this will be his second time at the World Championship, last doing so in 2019.
The Swedes feature a roster that is made up of players from the NHL like Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin along with players from their elite pro league, which is one of the better circuits in the world.
Philipp Grubauer will man the pipes for the Germans and this will be the fourth time he's done so at the World Championship. Grubauer is no stranger to international play. Along with World Championships (2014, 2017, 2019) he represented his country at World Junior Championships (2009, 2010, 2011).
Germany is a growing hockey power and playing in front of Grubauer will be Ottawa Senators star Tim Stutzle, and Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider.
The Slovakians had an epic showing at the Beijing Olympics, winning the Bronze, and could surprise again at the World Championship. With the Kraken getting the fourth overall pick at the 2022 NHL Draft, the Slovaks feature two players general manager Ron Francis and his scouts will have an eye on. Forward Juraj Slavkovksy, who scored seven times at the Olympics, and defenseman Simon Nemec both are playing and projected to be in the mix at the top of the draft.
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