2006 Olympics

Ice hockey at the 2006 Olympics was held at the Torino Palasport Olimpico and the Torino Esposizioni in Turin, Italy. The men's competition, held from 15 to 26 February, was won by Sweden, and the women's competition, held from 11 to 20 February, was won by Canada.

Men's competition
The format was changed from the version used in the 1998 and 2002 tournaments. In the new format, the number of teams was reduced from 14 to 12 and the preliminary and final group stages were combined to form two six-team groups with the top four from each group advancing to the quarter-finals.

These changes had the following effects:
 * They increased the number of group games played by the "Super Six", who previously automatically qualified for the final group stage, from three to five.
 * They ensured that all teams in the tournament were treated more or less equally, and ensured that NHL players could play the entire tournament whether or not they were part of the "Super Six" group of teams.
 * They ensured that only four teams from each group would advance to the knock-out stage. This would give the games more meaning.

Final rankings

 * 1) Sweden
 * 2) Finland
 * 3) Czech Republic
 * 4) Russia
 * 5) Slovakia
 * 6) Switzerland
 * 7) Canada
 * 8) United States
 * 9) Kazakhstan
 * 10) Germany
 * 11) Italy
 * 12) Latvia

Preliminary round
Twelve participating teams were placed in two groups. After playing a round-robin, the top four teams in each group advanced to the Medal Round while the last two teams competed in the Consolation Round for the 9th to 12th places.

Leading scorers
At the end of game 34.

Hat trick scorers
 * 🇷🇺 Ilya Kovalchuk
 * 🇨🇿 Václav Prospal

Leading goaltenders
Goalkeepers with 40% or more of their team's total minutes.

Shut-out posters


 * 🇫🇮 Antero Niittymäki
 * 🇫🇮 Fredrik Norrena
 * Martin Gerber
 * 🇨🇿 Tomáš Vokoun
 * 🇷🇺 Evgeni Nabokov

Awards
The tournament all-star team was voted on by the international media at the conclusion of the event. The following players were named:

Additionally, Antero Niittymäki was named the most valuable player and the best goaltender of the tournament. Teemu Selänne was named the best forward and Kenny Jönsson was awarded as the best defenceman of the tournament.

Qualification
Twelve places were allotted for the men's ice hockey tournament. The first eight were awarded to the top eight teams in the International Ice Hockey Federation ranking following the 2004 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships. Those teams were:
 * 1) Canada
 * 2) Sweden
 * 3) Slovakia
 * 4) Czech Republic
 * 5) Finland
 * 6) United States
 * 7) Russia
 * 8) Germany

The teams that automatically qualified include the same "Super Six" teams that were automatically qualified for the final group stage in the two previous tournaments, plus Slovakia and Germany which (IIHF rankings notwithstanding) are generally regarded by fans as being the seventh and eighth best teams. The ninth place was given to the host nation, Italy. The final three places were allotted through qualification tournaments in which Switzerland, Kazakhstan and Latvia won places.

Qualification tournaments
''Groups D, E and F winners advance to Groups C, B and A respectively. Groups A, B and C winners qualify for the Olympic tournament. ''

Group D - Briançon, France (11–14 November 2004)
 * France-x (3–0)
 * Romania (2–1)
 * Estonia (1–2)
 * Bulgaria (0–3)

Group E - Nowy Targ, Poland (11–14 November 2004)
 * Poland-x (3–0)
 * Netherlands (2–1)
 * Lithuania (1–2)
 * Croatia (0–3)

Group F - Stavanger, Norway (11–14 November 2004)
 * Norway-x (2–0–1)
 * Hungary (2–0–1)
 * China (1–2)
 * Serbia and Montenegro (0–3)

Group A - Kloten, Switzerland (10–13 February 2005)
 * Switzerland-x (3–0)
 * Norway (2–1)
 * Denmark (1–2)
 * Japan (0–3)

Group B - Riga, Latvia (10–13 February 2005)
 * Latvia-x (3–0)
 * Belarus (2–1)
 * Slovenia (1–2)
 * Poland (0–3)

Group C - Klagenfurt, Austria (10–13 February 2005)
 * Kazakhstan-x (2–1)
 * Austria (1–1-1)
 * France (1–1-1)
 * Ukraine (1–2)

Women's competition
The loss of the United States to Sweden in Semifinal 1 was one of the most important events in the history of international women's ice hockey. It was the first time that either the US or Canada had lost in an international competition (other than to each other).

Final rankings

 * 1) Canada
 * 2) Sweden
 * 3) United States
 * 4) Finland
 * 5) Germany
 * 6) Russia
 * 7) Switzerland
 * 8) Italy

Group A Games

 * Sweden 3 Russia 1
 * Canada 16 Italy 0
 * Canada 12 Russia 0
 * Sweden 11 Italy 0
 * Russia 5 Italy 0
 * Canada 8 Sweden 1

Group B Games

 * Finland 3 Germany 0
 * United States 6 Switzerland 0
 * United States 5 Germany 0
 * Finland 4 Switzerland 0
 * Germany 2 Switzerland 1
 * United States 7 Finland 3

Leading scorers
Hat trick scorers
 * 🇨🇦 Hayley Wickenheiser, Caroline Ouellette
 * 🇸🇪 Therese Sjölander, Maria Rooth
 * 🇺🇸 Katie King

Leading goaltenders
Goalies with 40% or more of their team's total minutes

Goalies with less than 40% of their team's total minutes

Shut-out posters


 * Noora Räty (Finland)
 * Cecilia Andersson (Sweden)
 * Kim St. Pierre (Canada)
 * Charline Labonté (Canada)
 * Chanda Gunn (USA)
 * Pam Dreyer (USA)
 * Jennifer Harss (Germany)

Awards
Tournament
 * Goalkeeper:
 * Kim Martin, Sweden
 * Defensemen:
 * Angela Ruggiero, United States
 * Carla MacLeod, Canada
 * Forwards:
 * Gillian Apps, Canada
 * Hayley Wickenheiser, Canada
 * Maria Rooth, Sweden
 * Most Valuable Player:
 * Hayley Wickenheiser, Canada

Qualification
The top four teams from the International Ice Hockey Federation world rankings following the 2004 Women's World Ice Hockey Championships qualified automatically. These teams were Canada, the United States, Finland and Sweden. Italy also gained a place as the host nation. Russia, Germany, and Switzerland qualified for the last three places through qualification tournaments.

Qualification tournaments
Group A - Podolsk, Russia (11–14 November 2004)
 * 1) Russia-x (2–0)
 * 2) Japan (1–1)
 * 3) Czech Republic (0–2)

Group B - Bad Tölz, Germany (11–14 November 2004)
 * 1) Germany-x (3–0)
 * 2) Kazakhstan (2–1)
 * 3) Latvia (1–2)
 * 4) Slovenia (0–3)

Group C - Beijing, China (11–14 November 2004)
 * 1) Switzerland-x (3–0)
 * 2) China (2–1)
 * 3) France (1–2)
 * 4) Norway (0–3)