1993 World Championship

The 1993 Ice Hockey World Championships took place in Germany 18 April - 2 May. The games were played in Munich and Dortmund. Twelve teams took part, with the first round split into two groups of six, and the four best teams from each group advancing to the quarter-finals. This was the 57th World Championships, and Russia beat the reigning world champions Sweden to win the World Championships for the first time. The bronze medal was won by the Czech Republic, defeating Canada in their first major tournament as an independent country after their split with Slovakia at the beginning of the calendar year.

While Latvia had last competed in 1939, this year marked the World Championship debut of three national teams. Kazakhstan, Slovenia, and the Ukraine, played for the first time, in Group C. Belarus, Croatia, Estonia, and Lithuania all did not make it out of the autumn qualifiers and had to wait at least another year. Also waiting until the following year was Slovakia, who did however debut a youth team.

Eleven of the twelve openings for the Lillehammer Olympics were established in Group A. Switzerland, by being relegated, was excluded, and the final nation had to qualify in a tournament the next fall. The top two teams from Group B, the Group C champion, the top Asian nation, and Slovakia all were given the opportunity to fill the final vacancy.

Consolation Round 11-12 Place
Switzerland was relegated to Group B.

World Championship Group B (Netherlands)
Played in Eindhoven March 25th to April 4th. The British team, just promoted from Group C, won all their games. Their first game was won by either keen strategy, or controversy, depending on how you view it. With the score against tournament favorite Poland tied three all, the British coach, Alex Dampier, asked the referee to measure the opposing goalie's stick. It was found to be illegal, and Great Britain scored the winning goal on the ensuing powerplay. Great Britain was promoted to Group A while Bulgaria was relegated to Group C.

Qualifying Round
All qualifiers were played from November 6th to 8th, 1992.

Group 1 (Latvia)
Played in Riga. The winner would play in Group C, the other two nations had play each other the following year for inclusion into Group C2. Latvia qualified for Group C.

Group 2 (Belarus)
Played in Minsk. The top two teams move on to Group C in the spring, last place was included in Group C1 in 1994. Azerbaijan had the option of playing in this group, but did not. Ukraine and Kazakhstan both qualified for Group C.

Group 3 (Croatia/Slovenia)
Played as a home and home series in Zagreb and Ljubljana. The winner would go on to Group C, the loser would have to try to qualify next year for Group C2. Originally Luxembourg was to play in this group but declined. Slovenia qualified for Group C.

Group 4 (Turkey)
Played in Ankara. Originally South Africa was to be in this group as well, but they went directly to Group C instead. Israel qualified for Group C.

First Round
Played from March 12-18. First and second place from each group of six advanced to the semi-finals, and then finals, with the winner gaining promotion to Group B. The three other semi-finalists, together with the two third place teams, would remain to form Group C1 in 1994. The remaining six nations would comprise Group C2, effectively being relegated. At the time of this tournament, the expected format for 1994 was different. South Korea beat Spain seven to three to win what was expected to be a battle to remain in Group C. Instead Group C was divided into two parts putting them both in the bottom tier.

Group 1
Played in Bled. Belgium, South Korea, and Israel were relegated to Group C2.

Group 2
Played in Ljubljana. Australia, Spain, and South Africa were relegated to Group C2.

Final
Latvia was promoted to Group B.