Hockey 2007
IIHF World Championship Russia .
The teams taken part in 2007 IIHF World Championship
Moscow, Mytischi (Russia) - 27.04-13.05.2007
The International Ice Hockey
Federation is proposing a Champions League format which would pit the top
club teams in Europe against each other in a tournament similar to
soccer's Champions League.
The goal is to get the Champions Hockey League off the ground in 2008-09,
which coincides with the IIHF's 100th anniversary.
"This is a vision that we have had for quite some time and started to work
actively on for several months," said IIHF President Rene Fasel.
"There are still details to be ironed out, but we are sure that we have a
financial and sportive foundation that will imply a new era for European
club hockey and club hockey world wide."
Under the proposed format, a qualification round will determine six teams
which will advance to the 12-team group stage which includes the national
champions from the top six European leagues. The teams would then play a
double round-robin schedule with the four group winners advancing to the
semi-final.
The semi-finalists will play a two games, home and away, with the winners
advancing on aggregate to the final where another two game, home and away,
series will determine the champion.
IHF President added that the IIHF has had preliminary discussions with the
NHL which would see the Champions Hockey League winner take on an NHL team
- not necessarily the Stanley Cup champion - for a world trophy in
September.
"This is something that we have been trying to make feasible for years and
finally we believe that together with our partner NHL we have a concept
for an annual September showdown," said Fasel, who added that further
details of the event would be revealed at the World Championship later
this month in Moscow.
| 2007 IIHF MEN'S
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP |
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From April 27-May 13, Russia
will play host to the top hockey nations in the world for the
occasion of the 2007 IIHF Men's World Championship. Team
USA's '07 Worlds experience begins Friday with a game vs. Russia
at 8:15 a.m. EDT at Arena Mytischi.
IIHF MEN'S WORLD
CHAMPIONSHIP - TEAM USA SCHEDULE
Date
Opponent Arena Time (Local/EDT)
April 25 Sweden* Globe Arena 7:00 p.m./1:00 p.m.
April 27 Austria Arena Mytischi 4:15 p.m./8:15 a.m.
April 29 Belarus Arena Mytischi 8:15 p.m./12:15 p.m.
May 1 Czech Republic Arena Mytischi 8:15 p.m./12:15 p.m.
May 3-7 Qualif Round Arena Mytischi TBD
May 9-10 Quarterfinals Arena Khodynka TBD
May 12 Semifinal Arena Khodynka :15 p.m./7:15 a.m.
May 12 Semifinal Arena Khodynka 7:15 p.m./11:15 a.m.
May 13 Bronze Medal Arena Khodynka 4:15 p.m./8:15 a.m.
May 13 Gold Medal Arena Khodynka 8:15 p.m./12:15 p.m |
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WINNIPEG – Hockey Canada, along with Team Canada general manager Steve
Yzerman, announced today that Andy Murray (Souris, MB) has been named head
coach of the Canadian entry at the 2007 IIHF World Men’s Hockey
Championship, while Mike Johnston (Dartmouth, NS) and Gerard Gallant (Summerside,
P.E.I.) will join Murray behind the bench as assistants for the April 27-May
13, 2007 championship in Moscow, Russia.
Yzerman also announced that Jacques Martin of the Florida Panthers will
be Canada’s assistant general manager for the 2007 IIHF World Men’s
Championship. Martin is the head coach and general manager of the Panthers,
and was a member of Canada’s coaching staff at the 2002 and 2006 Olympics as
well as the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.
Along with Martin and the coaching staff, Yzermann will also continue to
consult with two NHL general managers as part of the player selection
process: Doug Armstrong of the Dallas Stars and John Ferguson of the Toronto
Maple Leafs.
“We have put together a coaching staff with tremendous international
experience, and I am looking forward to working with them, both in the lead
up to the World Championship, and in Russia,” said Yzerman. “I’m looking
forward to w0rking with Jacques, as well as with our selection committee of
John and Doug, as we look to name players in the coming weeks. I’m confident
we will put together a terrific team and make Canada proud.”
For Murray, head coach of the St. Louis Blues, the 2007 IIHF World Men’s
Hockey Championship will mark his fourth time behind the Canadian bench at
the event. He led Canada to gold medals at the 1997 event in Italy and the
2003 championship in Finland, and finished 6th in 1998 in Switzerland.
Murray spent two seasons (1996-98) as the head coach of Canada’s National
Men’s Team, finishing with a 77-29-14 record. He was also an associate coach
on the 1998 Canadian Olympic Men’s Team.
Canada opens the 2007 IIHF World Men’s Hockey Championship on April 28 at
Mytischi Arena against Germany team. The Canadians will play in a
preliminary round group with the Germans, Norway and Slovakia.
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