World Championships of Hockey 2014: Belarus Bracket, Schedule and Predictions
The 2014 IIHF World Championships of Hockey is one of the most exciting tournaments of the year, and many hockey fans without a team left in the Stanley Cup playoffs are turning to the competition from Minsk, Belarus.
With power nations like the United States, Canada, Russia and Sweden all hunting for a gold medal, the frenzy surrounding the start of the competition on Friday, May 9, has fans of the sport around the world waiting with anticipation.
Once the teams are through the qualifying rounds, the tournament takes on a bracket format that will have even the most jaded hockey fans entertained by the on-ice action.
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Here is the full schedule and predictions for the 2014 IIHF World Championships.
| Sweden | 1 | Finland | 2 |
| Czech Republic | 4 | Russia | 3 |
| Canada | 5 | United States | 6 |
| Slovakia | 8 | Switzerland | 7 |
| Norway | 9 | Germany | 10 |
| Denmark | 12 | Latvia | 11 |
| France | 13 | Belarus | 14 |
| Italy | 18 | Kazakhstan | 16 |
Round | Group | Date | Visitor | vs. | Home | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Preliminary | B | Friday, May 9 | Switzerland | - | Russia | 9:45 a.m. EDT |
Preliminary | A | Friday, May 9 | France | - | Canada | 9:45 a.m. EDT |
Preliminary | B | Friday, May 9 | Belarus | - | United States | 1:45 p.m. EDT |
Preliminary | A | Friday, May 9 | Slovakia | - | Czech Republic | 1:45 p.m. EDT |
Preliminary | B | Saturday, May 10 | Kazakhstan | - | Germany | 5:45 a.m. EDT |
Preliminary | A | Saturday, May 10 | Italy | - | Norway | 5:45 a.m. EDT |
Preliminary | B | Saturday, May 10 | Finland | - | Latvia | 9:45 a.m. EDT |
Preliminary | A | Saturday, May 10 | Sweden | - | Denmark | 9:45 a.m. EDT |
Preliminary | B | Saturday, May 10 | United States | - | Switzerland | 1:45 p.m. EDT |
Preliminary | A | Saturday, May 10 | Canada | - | Slovakia | 1:45 p.m. EDT |
Preliminary | A | Sunday, May 11 | France | - | Italy | 5:45 a.m. EDT |
Preliminary | B | Sunday, May 11 | Germany | - | Latvia | 6:45 a.m. EDT |
Preliminary | A | Sunday, May 11 | Norway | - | Denmark | 9:45 a.m. EDT |
Preliminary | B | Sunday, May 11 | Belarus | - | Kazakhstan | 10:30 a.m. EDT |
Preliminary | A | Sunday, May 11 | Sweden | - | Czech Republic | 1:45 p.m. EDT |
Preliminary | B | Sunday, May 11 | Finland | - | Russia | 2:00 p.m. EDT |
Preliminary | B | Monday, May 12 | Switzerland | - | Belarus | 9:45 a.m. EDT |
Preliminary | A | Monday, May 12 | Slovakia | - | France | 9:45 a.m. EDT |
Preliminary | B | Monday, May 12 | Russia | - | United States | 1:45 p.m. EDT |
Preliminary | A | Monday, May 12 | Czech Republic | - | Canada | 1:45 p.m. EDT |
Preliminary | B | Tuesday, May 13 | Germany | - | Finland | 9:45 a.m. EDT |
Preliminary | A | Tuesday, May 13 | Denmark | - | Italy | 9:45 a.m. EDT |
Preliminary | B | Tuesday, May 13 | Kazakhstan | - | Latvia | 1:45 p.m. EDT |
Preliminary | A | Tuesday, May 13 | Norway | - | Sweden | 1:45 p.m. EDT |
Preliminary | B | Wednesday, May 14 | Switzerland | - | Germany | 9:45 a.m. EDT |
Preliminary | A | Wednesday, May 14 | Czech Republic | - | Italy | 9:45 a.m. EDT |
Preliminary | B | Wednesday, May 14 | Russia | - | Kazakhstan | 1:45 p.m. EDT |
Preliminary | A | Wednesday, May 14 | Slovakia | - | Norway | 1:45 p.m. EDT |
Preliminary | B | Thursday, May 15 | United States | - | Latvia | 9:45 a.m. EDT |
Preliminary | A | Thursday, May 15 | Canada | - | Denmark | 9:45 a.m. EDT |
Preliminary | B | Thursday, May 15 | Finland | - | Belarus | 1:45 p.m. EDT |
Preliminary | A | Thursday, May 15 | Sweden | - | France | 1:45 p.m. EDT |
Preliminary | B | Friday, May 16 | United States | - | Kazakhstan | 9:45 a.m. EDT |
Preliminary | A | Friday, May 16 | Canada | - | Italy | 9:45 a.m. EDT |
Preliminary | B | Friday, May 16 | Finland | - | Switzerland | 1:45 p.m. EDT |
Preliminary | A | Friday, May 16 | Sweden | - | Slovakia | 1:45 p.m. EDT |
Preliminary | B | Saturday, May 17 | Latvia | - | Russia | 5:45 a.m. EDT |
Preliminary | A | Saturday, May 17 | France | - | Norway | 5:45 a.m. EDT |
Preliminary | B | Saturday, May 17 | Belarus | - | Germany | 9:45 a.m. EDT |
Preliminary | A | Saturday, May 17 | Denmark | - | Czech Republic | 9:45 a.m. EDT |
Preliminary | B | Saturday, May 17 | Switzerland | - | Kazakhstan | 1:45 p.m. EDT |
Preliminary | A | Saturday, May 17 | Slovakia | - | Italy | 1:45 p.m. EDT |
Preliminary | B | Sunday, May 18 | United States | - | Finland | 9:45 a.m. EDT |
Preliminary | A | Sunday, May 18 | Canada | - | Sweden | 9:45 a.m. EDT |
Preliminary | B | Sunday, May 18 | Russia | - | Germany | 1:45 p.m. EDT |
Preliminary | A | Sunday, May 18 | Czech Republic | - | Norway | 1:45 p.m. EDT |
Preliminary | B | Monday, May 19 | Kazakhstan | - | Finland | 9:45 a.m. EDT |
Preliminary | A | Monday, May 19 | Denmark | - | France | 9:45 a.m. EDT |
Preliminary | B | Monday, May 19 | Latvia | - | Belarus | 1:45 p.m. EDT |
Preliminary | A | Monday, May 19 | Italy | - | Sweden | 1:45 p.m. EDT |
Preliminary | B | Tuesday, May 20 | Germany | - | United States | 5:45 a.m. EDT |
Preliminary | A | Tuesday, May 20 | Norway | - | Canada | 5:45 a.m. EDT |
Preliminary | B | Tuesday, May 20 | Latvia | - | Switzerland | 9:45 a.m. EDT |
Preliminary | A | Tuesday, May 20 | Denmark | - | Slovakia | 9:45 a.m. EDT |
Preliminary | B | Tuesday, May 20 | Russia | - | Belarus | 1:45 p.m. EDT |
Preliminary | A | Tuesday, May 20 | Czech Republic | - | France | 1:45 p.m. EDT |
Quarterfinal | -- | Thursday, May 22 | TBD | - | TBD | 9:00 a.m. EDT |
Quarterfinal | -- | Thursday, May 22 | TBD | - | TBD | 10:00 a.m. EDT |
Quarterfinal | -- | Thursday, May 22 | TBD | - | TBD | 1:00 p.m. EDT |
Quarterfinal | -- | Thursday, May 22 | TBD | - | TBD | 2:00 p.m. EDT |
Semifinal | -- | Saturday, May 24 | TBD | - | TBD | 7:45 a.m. EDT |
Semifinal | -- | Saturday, May 24 | TBD | - | TBD | 11:45 a.m. EDT |
Bronze | -- | Sunday, May 25 | TBD | - | TBD | 9:30 a.m. EDT |
Gold | -- | Sunday, May 25 | TBD | - | TBD | 2:00 p.m. EDT |
Breaking Down Team USA
The 2014 World Championships are one of the most exciting times of the year for diehard hockey fans, and supporters in the United States are excited to see what Team USA will bring to the table.
The United States finished in third place in 2013.
After faltering at the 2014 Olympics, the American squad will look to regain its elite form and put on a show at the international level. Coaching the cast of characters won’t be easy, but the team has hired new Nashville Predators head coach Peter Laviolette.
According to NHL.com, he will be joined by assistants Joe Sacco, Phil Housley and Don Granato.
The story of this tournament will be Team USA’s roster (you can find the full roster at USAHockey.com), and if they have enough depth and talent to contend with the top teams in the world.
The biggest question is goaltending.
College hockey star Connor Hellebuyck will be working with NHL veteran Tim Thomas as the tandem in net, and this will be a good chance for Thomas to teach the younger player in what is likely his last chance to represent the USA.
The defense is another question mark, but with talented players like Seth Jones, Jacob Trouba and Jake McCabe all being given the opportunity to shine, this unit has the youth and exuberance to be a real danger.
Add in the offensive pressure of talented forwards like Justin Abdelkader, Peter Mueller and Johnny Gaudreau, and there is no doubt that the Americans will be able to hang with their competition in every facet of the game.
With the right mindset and game plan, Team USA should be expecting a medal.
*Stats via NHL.com. All other information via IIHFWorlds2014.com.
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