Ice hockey brings nations from across the world together to compete. Countries take great pride in their teams and players. Tournaments like the Winter Olympics and the World Championship allow the teams to compete on an international basis and test their skills against one another.
5. United States
Ice hockey has grown a great deal over the years in the United States. The National Hockey League (NHL) in North America now consists of 32 teams. The national ice hockey team has been successful in the Olympics and World Championships. It won gold medals at the 1960 and 1980 Olympics and silver medals at the 2002 and 2010 Olympics.
Ice hockey is a fast and exciting game many sports fans love to watch. They also enjoy placing online bets on the games. Many like to bet on Pennsylvania hockey teams. Seven professional hockey teams call Pennsylvania home, including two NHL teams. The Philadelphia Flyers are one of the most popular ice hockey teams.
4. Russia
Russia has a long tradition of playing ice hockey. In the Soviet era, it dominated the sport. However, it was suspended from international ice hockey competitions in 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine.
The IIHF announced the team won’t be playing in the 2025-26 season. This could have implications for the 2026 Olympics in Milan. The Olympic men’s tournament in Milan will include NHL players for the first time in 12 years. The Russian men’s team has won Olympic gold nine times and a silver medal in 2022 not long before Russia invaded Ukraine. Despite the ban, Russia has the No. 2 men’s team according to IIHF World Rankings.
3. Finland
Finland has also played ice hockey for generations. Tampere is known as the hockey capital of Finland. The hockey club Tappara is considered Finland’s most successful ice hockey team. Finland has produced many great ice hockey players who have made a name for themselves both locally and internationally.
The Finnish men’s national team, the Leijonat (lions in English), regularly competes in international tournaments. Finland won the World Champion in 2022, and this was its fourth title. It won one Olympic gold medal in 2022 and four bronze medals. Ice hockey is the most popular sport in Finland in terms of game attendance figures and television viewership.
2. Sweden
Sweden is another country with a long ice hockey history. It has been ranked as one of the top ten ice hockey countries since 2003. Its national team, Tre Kronor or Three Crowns in English, is one of the strongest in the world.
The team has won many Olympic and World Championship medals. It won Olympic gold medals in 1994 and 2006. It has won the IIHF World Championship 11 times. The Swedish women’s team won bronze medals in the 2002 and 2005 Winter Olympics and a silver medal in 2006.
According to the World Championship schedule for 2025, Stockholm will host most of the games although some will take place in Herning, Denmark.
1. Canada
Ice hockey in Canada dates back to the late 19th century. The game was first played on frozen lakes or rivers and gradually evolved into an organized sport. The first indoor hockey game was played in Montreal in 1875. Ice hockey has become deeply embedded into the national culture. Many successful school athletes play hockey. It is the official winter sport of the country, and many tournaments take place on an annual basis.
Canada has been ranked number one in the IIHF World Rankings and won more Olympic medals than any other country. With the most wins in World Championship history, Canada secured its 28th gold medal by defeating Germany in 2023. It has earned a total of 23 Olympic medals, including 14 gold. Notably, it won back-to-back gold medals in 2010 and 2014, making it the most successful country in Olympic ice hockey history.