The IIHF World Championship Division II are an annual sports event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation. The division championships are played in two groups, part of the Ice Hockey World Championships.
From 2001 until 2011, the two national teams that finished last in their groups in Division I were relegated to Division II for next year's World Championships. At the Division II Championship, the winner of each group was promoted to next year's Division I. In contrast, the loser of each group was relegated to the IIHF World Championship Division III. Beginning in 2012, the Group A champion was promoted to Division I Group B, and was replaced by that tournament's last placed team. The Group B champion was promoted to Group A, and was replaced by the team relegated from there. Last place in Group B is relegated to Division III, being replaced by their champion.
The Division II World championships have been played in their current format since 2001. Division II was formed from the teams ranked 29th to 40th, which were the five lowest-placing teams in Pool C, and the seven best teams from Pool D. Beginning in 2012, the two groups became tiered rather than parallel. Teams qualified for Group A by either being relegated from Division I, or placing 2nd or 3rd in their 2011 groups. Group B teams were formed from the teams placing 4th, 5th, or promoted from Division III.
Results YearPromotedRelegated20012002200320042005200620072008200920102011
YearPromotedRelegatedTo Division I BTo Division II ATo Division II BTo Division III20122013201420152016201720182019 2020Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.2021Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.2022, , - -2023202420252026Tournamanet cancelledNo team promotedTournamanet cancelled
Pool C Champions (1961–2000) Following the year 2000, Pool C became Division II and was split into two sections as a result of an influx of competing teams. YearNational team1961 1963 1966 1967 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1981 1982 1983 1985 1986 1987 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
Summary of participation 52 championships In 1992, 1994, and 1995, Group C was played in two independent tiers, the results for the nations who were not given the opportunity to win Group C (known as Group C2) in those years are presented along with Group D/Division III. Division II teams (2001–present) are ranked one through twelve, with this chart assessing gold, silver, and bronze to the nations who ranked 29th, 30th, and 31st overall.
Team Times First Last Gold Silver Bronze Total Best finish (first/last) Hosted 27 1974 2025 0 4 3 7 2nd (2008/2018) 3 7 1963 1981 5 1 1 7 1st (1963/1981) 1 33 1961 2025 0 3 3 6 2nd (2003/2015) 0 2 1994 1995 1 1 0 2 1st (1994) 0 43 1963 2026 0 1 4 5 2nd (1975) 5 31 1972 2022 1 6 4 11 1st (2022) 2 3 2024 2026 0 0 0 0 11th (2024) 0 14 2001 2024 4 1 5 10 1st (2005/2013/2024) 5 20 1963 1991 1 3 5 9 1st (1991) 3 8 1995 2014 4 0 2 6 1st (2002/2014) 2 16 1961 1985 1 2 2 5 1st (1985) 2 5 2019 2025 0 0 0 0 8th (2022) 0 8 1971 1992 1 0 0 1 1st (1992) 1 25 1963 2000 2 3 6 11 1st (1998/2000) 3 2 2008 2011 0 0 0 0 12th (2008/2011) 0 21 2001 2026 0 1 1 2 2nd (2014) 1 22 1993 2026 0 1 0 1 2nd (2005) 0 6 1966 1979 2 4 0 6 1st (1966/1977) 0 5 1967 1997 4 0 0 4 1st (1967/1987) 0 4 1993 1996 1 1 1 3 1st (1996) 0 1 2026 0 0 0 0 11th (2026) 0 1 1993 1 0 0 1 1st (1993) 0 6 1997 2004 1 1 2 4 1st (2004) 1 3 2002 2018 0 0 0 0 11th (2004) 0 17 2001 2023 0 0 0 0 7th (2008) 2 16 1961 2025 7 2 0 9 1st (1978/2025) 3 3 1973 1986 3 0 0 3 1st (1973/1986) 0 18 2001 2026 0 0 0 0 4th (2011) 2 20 1974 2019 0 1 0 1 2nd (1992) 0 18 1961 2017 8 2 3 13 1st (1961/2017) 5 11 1961 2015 0 0 1 1 3rd (1966) 1 13 2007 2025 1 3 4 8 1st (2019) 4 9 1995 2006 0 0 1 1 3rd (2003) 2 5 1993 1997 0 1 1 2 2nd (1997) 2 17 1979 2009 2 2 1 5 1st (2003/2009) 2 29 1977 2023 1 3 1 5 1st (2023) 10 2 1969 1974 1 1 0 2 1st (1974) 2 1 1994 1 0 0 1 1st (1994) 1 1 2025 0 0 0 0 0 9 2002 2024 0 0 0 0 11th (2002/2023) 2 5 1993 1997 1 2 2 5 1st (1997) 0 3 2023 2025 0 0 2 2 3rd (2024/2025) 0 7 1961 1990 2 3 1 6 1st (1979/1990) 2 Note 1. The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia assumed the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia's position in Group C after a two-year absence in 1995. In 2003 it was reconstituted as the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. After the state's dissolution, Serbia assumed their position in Division II, beginning play in 2007. Note 2. Both Poland and Sweden hosted a tournament at this level also.
See also Ice Hockey World Championships IIHF World Championship Division I IIHF World Championship Division III
References
External links 2010 IIHF Championship Program