With the 2022 World Champions fast approaching over the horizon, the IIHF Council met to discuss changes to the program.

Due to the invasion of Ukraine, Russia and Belarus have been replaced by France and Austria respectively.
Please note that the IIHF has not inferred that Russia and Belarus have been relegated or given any indication of their future status. A perhaps understandable stance when you consider the current situation.

France and Austria were the two highest teams in the rankings outside of those competing in the top tier and this decision seems fair and logical.

France will replace Russia in Group A in Helsinki, joining Canada, Germany Switzerland, Slovakia, Denmark, Kazakhstan and Italy.

Austria will replace Belarus in Group B in Tampere.
Their opponents are Finland, United States, Czechia, Sweden, Latvia, Norway and Great Britain.

The last-ranked team of Group A and the last-ranked team of Group B will be relegated. The game schedule remains the same and will be confirmed online when ticketing is arranged.
The IIHF has intimated that details will be published as soon as possible.

It was a no-brainer for the IIHF to make these changes.
Why did it take so long to arrive?
A meeting is required with representations from nations involved to ratify the exemptions and promotions.

I could not have envisaged a tournament occurring with Russia and Belarus as willing participants. If nothing else, the IIHF would have suffered financially with sponsors withdrawing and many, if not all, countries would have withdrawn from the tournament in protest.

So what does this mean for Great Britain as they prepare for their third World Champions in the top pool?

Certainly, there will be disappointment at the chance to play France again but this may be a blessing in disguise. France would be looking for revenge for 2019 and was comprehensively the better team for the first half of that game.

Austria has been a yo-yo nation for the last fifteen years.
They certainly have experience in Pool A and will not be a push-over.
The majority of the Austrian roster plays in their native ICE Hockey League.
It is a level Great Britain is familiar with, and there will doubtless be little surprises.

The tournament will take place in Tampere and Helsinki, Finland from 13 to 29 May 2022.

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