How the 2025 Ice Hockey World Championship went: results, surprises, impressions

The outcome of the 2025 Ice Hockey World Championship has become the most important ice hockey intrigue of the year. The tournament began on May 10th in two countries – Sweden and Denmark. The games were held in Stockholm (Globe Arena) and Herning (Jyske Bank Boxen), where the infrastructure met the most stringent IIHF requirements. The organizers ensured not only technical perfection but also a unique atmosphere: fan zones, multimedia shows, three-story stands with theater-quality acoustics.

Increased media attention, the return of key NHL players, a packed schedule, and a balanced team lineup made for a particularly eventful start. The group stage formed the structure of the tournament, with every point playing a part in the future playoff battle. By the fifth matchday, the backbone of the favorites had already emerged, but surprises weren’t long in coming.

Group Stage: How the 2025 IIHF World Championship unfolded

This is how the 2025 IIHF World Championship unfolded in the preliminary round – the group stage showed that the traditional balance of power didn’t hold up to the test.

Group A (Stockholm):

1. Canada – 6 wins, 1 loss, goal difference +19.
2. Sweden – 5 wins, 2 draws, maximum discipline.
3. Finland – Instability at the beginning, followed by a series of dominant games.

Austria – A sensational loss to Latvia couldn’t prevent them from reaching the playoffs.

Group B (Herning):

1. USA – Dominance in all areas of the court, 18 points.
2. Switzerland – Strong defense, 3 games without conceding a goal.
3. Czech Republic – Explosive style, but instability in the finals.
4. Denmark – Home spirit, reaching the quarterfinals thanks to a comeback win against Germany.

Each game was accompanied by a video broadcast with multi-camera footage, infographics, and tracking of puck speed and player movement distance.

Playoffs: Strategy, Nerves, Last-Second Goals

The 2025 Ice Hockey World Championship playoffs exceeded even the expectations of skeptics. The first round was marked by victories that changed expectations:

1. USA vs. Czech Republic: 4:1. Powerful start, dominance in shots (35 vs. 19).
2. Switzerland vs. Finland: 3:2. The turnaround in the third period, the decisive goal while shorthanded.
3. Denmark vs. Canada: 2:1. The goalie saved 44 shots, including a penalty shot in the final seconds.
4. Sweden vs. Austria: 5:2. Tactical maturity, complete control of the initiative.

Semifinals:

1. USA vs. Denmark: 3:1. Pressure from the opening seconds, the winning goal came on a quick counterattack in the 32nd minute.
2. Switzerland vs. Sweden: 2-1 (OT). The only overtime period, the puck hitting the net at 158 ​​km/h.

Final of the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship: The Globen Stadium in Stockholm had a capacity of over 18,000 spectators. Switzerland and the USA began cautiously, taking minimal risks. The first period was scoreless. The second was a series of saves. In the third period, shots were blocked and a 2-on-1 was completed by the US goalie. In the second minute of overtime, Tage Thompson skated along the boards, moved to the center, and shot the puck under the crossbar. The goal gave the United States its first gold medal since 1933.

Player Icons: Who lit up the tournament ice?

How the 2025 IIHF World Championship unfolded from a personal perspective was determined by several stars who exceeded expectations:

1. Tage Thompson (USA): 6 goals, including the game-winning goal in the final.
2. Logan Cooley (USA): 4+8, showed tactical versatility.
3. Jeremy Swayman (USA): 0.938 save percentage, 3 shutouts.
4. Leo Karlsson (Sweden): 4+6, scores in key areas.
5. Nino Niederreiter (Switzerland): Stability as captain, key passes.
6. Daniel Thiessen (Denmark): 43 saves against Canada, 929% tournament save percentage.

Each of these players had a direct impact on their team’s performance, not only with their statistics, but also with their understanding of the game, rhythm, and leadership.

Energy in the stands: How the 2025 IIHF World Championship unfolded

The arenas in Denmark and Sweden attracted more than 500,000 fans throughout the tournament. Occupancy rate: 96%. Pre-game ice shows, spectator involvement in voting moments for the stars, and team-themed photo zones boosted participation. Technology enabled the introduction of a system with instant statistics for fans in the arena: Each spectator was given access to tablets with live data on shot speed, time on ice, and the effectiveness of substitutions. This increased game immersion and improved understanding of the action.

Tournament in Numbers

The final statistics show how the 2025 Ice Hockey World Championship unfolded:

1. The total duration of the games was 64 hours and 20 minutes.
2. Number of washers: 182.
3. The maximum score in a game was 7:5.
4. Minimum number of shots to win: 17 (Denmark vs. Canada).
5. The average age of the champions is 27.3 years.
6. The total number of spectators is over 500,000.
7. Utility coefficient (max.) – +10 for the Swiss defenseman.
8. The total number of shots on goal is more than 1,200.
9. The leading scorers are Cooley (12), Thompson (9), and Karlsson (10).
10. The IIHF rated the game’s entertainment value 9.4 out of 10.

Results and Impact: How World Hockey Has Changed

How did the 2025 Ice Hockey World Championship play out in the aftermath? A shift in the balance of power has occurred. The USA’s victory signaled a reshaping of the development programs. The young players demonstrated not only physical strength but also tactical maturity.

The results of the 2025 Ice Hockey World Championship led to:

1. The signing of contracts between NHL clubs and young players from Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and Denmark;
2. Revision of the training philosophy in Finland and Slovakia;
3. The IIHF plans to introduce hybrid rules like those tested in Sweden.

Sponsors have stepped up their efforts, releasing special equipment lines, themed player cards, collectible souvenirs, and limited-edition video game add-ons.

The Final as a Symbol: The End of the Era of Waiting

This is how the 2025 Ice Hockey World Championship unfolded in its final phase – it reached an emotional and historic climax. The medals were distributed as follows:

1. Gold – USA (first victory since 1933).
2. Silver – Switzerland (highest result in the last 70 years).
3. Bronze – Sweden (commanding dominance in the third-place match).

The USA’s victory was greeted with a standing ovation. To the sounds of the national anthem, the flag was raised. The players lifted the trophy across the ice to mark the end of the 92-year hiatus. The final was not only the culmination of the tournament, but also of decades of systematic preparation.