Internation Ice Hockey Federation organises ice hockey events every year called as Ice hockey World Championship. Officially, it was first conducted at the Summer olympics in the year 1920. Ice hockey championship is regarded as a highest form of international tournament. The first event which was held at the Summer olympics in 1920 is considered to be the first Ice Hockey World Championship. During the years 1920 to 1968, all the hockey tournaments at the olympics was considered as championships for those years.

The pioneer World Championship which was held as a single event was conducted in the year 1930 in which hockey teams from twelve different nations participated. In the year 1931, ten teams took part in a chain of a particular format called the “round-robin format”. The teams who qualify in this round are fit to take part in the medal round. Whichever, team won in the medal round were given the medals. This was the basic form of the game till 1992 though, there were small changes introduced every now and then.

In the year 1951, thirteen hockey teams from different nations participated for the World Championship. These thirteen teams were divided into two groups, the top seven will compete for the championship and the other six will play for the rankings. And as years passed by many nations started participating in the World Championship.

The current World championship has sixteen teams. All the teams particpating in the championship have to clear the preliminary and the accrediting rounds. Only top eight teams compete at the medal round and the winner of the medal round is awarded the World Championship. A lot of changes have been made in the rule book of the tournament. It was in 1970, that wearing goaltender masks and helmets were made compulsory. In 1992 shootout was introduced.

The rules of Internation Ice Hockey Federation and National Hockey League are not the same. If you have to take part in the World Championship, as a player you should be the citizen of that country you are representing. You are allowed to switch nations provided you play for that nation for a particular period of time.

Canada has the most number of medals, they have won twelve tournaments. Canada is also considered to be the first dominating team. Other nations who gave strong opposition to Canada were Sweden, United States, Great Britain, Czechoslovakia and Great Britain. The Soviet Union who came in later dominated Canada and won twenty championships. After the break up of the Soviet union, Russia first particapated in the World Championship in the year 1992. Then Slovakia and Czech Republic, came behind Russia in 1993. With more and more nations joining, six powerful teams emerged in the 2000’s. They are Russia, Sweden, Canada, the Czech Republic, United States and Finland.

The World Championship of 2009, which was conducted in Berne and Zurich, Switerzerland, crowned Russia as the Champions for their outstanding performace. This is the second successional World Championship that Russia has won.

The 74th World Championship is scheduled to be conducted in Germany in 2010.