WJC: 2023 World Juniors (Novosibirsk & Omsk) with 11 Teams

[vorky]

The IIHF Council has voted that no team will be relegated from the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship that will begin today in Edmonton and Red Deer, Canada to safeguard the sportive integrity of the competition in the light of the extraordinary Covid-related circumstances.

Due to Belarus gaining promotion after winning the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey U20 World Championship Division I Group A earlier this month, the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship will be played with 11 teams with the aim of going back to 10 teams for the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship.

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[TheBeastCoast]

How the hell are they gonna do an 11 team tournament. Love to see how that breaks down. Might as well just make it 12.

 

[Antiillafire]

Stupid move

 

[Canada4Gold]

Uhhhh that's going to be a scheduling issue. 6 teams in 1 pool requires 5 more games. They can put 3 games in 1 day for 1 pool no problem but making every team in 1 pool play 5 games in 6 days while the others get an extra day off seems not great.

As long as they don't do something stupid like make the 10th place team this year play Belarus in a 3 games series before Christmas to be in the main pool. If they're calling it an 11 team tournament is should be an 11 team tournament not a 10 team tournament where 2 teams have to play in for the final spot.

 

[JJTT]

How on earth this is going to work? Other group plays one more group stage game or what?

 

[Canada4Gold]

Does this mean no relegation series this year? I would assume if it doesn't matter it doesn't get played, but if they haven't decided on the implementation next year they might play it anyway in case.

 

[BigBadBoar]

Stupid move. They should make it with 12 teams, if they don't want any relegation this year. Uneven number of teams in groups always means problem with the schedule, plus it makes the entire tournament a bit unfair.

 

[Pandaman11]

Austria be like:

 

[Czechboy]

Stupid move. They should make it with 12 teams, if they don't want any relegation this year. Uneven number of teams in groups always means problem with the schedule, plus it makes the entire tournament a bit unfair.

I'm just happy we don't have to worry about relegation.lol

 

[BigBadBoar]

I'm just happy we don't have to worry about relegation.lol

We are not so bad that we should worry about possible relegation.

 

[Oleksiak]

This makes absolutely no sense. Needs to be an even number of teams.

 

[Czechboy]

We are not so bad that we should worry about possible relegation.

Totally agree.... just joking. we should comfortably solidify our run of 7th place finishes!

 

[tobu]

11 teams, everyone plays everyone, then the top 2 play a final game?

 

[vorky]

11 teams, everyone plays everyone, then the top 2 play a final game?

 

[tobu]

Alright, so not a good idea.

 

[Maplebeasts]

I'm just happy we don't have to worry about relegation.lol

You had close to zero shot of being relegated with the rosters Austria, Germany and Swtizerland have at this tournament.

 

[Czechboy]

You had close to zero shot of being relegated with the rosters Austria, Germany and Swtizerland have at this tournament.

German's played Finns well... they'll give us a headache for sure!

 

[GermanSpitfire]

Although the Germans are in danger of relegation - this is a dumb move.

Lets get back to normalcy.

At the very least even it up and promote two teams and have two teams relegated next season.

 

[vorky]

Arena Omsk now

Sibir Arena now

 

[Canada4Gold]

Although the Germans are in danger of relegation - this is a dumb move.

Lets get back to normalcy.

At the very least even it up and promote two teams and have two teams relegated next season.

They'll have to relegate 2 teams next year regardless. If they went to 12 teams they'd have to relegate 3. Which is fine, probably the best solution.

I don't really get what problem they're trying to solve though. Last year it was because the Division 1 was cancelled. They mentioned on TSN it's because they're afraid of someone getting relegated because of forfeits from a covid outbreak. Then why not cross that bridge when they get there? Announce that there will be 11 teams next year if someone gets screwed by covid forcing them to be relegated by forfeit. I don't know why we have to solve a problem we don't even know will exist yet.

Are the Swiss issues with covid worse behind the scenes than we're aware? And we find out tomorrow that they're not going to be able to play at all?

 

[Maplebeasts]

Although the Germans are in danger of relegation - this is a dumb move.

Lets get back to normalcy.

At the very least even it up and promote two teams and have two teams relegated next season.

You would need to relegate 3 to allow for the division 1 winner to be promoted.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

You would need to relegate 3 to allow for the division 1 winner to be promoted.

Ah yes, either way would be better to even out the division’s.

 

[Maplebeasts]

Ah yes, either way would be better to even out the division’s.

Yes I agree. 11 teams is a dumb idea.

 

[novisor]

You would need to relegate 3 to allow for the division 1 winner to be promoted.

I was in favour of 12 teams but then I realize that 3 would have to be relegated. Imagine that little relegation round robin at the end where 3/4 teams playing are sent down. I do not know how they will fairly do an 11 team tournament though.

 

[ES]

I would rather put 12 teams (Latvia was 2nd in Div I so they would be added) and put the tournament in the same format as Olympics have now. Could actually be done in the same number of days as now. Olympics have 12 days but bronze medal game and final are on different days so 11 is doable much like WJC is now.

Those four who get knocked out in preliminary playoff round would then play two extra rounds of playouts. On the first games, losers will be relegated, the winners would play one more game to qualify for next year.