Latvian fans and players celebrate at Arena Riga, which will be one of the venues for the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. See you there and in Minsk in a year!
photo: Europhoto
Latvia is the first Virtual World Champion! Fans voted in the vote-based Virtual World Championship during the past two-and-a-half weeks according to the schedule and format of the cancelled 2020 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship and Latvia had a winning streak that ended with another victory in the virtual gold medal game against Finland on Sunday night.
The Virtual Worlds had many surprises and the Latvians were strong from the early beginning. This event was not about how strong players are on the ice, how many NHL players a country produces or how big a country or its population is. It was about the passion of the fans and the hockey family and for that we got a worthy winner in Latvia where fans voted like crazy, media covered the event, the Latvian Hockey Federation was on it and players like Elvis Merzlikins published video messages. Paldies Latvija! We're looking forward to being back at the arena and on ice for the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Minsk and Riga.
For the 64 virtual games we had 778,712 votes, 12,167 in average - about the numbers at the arena!
The Virtual Worlds had many surprises and the Latvians were strong from the early beginning. This event was not about how strong players are on the ice, how many NHL players a country produces or how big a country or its population is. It was about the passion of the fans and the hockey family and for that we got a worthy winner in Latvia where fans voted like crazy, media covered the event, the Latvian Hockey Federation was on it and players like Elvis Merzlikins published video messages. Paldies Latvija! We're looking forward to being back at the arena and on ice for the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Minsk and Riga.
For the 64 virtual games we had 778,712 votes, 12,167 in average - about the numbers at the arena!
The coronavirus pandemic may have caused the cancellation of the 2020 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Switzerland and many other events but it doesn’t destroy the joy of the fans for the Worlds and the anticipation of getting the annual experience back next year on the ice in Belarus and Latvia.
To make the wait feel shorter, the IIHF launched the Virtual World Championship during the dates of what would have been the 2020 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Zurich and Lausanne, Switzerland. The voting happened in two stages.
Preliminary Round & Bronze Medal Game: On our social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and VKontakte we went through the full game schedule at the exact game times and fans could vote during two hours of each game for the winner. Based on the votes from the fans and a magic formula we got the score for each game, ran group standings and got to know the participants for the quarter-finals. Even the classic Power Rankings were back! Like that we went together through the entire 2020 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship – just virtually in this period of social distancing.
Final Round (knockout games): For the final round the eight qualified teams Latvia, Czech Republic, Finland, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada and Russia was seeded in classic playoff brackets starting with the quarter-finals. Click here to vote for the pairings. The voting happened on Thursday for the quarter-finals, on Saturday for the semi-finals and on Sunday for the gold medal game until the end of the last game of the day according to the schedule below. Fans who voted in the Final Round had the chance to win cool prizes including 60 official game pucks, 30 exclusive metal pucks and 3 record books! The winners will be announced soon.
Make sure you vote for your favorite team through our social media channels and in the final round and show us how you're cheering on your team by using #IIHFVirtualWorlds.
Make sure to vote and come back to this page to check the updated scores and standings below!
To make the wait feel shorter, the IIHF launched the Virtual World Championship during the dates of what would have been the 2020 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Zurich and Lausanne, Switzerland. The voting happened in two stages.
Preliminary Round & Bronze Medal Game: On our social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and VKontakte we went through the full game schedule at the exact game times and fans could vote during two hours of each game for the winner. Based on the votes from the fans and a magic formula we got the score for each game, ran group standings and got to know the participants for the quarter-finals. Even the classic Power Rankings were back! Like that we went together through the entire 2020 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship – just virtually in this period of social distancing.
Final Round (knockout games): For the final round the eight qualified teams Latvia, Czech Republic, Finland, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada and Russia was seeded in classic playoff brackets starting with the quarter-finals. Click here to vote for the pairings. The voting happened on Thursday for the quarter-finals, on Saturday for the semi-finals and on Sunday for the gold medal game until the end of the last game of the day according to the schedule below. Fans who voted in the Final Round had the chance to win cool prizes including 60 official game pucks, 30 exclusive metal pucks and 3 record books! The winners will be announced soon.
Make sure you vote for your favorite team through our social media channels and in the final round and show us how you're cheering on your team by using #IIHFVirtualWorlds.
Make sure to vote and come back to this page to check the updated scores and standings below!
Schedule
| Date/Time (CET) | Stage | Game | Score |
| 8 May 16:20 | Gr. A | CAN-GER | 4-1 |
| 8 May 16:20 | Gr. B | FIN-USA | 6-3 |
| 8 May 20:20 | Gr. A | SWE-CZE | 5-4 SO |
| 8 May 20:20 | Gr. B | RUS-SUI | 4-3 SO |
| 9 May 12:20 | Gr. A | GER-GBR | 5-4 OT |
| 9 May 12:20 | Gr. B | ITA-USA | 2-5 |
| 9 May 16:20 | Gr. A | SVK-DEN | 6-3 |
| 9 May 16:20 | Gr. B | LAT-NOR | 5-4 |
| 9 May 20:20 | Gr. A | BLR-CZE | 3-6 |
| 9 May 20:20 | Gr. B | SUI-KAZ | 5-2 |
| 10 May 12:20 | Gr. A | GBR-SVK | 5-6 |
| 10 May 12:20 | Gr. B | RUS-NOR | 4-3 OT |
| 10 May 16:20 | Gr. A | CAN-DEN | 5-2 |
| 10 May 16:20 | Gr. B | KAZ-LAT | 4-7 |
| 10 May 20:20 | Gr. A | SWE-BLR | 4-3 OT |
| 10 May 20:20 | Gr. B | FIN-ITA | 8-3 |
| 11 May 16:20 | Gr. A | CZE-CAN | 6-5 |
| 11 May 16:20 | Gr. B | USA-RUS | 3-4 OT |
| 11 May 20:20 | Gr. A | GER-SWE | 3-4 |
| 11 May 20:20 | Gr. B | SUI-FIN | 4-7 |
| 12 May 16:20 | Gr. A | GBR-DEN | 3-4 OT |
| 12 May 16:20 | Gr. B | KAZ-NOR | 3-4 |
| 12 May 20:20 | Gr. A | BLR-SVK | 3-6 |
| 12 May 20:20 | Gr. B | ITA-LAT | 2-7 |
| 13 May 16:20 | Gr. A | CZE-GBR | 5-4 OT |
| 13 May 16:20 | Gr. B | USA-KAZ | 4-3 |
| 13 May 20:20 | Gr. A | CAN-BLR | 4-3 OT |
| 13 May 20:20 | Gr. B | RUS-ITA | 4-3 |
| 14 May 16:20 | Gr. A | DEN-GER | 2-3 |
| 14 May 16:20 | Gr. B | NOR-SUI | 2-3 |
| 14 May 20:20 | Gr. A | SWE-SVK | 4-5 OT |
| 14 May 20:20 | Gr. B | FIN-LAT | 6-7 SO |
| 15 May 16:20 | Gr. A | GER-BLR | 3-2 OT |
| 15 May 16:20 | Gr. B | KAZ-RUS | 3-4 OT |
| 15 May 20:20 | Gr. A | GBR-CAN | 3-4 OT |
| 15 May 20:20 | Gr. B | SUI-ITA | 3-2 |
| 16 May 12:20 | Gr. A | DEN-BLR | 4-3 |
| 16 May 12:20 | Gr. B | LAT-USA | 7-4 |
| 16 May 16:20 | Gr. A | CAN-SWE | 4-3 OT |
| 16 May 16:20 | Gr. B | NOR-ITA | 4-1 |
| 16 May 20:20 | Gr. A | SVK-CZE | 5-6 OT |
| 16 May 20:20 | Gr. B | RUS-FIN | 4-7 |
| 17 May 16:20 | Gr. A | SWE-GBR | 5-4 OT |
| 17 May 16:20 | Gr. B | FIN-KAZ | 6-3 |
| 17 May 20:20 | Gr. A | GER-SVK | 5-6 |
| 17 May 20:20 | Gr. B | SUI-LAT | 6-7 |
| 18 May 16:20 | Gr. A | BLR-GBR | 3-4 |
| 18 May 16:20 | Gr. B | ITA-KAZ | 4-3 SO |
| 18 May 20:20 | Gr. A | CZE-DEN | 6-3 |
| 18 May 20:20 | Gr. B | USA-NOR | 4-5 OT |
| 19 May 12:20 | Gr. A | SVK-CAN | 6-5 OT |
| 19 May 12:20 | Gr. B | LAT-RUS | 7-6 |
| 19 May 16:20 | Gr. A | CZE-GER | 4-3 |
| 19 May 16:20 | Gr. B | NOR-FIN | 2-5 |
| 19 May 20:20 | Gr. A | DEN-SWE | 2-3 |
| 19 May 20:20 | Gr. B | USA-SUI | 3-4 |
| 21 May 14:20 | QF | CZE-RUS | 4-1 |
| 21 May 16:20 | QF | LAT-CAN | 7-2 |
| 21 May 18:20 | QF | FIN-SWE | 4-3 |
| 21 May 20:20 | QF | SVK-SUI | 3-2 |
| 23 May 14:20 | SF | LAT-SVK | 5-4 |
| 23 May 18:20 | SF | CZE-FIN | 4-5 OT |
| 24 May 15:20 | Bronze | CZE-SVK | 8-7 SO |
| 24 May 20:20 | Final | LAT-FIN | 8-5 |
Final Ranking
| 1 |  |
Latvia |
| 2 |  |
Finland |
| 3 |  |
Czech Republic |
| 4 |  |
Slovakia |
| 5 |  |
Sweden |
| 6 |  |
Switzerland |
| 7 |  |
Canada |
| 8 |  |
Russia |
| 9 |  |
Norway |
| 10 |  |
Great Britain |
| 11 |  |
United States |
| 12 |  |
Germany |
| 13 |  |
Denmark |
| 14 |  |
Italy |
| 15 |  |
Belarus |
| 16 |  |
Kazakhstan |
Standings Group A
| GP | W | OTW | OTL | L | GF-GA | PTS | ||
| 1 | CZE |
7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 37-28 | 17 |
| 2 | SVK |
7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 40-31 | 17 |
| 3 | SWE |
7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 28-25 | 14 |
| 4 | CAN |
7 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 31-24 | 13 |
| 5 | GBR |
7 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 27-32 | 8 |
| 6 | GER |
7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 23-26 | 7 |
| 7 | DEN |
7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 20-29 | 5 |
| 8 | BLR |
7 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 20-31 | 3 |
Standings Group B
| GP | W | OTW | OTL | L | GF-GA | PTS | ||
| 1 | LAT |
7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 47-32 | 20 |
| 2 | FIN |
7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 45-26 | 19 |
| 3 | SUI |
7 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 28-27 | 13 |
| 4 | RUS |
7 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 30-29 | 11 |
| 5 | NOR |
7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 24-25 | 9 |
| 6 | USA |
7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 26-31 | 8 |
| 7 | ITA |
7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 17-34 | 2 |
| 8 | KAZ |
7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 21-34 | 2 |
Prize winners
Among the tens of thousands of fans there are also 93 lucky winner who won a prize in the competition. They will be contacted directly by the IIHF on 27 May at the entered e-mail address. Congrats!Official game puck:
Richard Kralovsky, Slovakia
Ivan Kokles, Slovakia
Ilona Zaļuma, Latvia
Miroslav Marko, Great Britain
Rūdolfs Ošāns, Latvia
Elva Krejci, Finland
Juraj Vaník, Slovakia
roberts petruskevics, Latvia
Apina Papina, Finland
Richard Scholz, Great Britain
Juraj Benada, Slovakia
Pēteris Ducmanis, Latvia
Rita Auguste, Latvia
Rita Sondore, Latvia
Lukáš Majchrák, Slovakia
Janine Walther, Germany
Jozef Chabada, Slovakia
Lukáš Čejchan, Czech Republic
Gunars Osis, Latvia
Janis Tjarve, Norway
Maija Lazdina, Latvia
Riuch Igor, Russia
Gundars Edzins, Latvia
Aleksejs Solovjovs, Latvia
Raivis Kuševskis, Latvia
Jekabs Nimanis, Latvia
Gabriels Grzibovskis, Great Britain
Yanis Antrop, Russia
Estere Papsa, Latvia
Zane Grudule, Latvia
David Podnecký, Czech Republic
Jake Smith, USA
Māris Krasts, Latvia
Tobias Greško, Slovakia
Arnis Relins, Latvia
Antonin Nezpěvak, Czech Republic
Ondra Javora, Czech Republic
Richard Bella, Slovakia
Jakub Sobotka, Czech Republic
Milan Ambrůžek, Czech Republic
Paulen Žember, Slovakia
Marchelo Peliis, Great Britain
Gustavs Vezis, Latvia
Teodor Šatala, Slovakia
Girts Kazainis, Latvia
Elīza Ozola, Latvia
Ievs Smilga, Latvia
Sinikka Taskinen, Finland
Dainis Livmanis, Latvia
Janis Berzins, Latvia
Miks Otisons, Latvia
Leonids Nikserfons, Germany
Gvido Ceplitis, Germany
Mustafa dönmez, Latvia
Imants Treidis, Latvia
Hardijs Lans, Latvia
Valts Maurītis, Latvia
Monta Ozola-Ozoliņa, Latvia
Miroslav Nemčík, Czech Republic
Zane Bleidele, Germany
Special metal puck:
James McKane, Great Britain
Erik Drab, Slovakia
Gatis Dzerve, Latvia
Simon Gregor, Slovakia
Vojta Pažitka, Czech Republic
Anita Vasiļenoka, Latvia
Marko Ginters, Latvia
Sandis Supe, Latvia
Baiba Jaudzema, Latvia
Sam Fuller, USA
Arturs Zemitis, Latvia
Kira Delvina, Romania
Ana Levitan, Russia
Natalia Zamashkina, Latvia
Saiva Feldberga, Romania
Alvis Suna, Norway
Valdis ZALANS, Latvia
Tarvo Korpisaari, Finland
Uģis Biedriņš, Latvia
Gustavs Bunks, USA
Niki Sainiola, Finland
Aatu Karjalainen, Finland
Kristine Jukevica, Germany
allu marttinen, Finland
Tuukka Nurhonen, Finland
Martins Pencuks, Great Britain
Martins Zarins, Norway
Justs baltmanis, Latvia
Aimo Kilpijärvi, Finland
Jari Luostarinen, Finland
IIHF Guide & Record Book:
Peter Kováč, Slovakia
Roberts Rocens, Austria
Smuidra Giertmane, Latvia