The IIHF World Championship also features some of the established leading stars of ice hockey and showcases many young international talents. The annual tournament has been running since 1920. With Betsmith's comprehensive ice-hockey betting coverage, you can look ahead to the tournament's next edition by scoping out the latest outright winner odds and more.
World Championships History
The first edition of the IIHF World Championship was hosted in 1920, although then as a part of a greater sporting spectacle. From the 1930s it was arranged separately.So, there is a rich history of competition, which Canada has largely dominated. Canada won the first six editions of the World Championships and nine of the first 11 editions, with only the USA and Great Britain interrupting their run.
Things shifted in the 1960s and 1970s, with the Soviet Union delivering a large period of dominance. But since 1990, the Ice Hockey World Championship has become a much more open affair, as other nations have caught up in quality.
That was seen at the 2023 World Championship, when Germany and Latvia were surprise names in the final four of the tournament. Canada still won the gold medal, their record-extending 28th in the tournament's history, having started as favourites in World Championship odds.
IIHF World Championships Winner Odds
The long-term view of the annual ice hockey world championships can be seen by looking at the outright winner market. While the tournament features many different nations, there are familiar leaders to be found at the head of the market.The top-tier nations like Canada and the USA, along with the leading Nordic contenders fronting the European bid, are usually at the head of the outright winner market. While selecting a nation in the latest current World Championships winner odds is a popular betting option, there are other markets up for consideration, too.
For your ice hockey world championships betting, the tournament can be broken down into bite-sized chunks. As the tournament's first stage is a round-robin group format, bets can be placed on which nation will top their respective groups. Wagers can also be considered for a team 'To Qualify' for the knockout stage of the competition from a group.
The tournament stage of elimination picks is also a popular ice hockey betting option. Punters can select at which point a particular nation may fall out of the running in the current edition of the World Championships. That can be done through markets like 'To Reach Quarter-Finals', 'To Reach Semi-Finals', or 'To Reach Final'.
Popular Bets
Beyond the World Championships winner odds, you can expand your hockey betting horizons across further markets at Betsmith. The odds on the match winners for all the fixtures in the group stage and knockouts are popular; that can be done as '3-Way Match Winner' or 'Moneyline' picks.There are other exciting ice hockey betting odds to explore with the likes of 'Totals' and 'Spread' options available for Ice Hockey World Championship betting.
'Goals', 'player', and 'team prop' bets provide further markets to explore for a bet on World Championships matches. Look for our live in-play odds coverage of fixtures from the international tournament as well, allowing you to make calls on the action out on the ice as it unfolds.
World Championship vs NHL Betting
Naturally, there is a comparison to be made between the World Championships and NHL betting. The two tournaments are not in direct competition, but there are key differences between them. The size of the rink used for the IIHF tournament is larger in width by about 4 metres than NHL regulation ice.The icing rule is different between the two competitions, and penalty rules differ slightly, too, with players ejected from the World Championship matches for fighting. In contrast, they are only called major penalties in the NHL.
World Championship Greats
The scheduling of the World Championships coincides with the NHL playoffs. So that means the tournament will only feature players not involved in the NHL postseason. Therefore, some of the sport's biggest stars may not get the opportunity to be called up for their country at the event.Even if players are available, after a long, gruelling season of more than 80 matches, the top players may choose not to participate in favour of a rest. Therefore, it is always worth checking the final rosters of teams ahead of the tournament before making your calls on the outright winner.
Also, keep up to date with the latest World Championship news, as it's not uncommon for players to link up with their country's squad after the tournament has already begun, potentially changing the dynamic of the hockey betting scene.
Looking back through the history of the IIHF World Championships, some big names have won the gold medal. Canada's Eric Brewer, a popular figure with the Toronto Maple Leafs, won three gold medals with the Canucks.
NHL superstar Alexander Ovechkin, one of the sport's all-time greats, has won nine World Championship medals with Russia, three of those gold. Other popular NHL players who have had a taste of international success include David Vyborny, Shane Doan, and Buffalo Sabres legend Miroslav Šatan.
IIHF Women's World Championship Odds
There is a women's edition of the World Championships as well. This is a newer tournament that was founded in 1990. It, too, is an annual event dominated throughout its history by two very familiar names in the world of ice hockey: Canada and the USA.The North American giants are consistently strong options at the head of the outright winner market for a bet on World Championships. No other nation besides those two has managed to get their hands on the Women's World Championship title.
Why Bet at Betsmith?
Betsmith is your home for all ice hockey betting, from the NHL to the current IIHF World Championship odds. Explore some of the best market varieties for the big tournament as nations go head-to-head for gold medal glory.Grab the latest World Championship odds while on the go by downloading our app, available for both iOS and Android devices. We also have top features across our sportsbook, like 'Cash Out', 'Bet Builders', and 'Price Boosts'.
