Denmark's Patrick Russell (left, #63) and Anders Koch (right, #40) applaud the home crowd after their crucial 6-3 victory over the Norwegians in Herning.
photo: PHOTO: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / MATT ZAMBONIN
If you were near the Danish dressing room after their 6-3 win over archrival Norway on Sunday night, you could hear the players belting out “Re-Sepp-Ten.” The theme song of Denmark’s 1986 football World Cup team is a jolly slice of retro pop-rock with synth stabs, wailing guitar lines, and a big sing-along chorus.
Clearly, the host team was very happy with a shot at quarter-finals glory yet to come.
Clearly, the host team was very happy with a shot at quarter-finals glory yet to come.
At recent IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships, host teams have had a happy time by and large. Just look at 2022, 2023, and 2024.
With Tampere and Helsinki co-hosting in 2022, Finland made some history as only the second nation ever (after Sweden in 2006) to win “double gold,” Olympic and Ice Hockey World Championship gold in the same year. Sakari Manninen scored the dramatic 4-3 overtime winner against Canada.
Riga shared hosting duties with Tampere in 2023. And while the Latvians didn’t earn their 4-3 bronze-medal victory in sudden-death over the U.S. in their capital city (the final four games took place on Finnish ice), they were ecstatic to celebrate their historic first WM medal with a national holiday afterwards.
Last year, the Czechs captured home-ice gold for the first time in their post-Czechoslovakia history on David Pastrnak’s third-period winner versus Switzerland.
However, the question is, does this recent history paint a realistic picture? Should host teams expect to finish this tournament with big smiles on their faces?
In 2025, the Swedes – boasting a perfect record so far – have a legitimate shot at winning gold in Stockholm as they did when the Sedin twins took them to the Promised Land in 2013.
Co-host Denmark’s aspirations are a little different. The red-and-white boys, not so long ago, were getting pilloried after losing their first three games by an aggregate of 17-4. (Somewhat unfairly, as their foes were the U.S., Switzerland, and world champion Czechia.) But now, with nine points in Group B, they can breathe easier.
“It was a little frustrating start for us,” forward Christian Wesje said. “Of course, you feel it with the media too. There’s been a lot more focus on us than usual. Those first three games weren’t ones we expected to take points in. It was something we were hoping about.”
Every host team comes in with a measure of hope. But as a quick survey of the IIHF WM in the 21st century shows, those hopes can be dashed in shocking fashion.
Think of the all-star Russian team that flopped in historic fashion in 2000, finishing 11th in St. Petersburg. In 2003, the Finns had a powerhouse squad with Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu that blew a 5-1 lead against Sweden and fell 6-5 in the quarter-final in Helsinki. The following year, the Czechs were poised to go for gold in Prague with Jaromir Jagr and Martin Rucinsky, but lost their quarter-final 3-2 to the Americans on a spectacular shootout goal by little-known defenceman Andy Roach.
Countries further down the global pecking order get their hearts broken too. Austria, in 2005, got relegated on Vienna, earning just one point in a 2-2 tie with Germany and coming last overall. Denmark, in 2018, had legitimate quarter-final aspirations but lost 1-0 to Latvia in the crucial preliminary-round finale in Herning as goalie Elvis Merzlikins posted a 19-save shutout.
The bar gets elevated over time for host nations who have invested in development and expanded their talent pool.
Switzerland, after reaping three silver medals in the last 12 years (2013, 2018, 2024), will push to win it all as the host nation in 2026 (Zurich and Fribourg). Germany was very happy to make the quarter-finals at home in 2001 and 2017 and thrilled to finish fourth in 2010 with goalie Denis Endras as MVP. But when the Germans host again in 2027 (Dusseldorf and Mannheim), they will surely be seeking a medal in the wake of silver at both the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics and the 2023 IIHF WM.
With Tampere and Helsinki co-hosting in 2022, Finland made some history as only the second nation ever (after Sweden in 2006) to win “double gold,” Olympic and Ice Hockey World Championship gold in the same year. Sakari Manninen scored the dramatic 4-3 overtime winner against Canada.
Riga shared hosting duties with Tampere in 2023. And while the Latvians didn’t earn their 4-3 bronze-medal victory in sudden-death over the U.S. in their capital city (the final four games took place on Finnish ice), they were ecstatic to celebrate their historic first WM medal with a national holiday afterwards.
Last year, the Czechs captured home-ice gold for the first time in their post-Czechoslovakia history on David Pastrnak’s third-period winner versus Switzerland.
However, the question is, does this recent history paint a realistic picture? Should host teams expect to finish this tournament with big smiles on their faces?
In 2025, the Swedes – boasting a perfect record so far – have a legitimate shot at winning gold in Stockholm as they did when the Sedin twins took them to the Promised Land in 2013.
Co-host Denmark’s aspirations are a little different. The red-and-white boys, not so long ago, were getting pilloried after losing their first three games by an aggregate of 17-4. (Somewhat unfairly, as their foes were the U.S., Switzerland, and world champion Czechia.) But now, with nine points in Group B, they can breathe easier.
“It was a little frustrating start for us,” forward Christian Wesje said. “Of course, you feel it with the media too. There’s been a lot more focus on us than usual. Those first three games weren’t ones we expected to take points in. It was something we were hoping about.”
Every host team comes in with a measure of hope. But as a quick survey of the IIHF WM in the 21st century shows, those hopes can be dashed in shocking fashion.
Think of the all-star Russian team that flopped in historic fashion in 2000, finishing 11th in St. Petersburg. In 2003, the Finns had a powerhouse squad with Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu that blew a 5-1 lead against Sweden and fell 6-5 in the quarter-final in Helsinki. The following year, the Czechs were poised to go for gold in Prague with Jaromir Jagr and Martin Rucinsky, but lost their quarter-final 3-2 to the Americans on a spectacular shootout goal by little-known defenceman Andy Roach.
Countries further down the global pecking order get their hearts broken too. Austria, in 2005, got relegated on Vienna, earning just one point in a 2-2 tie with Germany and coming last overall. Denmark, in 2018, had legitimate quarter-final aspirations but lost 1-0 to Latvia in the crucial preliminary-round finale in Herning as goalie Elvis Merzlikins posted a 19-save shutout.
The bar gets elevated over time for host nations who have invested in development and expanded their talent pool.
Switzerland, after reaping three silver medals in the last 12 years (2013, 2018, 2024), will push to win it all as the host nation in 2026 (Zurich and Fribourg). Germany was very happy to make the quarter-finals at home in 2001 and 2017 and thrilled to finish fourth in 2010 with goalie Denis Endras as MVP. But when the Germans host again in 2027 (Dusseldorf and Mannheim), they will surely be seeking a medal in the wake of silver at both the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics and the 2023 IIHF WM.
The simplest explanation of happiness for host nations boils down to either a gold medal for “Big Six” countries (bronze, as an alternative, being less heartbreaking than silver) or a quarter-final berth for everyone else. The Danes fall somewhere in between in 2025.
If the hosts can defeat Germany at Jyske Bank Boxen on Tuesday to make the final eight, the party will be on like a gourmet buffet at Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens.
“This is the opportunity we hoped for before this World Championship,” said Danish veteran Patrick Russell. “We knew that this last game could mean the quarter-final or not, and we’re ready for it. We have the fans behind us, and we’re just looking forward to the opportunity now.”
However, even if they fall short, Danish fans should feel a measure of satisfaction. Their team has remained in the top division continuously since 2003 and will be back again in 2026. That’s no mean feat for a small hockey nation, and certainly worthy of songs of praise.
If the hosts can defeat Germany at Jyske Bank Boxen on Tuesday to make the final eight, the party will be on like a gourmet buffet at Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens.
“This is the opportunity we hoped for before this World Championship,” said Danish veteran Patrick Russell. “We knew that this last game could mean the quarter-final or not, and we’re ready for it. We have the fans behind us, and we’re just looking forward to the opportunity now.”
However, even if they fall short, Danish fans should feel a measure of satisfaction. Their team has remained in the top division continuously since 2003 and will be back again in 2026. That’s no mean feat for a small hockey nation, and certainly worthy of songs of praise.