2025 in ice hockey
The following is a list of the events taking place in ice hockey for the year 2025 throughout the world.
Olympic qualification
[edit]Final qualifications for women's tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics took place from February 6 to February 9.[1]
- Group G:
Tomakomai
- Group H:
Gävle
- Final Round Robin placements: 1. Sweden, 2.
Denmark, 3. 
Norway, 4. 
Netherlands
- Final Round Robin placements: 1.
- Group I:
Bremerhaven
- Japan, Sweden, and Germany qualified for the women's tournament at the Olympics.
- If the IIHF chooses to extend Russia's tournament ban, France will additionally qualify.
World Championships
[edit]2025 World Ice Hockey Divisions for the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) will take place between December 9, 2024 and May 25, 2025.
World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
[edit]- December 26, 2024 – January 5: 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship in
Ottawa
- The
United States defeated 
Finland, 4–3 in overtime, to win their second consecutive and seventh overall World Junior Ice Hockey Championship title. 
Czechia defeated Sweden, 3–2 in a shootout, to win the bronze medal.
Kazakhstan was relegated to Division I – Group A for 2026.
- The
Divisions
[edit]- December 9 – 15, 2024: Division I – Group A in
Bled
- December 11 – 14, 2024: Division III – Group B in
Bangkok
- Final Round Robin placements: 1. Thailand, 2.
Kyrgyzstan, 3. 
South Africa, 4. 
Luxembourg - Thailand was promoted to Division III – Group A for 2026.
- Final Round Robin placements: 1.
- January 6 – 12: Division II – Group A in
Zagreb
- Final Round Robin placements: 1.
Lithuania, 2. 
Romania, 3. Croatia, 4. 
Great Britain, 5. 
China, 6. Netherlands - Lithuania was promoted to Division I – Group B for 2026.
- Netherlands was relegated to Division II – Group B for 2026.
- Final Round Robin placements: 1.
- January 11 – 17: Division I – Group B in
Tallinn
- January 19 – 25: Division II – Group B in
Belgrade
- January 27 – February 2: Division III – Group A in
Istanbul
- Final Round Robin placements: 1.
New Zealand, 2. 
Chinese Taipei, 3. 
Bulgaria, 4. Turkey, 5. 
Bosnia and Herzegovina, 6. 
Mexico - New Zealand was promoted to Division II – Group B for 2026.
- Mexico was relegated to Division III – Group B for 2026.
- Final Round Robin placements: 1.
IIHF World Women's U18 Championship
[edit]- January 4 – 12: 2025 IIHF World Women's U18 Championship in Vantaa
- Canada defeated United States, 3–0, to win their eighth World Women's U18 Championship title.
- Czechia defeated Sweden, 2–1, to win the bronze medal.
- Japan was relegated to Division I – Group A for 2026.
Divisions
[edit]- January 5 – 11: Division I – Group A in
Budapest
- January 7 – 13: Division I – Group B in
Katowice
- January 18 – 23: Division II – Group B in Istanbul
- Final Round Robin placements: 1. Turkey, 2.
Iceland, 3. 
Belgium, 4. Mexico, 5. South Africa - Turkey was promoted to Division II – Group A for 2026.
- South Africa was relegated to Division III for 2026.
- Final Round Robin placements: 1.
- January 20 – 26: Division II – Group A in
Riga
- Final Round Robin placements: 1. Great Britain, 2. Kazakhstan, 3. Latvia, 4. Netherlands, 5. New Zealand, 6. Chinese Taipei
- Great Britain was promoted to Division I – Group B for 2026.
- Chinese Taipei was relegated to Division II – Group B for 2026.
- Final Round Robin placements: 1.
- January 23 – 26: Division III in Zagreb
IIHF Women's World Championship
[edit]- April 9 – 20: 2025 IIHF Women's World Championship in České Budějovice
Divisions
[edit]- February 13 – 18: Division III – Group B in Sarajevo
- Final Round Robin placements: 1. Bulgaria, 2.
Israel, 3. Estonia, 4. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 5. 
Singapore - Bulgaria was promoted to Division III – Group A for 2026.
- Final Round Robin placements: 1.
- March 2 – 8: Division III – Group A in Belgrade
- April 7 – 13: Division II – Group A in Bytom
- Final Round Robin placements: 1.
Spain, 2. Poland, 3. Iceland, 4. Chinese Taipei, 5. 
North Korea, 6. Mexico - Spain was promoted to Division I – Group B for 2026.
- Mexico was relegated to Division II – Group B for 2026.
- Final Round Robin placements: 1.
- April 9 – 15: Division I – Group B in Dumfries
- Final Round Robin placements: 1.
Italy, 2. Latvia, 3. Great Britain, 4. Kazakhstan, 5. 
South Korea, 6. Slovenia - Italy was promoted to Division I – Group A for 2026.
- Slovenia was relegated to Division II – Group A for 2026.
- Final Round Robin placements: 1.
- April 13 – 19: Division I – Group A in Shenzhen
- April 14 – 20: Division II – Group B in Dunedin
IIHF World U18 Championships
[edit]- April 23 – May 3: 2025 IIHF World U18 Championships in Frisco and Allen
Divisions
[edit]- February 28 – March 6: Division III – Group B in Bangkok
- Final Round Robin placements: 1.
Uzbekistan, 2. Thailand, 3. 
Turkmenistan, 4. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 5. South Africa, 6. Luxembourg - Uzbekistan was promoted to Division III – Group A for 2026.
- Final Round Robin placements: 1.
- March 2 – 8: Division III – Group A in Mexico City
- March 17 – 23: Division II – Group B in Sofia
- April 13 – 19: Division II – Group A in Asiago
- Final Round Robin placements: 1. Italy, 2. Great Britain, 3. China, 4. Croatia, 5. Romania, 6. Netherlands
- Italy was promoted to Division I – Group B for 2026.
- Netherlands were relegated to Division II – Group B for 2026.
- Final Round Robin placements: 1.
- April 13 – 19: Division I – Group B in Kaunas
- April 20 – 26: Division I – Group A in Székesfehérvár
IIHF World Championship
[edit]- May 9 – 25: 2025 IIHF World Championship in Stockholm and Herning
Divisions
[edit]- April 13 – 19: Division IV in
Yerevan
- April 21 – 27: Division III – Group A in Istanbul
- April 26 – May 2: Division I – Group B in Tallinn
- April 27 – May 3: Division III – Group B in Querétaro
- April 27 – May 3: Division II – Group B in Dunedin
- April 27 – May 3: Division II – Group A in Belgrade
- April 27 – May 3: Division I – Group A in Sfântu Gheorghe
National Hockey League (NHL)
[edit]- October 4, 2024 – April 17: 2024–25 NHL season
- Presidents' Trophy and Western Conference regular-season winners: Winnipeg Jets
- Eastern Conference regular-season winners: Washington Capitals
- Art Ross Trophy winner: Nikita Kucherov (Tampa Bay Lightning)
- December 31, 2024: 2025 Winter Classic at Wrigley Field in Chicago
- The St. Louis Blues defeated the Chicago Blackhawks, by the score of 6–2.
- February 12 – 20: 2025 4 Nations Face-Off at TD Garden in Boston and the Bell Centre in Montreal
- February 20: Canada defeated the United States, 3–2 in overtime, to win the 4 Nations Face-Off.
- February 20:
- March 1: 2025 Stadium Series at Ohio Stadium in Columbus
- The Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Detroit Red Wings, by the score of 5–3.
- April 19 – June: 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs
- June 27 & 28: 2025 NHL entry draft at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
Kontinental Hockey League (KHL)
[edit]- September 3, 2024 – March 23: 2024–25 KHL season
- Continental Cup and Western Conference regular-season winner: Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
- Eastern Conference regular-season winner: Traktor Chelyabinsk
- March 26 – April: 2025 Gagarin Cup playoffs
North America
[edit]- October 11, 2024 – April 20: 2024–25 AHL season
- Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy & North Division winners: Laval Rocket
- Atlantic Division winners: Hershey Bears
- Central Division winners: Milwaukee Admirals
- Pacific Division winners: Colorado Eagles
- April 21 – June: 2025 Calder Cup playoffs
- October 18, 2024 – April 13: 2024–25 ECHL season
- April – June: 2025 Kelly Cup playoffs
- October 18, 2024 – April 5: 2024–25 SPHL season
- September 18, 2024 – April 12: 2024–25 USHL season
- Anderson Cup & Western Conference winners: Lincoln Stars
- Eastern Conference winners: Youngstown Phantoms
- April – May: 2025 Clark Cup playoffs
- September 20, 2024 – March 22: 2024–25 QMJHL season
- Jean Rougeau Trophy & Maritimes Division winners: Moncton Wildcats
- East Division: Rimouski Océanic
- Central Division: Drummondville Voltigeurs
- West Division: Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
- March – May: 2025 QMJHL playoffs
- September 20, 2024 – March 23: 2024–25 WHL season
- Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy & U.S. Division winners: Everett Silvertips
- Central Division: Medicine Hat Tigers
- B.C. Division: Victoria Royals
- East Division: Prince Albert Raiders
- March 28 – May: 2025 WHL playoffs
- September 25, 2024 – March 23: 2024–25 OHL season
- Hamilton Spectator Trophy & Midwest Division winners: London Knights
- West Division: Windsor Spitfires
- East Division: Brantford Bulldogs
- Central Division: Barrie Colts
- March – May: 2025 OHL playoffs
- May 22 – June 1: 2025 Memorial Cup at the Colisée Financière Sun Life in Rimouski
Collegiate
[edit]NCAA–Division I (USA)
[edit]- March 13 – 23: 2025 NCAA Division I women's ice hockey tournament (Frozen Four at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis)
- March 23: The Wisconsin Badgers defeat the Ohio State Buckeyes, 4–3 in overtime, to win their eighth NCAA Division I Women's Ice Hockey title.
- March 28 – April 12: 2025 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament (Frozen Four at Enterprise Center in St. Louis)
- April 12: The Western Michigan Broncos defeat the Boston University Terriers, 6–2, to win their first NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey title.
- March 20 – 23: 2025 U Sports University Cup Tournament at TD Place Arena in Ottawa
- March 23: The Ottawa Gee-Gees defeat the Concordia Stingers, 3–2, to win their first University Cup title.
- March 20 – 23: 2025 U Sports Women's Ice Hockey Championship at Woolwich Memorial Centre in Elmira
- March 23: The Bishop's Gaiters defeat the Waterloo Warriors, 3–0, to win their first Golden Path Trophy title.
- November 30 – May 3: 2024–25 PWHL season
Europe
[edit]Tournaments
[edit]- September 5, 2024 – February 18: 2024–25 Champions Hockey League
- The
ZSC Lions defeated Färjestad BK, 2–1, to win their first Champions Hockey League title. - Genève-Servette HC and Sparta Praha finished in joint third place, as the losing semi-finalists.
- The
- September 20, 2024 – January 19: 2024–25 IIHF Continental Cup
- Final Ranking: 1.
Cardiff Devils, 2. 
Brûleurs de Loups, 3. GKS Katowice, 4. HC Arlan - HC Arlan withdrew from the tournament prior to the final round, due to travel and timing issues. The IIHF ultimately elected to proceed with only the three remaining finalists.[2]
- Final Ranking: 1.
- December 26 – December 31: 2025 Spengler Cup in Davos
Leagues
[edit]- September 10, 2024 – March 15: 2024–25 Liiga season
- Kiekko-Espoo joined the league after promotion from the Mestis.
- March – April: 2025 Liiga playoffs
- September 17, 2024 – March 1: 2024–25 National League season
- March 4 – April 24: 2025 National League playoffs
- The ZSC Lions defeat Lausanne HC, four games to one, to win their second consecutive and eleventh overall National League title.
- March 4 – April 24: 2025 National League playoffs
- September 17, 2024 – March 4: 2024–25 Czech Extraliga season
- Presidential Cup winner: Sparta Praha
- March – April: 2025 Czech Extraliga playoffs
- September 19, 2024 – March 7: 2024–25 DEL season
- Düsseldorfer EG were relegated to the DEL2.
- March 9 – April 25: 2025 DEL playoffs
- Eisbären Berlin defeats Kölner Haie, four games to one, to win their second consecutive and eleventh overall DEL title.
- September 21, 2024 – March 11: 2024–25 SHL season
- Brynäs IF joined the league after promotion from the HockeyAllsvenskan.
- Modo Hockey were relegated to the HockeyAllsvenskan.
- March – April: 2025 SHL playoffs
Asia
[edit]- September 7, 2024 – March 23: 2024–25 Asia League Ice Hockey season
- Leader's Flag winners: HL Anyang
- March 29 – April 5: 2025 ALIH Finals
- HL Anyang defeated Red Eagles Hokkaido, three games to one, to win their third consecutive and ninth overall Asia League championship.
Deaths
[edit]January
[edit]- Larry Kish, 83, Canadian defenceman (Providence Friars) and coach (Hartford Whalers)[3]
- Al MacNeil, 89, Canadian defenceman (Chicago Black Hawks), coach (Montreal Canadiens), and executive (Calgary Flames), four-time Stanley Cup champion (1971, 1978, 1979, 1989)[4]
- Dwight Foster, 67, Canadian right wing (Boston Bruins, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Red Wings)[5]
- Mickey Roth, 97, Canadian centre (Lethbridge Maple Leafs, Stratford Indians, Buffalo Bisons), World Championships gold medalist (1951)[6]
- Hilpas Sulin, 90, Finnish player (HPK) and coach (HPK)[7]
- Brian Gibbons, 77, Canadian defenceman (Ottawa Nationals, Toronto Toros, Denver Spurs/Ottawa Civics)[8]
- Dave Lucas, 92, Canadian defenceman (Detroit Red Wings, Johnstown Jets)[9]
- Hans Dobida, 95, Austrian executive (Austrian Ice Hockey Association, International Ice Hockey Federation), IIHF Hall of Fame inductee[10]
- Marcel Bonin, 93, Canadian left wing (Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens), four-time Stanley Cup champion (1955, 1958–1960)[11]
- Tom McVie, 89, Canadian coach (Washington Capitals, Winnipeg Jets, New Jersey Devils), Avco Cup champion (1979)[12]
- George Faulkner, 91, Canadian left winger and defenceman (Shawinigan-Falls Cataracts, Jacksonville Rockets)[13]
- Willard Ikola, 92, American goaltender (Detroit Auto Club, Michigan Wolverines), coach (Edina High School), and scout (New York Islanders), Olympic silver medalist (1956)[14]
- Shawn Simpson, 56, Canadian goaltender (Baltimore Skipjacks), scout (Washington Capitals, Toronto Maple Leafs), and television broadcaster (TSN)[15]
February
[edit]- Richard Meredith, 92, American forward (Minnesota Golden Gophers, Minneapolis Millers), Olympic gold medalist (1960) and silver medalist (1956)[16]
- Miika Elomo, 47, Finnish left wing (TPS, Washington Capitals, Espoo Blues) and coach (Jokers de Cergy-Pontoise)[17]
- Mike Lange, 76, American radio and television broadcaster (Pittsburgh Penguins), Foster Hewitt Memorial Award winner[18]
- Al Trautwig, 68, American television broadcaster (New York Rangers)[19]
March
[edit]- Dick Cherry, 87, Canadian defenceman (Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers)[20]
- Claude Verret, 61, Canadian centre (Buffalo Sabres, HC Rouen, Lausanne HC)[21]
- Tomas Kloucek, 45, Czech defenceman (New York Rangers, Nashville Predators, Atlanta Thrashers)[22]
- Fedor Malykhin, 34, Russian forward (Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg, Ak Bars Kazan, HC Vityaz)[23]
- Andrei Martemyanov, 61, Russian defenceman (CSKA Moscow, Metallurg Magnitogorsk, Kölner Haie) and coach (Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg, Sibir Novosibirsk, Amur Khabarovsk)[24]
- Mark LaForest, 62, Canadian goaltender (Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers, Toronto Maple Leafs)[25]
April
[edit]- Frank Moberg, 85, Finnish–Swedish executive (HIFK, Finnish national team, SM-liiga)[26]
- Jiří Kochta, 78, Czechoslovakian forward (HC Jihlava, HC Sparta Praha), World Championship gold medalist (1972), Olympic silver medalist (1968) and bronze medalist (1972)[27]
- Alex Faulkner, 88, Canadian centre (Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings)[28]
- Greg Millen, 67, Canadian goaltender (Pittsburgh Penguins, Hartford Whalers, St. Louis Blues), color commentator (Hockey Night in Canada – CBC, Sportsnet Ontario)[29]
- Ray Shero, 62, American centre (St. Lawrence Saints) and executive (Pittsburgh Penguins, New Jersey Devils)[30]
- Gerry McNamara, 90, Canadian goaltender (Sudbury Wolves, Cleveland Barons, Toronto Maple Leafs)[31]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Qualification System – XXV Olympic Winter Games" (PDF). International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
- ^ "Continental Cup goes ahead with three teams". IIHF. January 8, 2025. Retrieved 2025-01-16.
- ^ "Former Men's Hockey All-American Larry Kish '64 Passes Away". Providence Friars. January 4, 2025. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
- ^ Ellis, Brandon (January 6, 2025). "Al MacNeil, long-time Flames coach, executive, dies at 89". Calgary.CTVNews.ca. Bell Media. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
- ^ Treppedi, Sean (January 6, 2025). "Red Wings Alumnus Dwight Foster Dead at 67". Newsweek. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
- ^ "Lyle Arnold "Mickey" Roth". Ottawa Citizen. January 18, 2025. Archived from the original on 2025-01-18. Retrieved 2025-01-18 – via Remembering.ca.
- ^ "Suru-uutinen: HPK Hall of Fame jäsen Hilpas Sulin on poissa" [Sad news: HPK Hall of Fame member Hilpas Sulin is gone] (in Finnish). HPK. January 15, 2025. Retrieved 2024-01-15.
- ^ Mercer, Nicholas (January 17, 2025). "NL hall of famer Brian Gibbons remembered for contributions to hockey". The Telegram. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
- ^ Duff, Bob (January 18, 2025). "Obit: Red Wings Lucas Joined His Only NHL Game in Progress". Detroit Hockey Now. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
- ^ Pakarinen, Risto (January 17, 2025). "Hockey family mourns Dr. Hans Dobida". International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
- ^ "The Canadiens are saddened to learn of the passing of Marcel Bonin". NHL.com. NHL Enterprises, L. P. January 19, 2025. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
- ^ "Tom McVie, longtime Boston Bruins assistant, dies at 89". ESPN.com. ESPN Enterprises, Inc. January 20, 2025. Retrieved 2025-01-20.
- ^ Dwyer, Mark (January 19, 2025). "Provincial senior hockey legend George Faulkner passes away at age 91". ntv.ca. Retrieved 2025-01-29.
- ^ Hauser, Tom (January 21, 2025). "Hockey legend Willard Ikola dies at 92". KSTP-TV. Retrieved 2025-01-29.
- ^ Brennan, Don (January 30, 2025). "Former radio broadcaster Shawn 'Simmer' Simpson passes away at 56". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 2025-01-30.
- ^ Knudsen, Cory (February 7, 2025). "Gopher alumni and 2-time Olympic medalist Dick Meredith dies at 92". KSTP-TV. Retrieved 2025-02-08.
- ^ Cerullo, Chris (February 10, 2025). "Miika Elomo, former Capitals first-round draft pick, passes away at age 47". Russian Machine Never Breaks. Retrieved 2025-02-13.
- ^ Yohe, Josh (February 19, 2025). "Legendary Penguins broadcaster Mike Lange dies at 76". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
- ^ Hayes, Dade (February 24, 2025). "Al Trautwig dies: NY sportscaster and TV voice of Olympics gymnastics and the NHL was 68". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
- ^ Kennedy, Patrick (March 9, 2025). "Dick Cherry remembered as 'true gentleman and an inspiration'". The Kingston Whig-Standard. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
- ^ "Amerks mourn the loss of Claude Verret". Amerks.com. Rochester Americans. March 13, 2025. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
- ^ O'Brien, Derek (March 17, 2025). "Ex-NHLer Tomas Kloucek Dies In Accident At 45". The Hockey News. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
- ^ "Любимец фанатов и мастер игры. Вспоминаем карьеру внезапно умершего экс-капитана «Автомобилиста»". E1.ru (in Russian). Екатеринбург Онлайн. March 18, 2025. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
- ^ Irkha, Andrey (March 25, 2025). "В «Автомобилисте» сообщили о смерти бывшего главного тренера команды Андрея Мартемьянова". MatchTV.ru (in Russian). «ООО «Национальный спортивный телеканал». Retrieved 2025-03-26.
- ^ Hornby, Lance (March 31, 2025). "Mark Laforest, one of Maple Leafs most memorable goalies, dies suddenly at 62". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
- ^ Salmensaari, Antti (April 4, 2025). "Kuolleet | Frank Moberg on kuollut". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 2025-04-09.
- ^ Podnieks, Andrew (April 4, 2025). "Jiri Kochta, 1946-2025". IIHF.com. IIHF. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
- ^ Dwyer, Mark (April 7, 2025). "N.L. hockey pioneer Alex Faulkner passes away". NTV. Retrieved 2025-04-09.
- ^ "Long-time goaltender, NHL broadcaster Millen passes away". TSN.ca. Bell Media. April 7, 2025. Retrieved 2025-04-07 – via The Canadian Press.
- ^ Johnston, Chris (April 9, 2025). "Ray Shero, Wild senior adviser and former GM of the Penguins and Devils, dies at 62". The Athletic. Retrieved 2025-04-09.
- ^ Hornby, Lance (April 12, 2025). "Remembering former Maple Leafs GM Gerry McNamara". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 2025-04-12.