# 1998 Men's Ice Hockey World Championships

The 1998 Men's Ice Hockey World Championships was the 62nd such event sanctioned by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). Teams representing 40 countries participated in several levels of competition. The competition also served as qualifications for group placements in the 1999 competition.

## World Championship Group A

The Championship took place between sixteen teams in Switzerland.
* Austria (2nd, Qualification Tournament)
* Belarus (Promoted from Group B)
* Canada
* Czech Republic
* Finland
* France
* Germany
* Italy
* Japan (Far East Qualifier)
* Kazakhstan (1st, Qualification Tournament)
* Latvia
* Russia
* Slovakia
* Sweden
* Switzerland (Host)
* United States

## World Championship Group B (Slovenia)

Played 15–26 April in Ljubljana and Jesenice. Norway, as the next year's host, had already been awarded a spot in Group A. In addition, the top three other finishers advanced to qualifying tournaments for inclusion in Group A. The Estonians came into the final game knowing they could lose by four and still advance. Trailing by three after two, they hung on to edge the Danish team in the standings.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 17 | Ukraine | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 13 | +25 | 14 |
| 18 | Slovenia | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 28 | 15 | +13 | 11 |
| 19 | Estonia | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 19 | −4 | 7 |
| 20 | Denmark | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 18 | 24 | −6 | 7 |
| 21 | Norway | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 21 | 19 | +2 | 6 |
| 22 | Great Britain | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 32 | 27 | +5 | 6 |
| 23 | Poland | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 21 | 28 | −7 | 5 |
| 24 | Netherlands | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 12 | 40 | −28 | 0 |
Ukraine, Slovenia, and Estonia all advanced to qualifiers for Group A, the Netherlands was relegated to Group C. Norway was promoted to Group A as hosts.

## World Championship Group C (Hungary)

Played 22–28 March in Budapest, Székesfehérvár and Dunaújváros.

### Group 1

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Romania | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 7 | +13 | 6 |
| 2 | Lithuania | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 11 | −3 | 4 |
| 3 | Yugoslavia | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | −4 | 1 |
| 4 | Croatia | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 10 | −6 | 1 |

### Group 2

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Hungary | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 2 | +17 | 6 |
| 2 | China | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 11 | +3 | 4 |
| 3 | South Korea | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 12 | −11 | 2 |
| 4 | Spain | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 14 | −9 | 0 |

### Final Round 25–28 Place

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 25 | Hungary | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 3 | +21 | 6 |
| 26 | Romania | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 9 | +11 | 4 |
| 27 | Lithuania | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 27 | −19 | 2 |
| 28 | China | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 21 | −13 | 0 |
Hungary was promoted to Group B.

### Consolation Round 29–32 Place

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 29 | Croatia | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 6 | +2 | 4 |
| 30 | Yugoslavia | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 6 | +1 | 4 |
| 31 | South Korea | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | −2 | 2 |
| 32 | Spain | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 8 | −1 | 2 |
Spain was relegated to Group D. The Spanish led by two in both their final games, but tied them, and their earlier loss to South Korea sealed their fate.

## World Championship Group D (South Africa)

Played 27 March to 2 April in Krugersdorp and Pretoria.

### Group 1

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Israel | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 6 | +23 | 6 |
| 2 | Belgium | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 22 | 10 | +12 | 4 |
| 3 | South Africa | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 2 |
| 4 | Greece | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 41 | −35 | 0 |

### Group 2

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Bulgaria | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 5 | +37 | 5 |
| 2 | Australia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 6 | +22 | 5 |
| 3 | Turkey | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 37 | −32 | 2 |
| 4 | New Zealand | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 32 | −27 | 0 |

### Final Round 33–36 Place

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 33 | Bulgaria | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 6 | +6 | 5 |
| 34 | Australia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 13 | −2 | 3 |
| 35 | Israel | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 13 | −3 | 2 |
| 36 | Belgium | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 10 | −1 | 2 |
Bulgaria was promoted to Group C.

### Consolation Round 37–40 Place

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 37 | South Africa | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 7 | +21 | 6 |
| 38 | New Zealand | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 11 | +2 | 2 |
| 39 | Turkey | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 22 | −11 | 2 |
| 40 | Greece | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 23 | −12 | 2 |

## Citations

* 1 2 Summary at Passionhockey.com