1993 World Championship The 1993 Ice Hockey World Championships took place in Germany 18 April - 2 May . The games were played in Munich and Dortmund . Twelve teams took part , with the first round split into two groups of six , and the four best teams from each group advancing to the quarter - finals . This was the 57th World Championships , and Russia beat the reigning world champions Sweden to win the World Championships for the first time . The bronze medal was won by the Czech Republic , defeating Canada in their first major tournament as an independent country after their split with Slovakia at the beginning of the calendar year . While Latvia had last competed in 1939 , this year marked the World Championship debut of three national teams . Kazakhstan , Slovenia , and the Ukraine , played for the first time , in Group C . Belarus , Croatia , Estonia , and Lithuania all did not make it out of the autumn qualifiers and had to wait at least another year . Also waiting until the following year was Slovakia , who did however debut a youth team . Eleven of the twelve openings for the Lillehammer Olympics were established in Group A . Switzerland , by being relegated , was excluded , and the final nation had to qualify in a tournament the next fall . The top two teams from Group B , the Group C champion , the top Asian nation , and Slovakia all were given the opportunity to fill the final vacancy . World Championship Group A ( Germany ) . Consolation Round 11 - 12 Place . " Switzerland was relegated to Group B . " World Championship Group B ( Netherlands ) . Played in Eindhoven March 25th to April 4th . The British team , just promoted from Group C , won all their games . Their first game was won by either keen strategy , or controversy , depending on how you view it . With the score against tournament favorite Poland tied three all , the British coach , Alex Dampier , asked the referee to measure the opposing goalie ' s stick . It was found to be illegal , and Great Britain scored the winning goal on the ensuing powerplay . " Great Britain was promoted to Group A while Bulgaria was relegated to Group C . " World Championship Group C ( Slovenia ) . Qualifying Round . All qualifiers were played from November 6th to 8th , 1992 . Group 1 ( Latvia ) . Played in Riga . The winner would play in Group C , the other two nations had play each other the following year for inclusion into Group C2 . " Latvia qualified for Group C . " Group 2 ( Belarus ) . Played in Minsk . The top two teams move on to Group C in the spring , last place was included in Group C1 in 1994 . Azerbaijan had the option of playing in this group , but did not . " Ukraine and Kazakhstan both qualified for Group C . " Group 3 ( Croatia / Slovenia ) . Played as a home and home series in Zagreb and Ljubljana . The winner would go on to Group C , the loser would have to try to qualify next year for Group C2 . Originally Luxembourg was to play in this group but declined . " Slovenia qualified for Group C . " Group 4 ( Turkey ) . Played in Ankara . Originally South Africa was to be in this group as well , but they went directly to Group C instead . " Israel qualified for Group C . " First Round . Played from March 12 - 18 . First and second place from each group of six advanced to the semi - finals , and then finals , with the winner gaining promotion to Group B . The three other semi - finalists , together with the two third place teams , would remain to form Group C1 in 1994 . The remaining six nations would comprise Group C2 , effectively being relegated . At the time of this tournament , the expected format for 1994 was different . South Korea beat Spain seven to three to win what was expected to be a battle to remain in Group C . Instead Group C was divided into two parts putting them both in the bottom tier . Group 1 . Played in Bled . " Belgium , South Korea , and Israel were relegated to Group C2 . " Group 2 . Played in Ljubljana . " Australia , Spain , and South Africa were relegated to Group C2 . " Final . " Latvia was promoted to Group B . "