2008 World Championship The 2008 World Championship was held in Halifax and Quebec City , Canada , from May 2nd to May 18th 2008 . The venues were the Le Colisée in Quebec City and the Metro Centre in Halifax . Rosters . " As of May 1st 2008 " Rules . For standing purposes , points shall be awarded as follows : If a game is tied after regulation time , a five - minute four - on - four sudden - death overtime session is played followed by a three - player shootout if necessary . Exceptions : Quarter finals , Semi final and Bronze Medal overtime session are 10 minutes and Gold Medal game overtime session is 20 minutes . If teams are tied in a standing based on points , the following tie - breakers are applied : 1 ) The most points earned in direct games involving tied teams . 2 ) The best goal differential in direct games involving tied teams . 3 ) The most goal scored in direct games involving tied teams . 4 ) Follow steps 1 , 2 and 3 with games involving the highest non - tied team in the same group . 5 ) Repeat step 4 with games involving the second highest non - tied team in the same group . 6 ) Continue this process with all non - tied team games . Preliminary round . Sixteen participating teams were placed in the following four groups . After playing a round - robin , the top three teams in each group advanced to the Qualifying Round while the last team competed in the relegation round . Group A . All times are local ( UTC - 4 ) . Group B . All times are local ( UTC - 3 ) . Group C . All times are local ( UTC - 3 ) . Group D . All times are local ( UTC - 4 ) . Qualifying round . The top three teams in the standings of each group of the Preliminary Round advance to the Qualifying Round , and are placed in two groups : teams from Groups A and D compete in Group E , while teams from Groups B and C compete in Group F . Each team is to play three games in this round , one against each of the three teams from the other group with which they have been paired . These three games , along with the two games already played against the other two advancing teams from the same group in the Preliminary Round , will count in the Qualifying Round standings . The top four teams in both groups E and F to advance in Quarter - Finals . Group E . All times are local ( UTC - 4 ) . Group F . All times are local ( UTC - 3 ) . Relegation Round . Teams finishing last in all four Preliminary Round groups competed in the Relegation Round in order to determine which two nations would be relegated to the IIHF World Championship Division I . The four teams were paired in two best - of - three series . France defeated Italy , while Slovakia defeated Slovenia , both in 2 games , and secured themselves a place among the top sixteen hockey nations in the world . Italy and Slovenia were relegated to Division I for the 2009 tournament , and will be replaced by Austria and Hungary , the winners of the 2008 Division I tournament . Group G . Series G1 . All times are local ( UTC - 4 ) . France won series 2 – 0 = = = = Series G2 = = = = All times are local ( UTC - 3 ) . Slovakia won series 2 – 0 = = Playoff Round = = Quarter - finals . All times are local ( Quebec : UTC - 4 , Halifax : UTC - 3 ) . Semi - finals . All times are local ( UTC - 4 ) [ Bronze Medal Game . All times are local ( UTC - 4 ) Gold Medal Game . Main article : 2008 IIHF World Championship FinalAll times are local ( UTC - 4 ) Ranking and statistics . Final standings . The final standings of the tournament according to IIHF : Scoring leaders . List shows the top 10 skaters sorted by points , then goals . If the list exceeds 10 skaters because of a tie in points , all of the tied skaters are left out . " GP = Games played ; G = Goals ; A = Assists ; Pts = Points ; + / - = Plus / Minus ; PIM = Penalties In Minutes ; POS = Position " Leading goaltenders . Only the top 5 goaltenders , based on save percentage , who have played over 40 % of their team ' s minutes are included in this list . " TOI = Time On Ice ( minutes : seconds ) ; SA = Shots Against ; GA = Goals Against ; GAA = Goals Against Average ; Sv % = Save Percentage ; SO = Shutouts " Division I . See 2008 IIHF World Championship Division I Division II . See 2008 IIHF World Championship Division II Division III . See 2008 IIHF World Championship Division III And 2008 IIHF World Championship Division III Qualification