Here are the Top 3 countries of the World Cup - a surprise team is fighting for the championship.

The Ice Hockey World Championships will kick off in Zurich and Fribourg, Switzerland, on Friday. The Lions will face Germany in their opening game starting at 17:20.

We have listed the upcoming medal countries for the tournament below. Surprises are unlikely to be avoided this time either.

3) Sweden

The Swedish team is younger and, above all, hungrier than last year’s star-studded lineup. The team may not be overflowing with NHL stars on paper, but it does include several players from the youth world champions at the turn of the year.

The recently debuted NHL player Anton Frondell may emerge as one of the breakout players of the tournament, and attention will also be on Ivar Stenberg, who is projected to be the second overall pick in the summer NHL draft. The duo will undoubtedly arrive at the tournament eager to prove themselves. Also, remember the name Viggo Björck.

The brightest star of the offense is Lucas Raymond from the Detroit Red Wings. The defense is led by experienced NHL players Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Mattias Ekholm, not forgetting the puck skills of Erik Brännström.

The biggest question mark is in goal. The fresh U20 champion goalie Love Härenstam is an interesting prospect who will likely get a chance behind experienced NHL backup Arvid Söderblom.

The hungry Sweden will surprise and push for medals, surpassing the silver medal team from the previous two springs, Switzerland, which will likely crumble under the pressure of the home crowd. With the right momentum, the championship is also entirely possible for Tre Kronor.

2) Finland

The major criticism surrounding Antti Pennanen faded with the Olympic bronze in Milan, and this time the head coach will have peace to work in the tournament. The Lions’ game plan became clearer during the Olympic tournament, and now Pennanen’s – or Aleksander Barkov’s – group is expected to return to the medal podium at the World Championship level as well.

After winning gold at home in the spring of 2022, Finland, which has played three World Championships without medals, enters the tournament as a clear second favorite and has put together a good mix of NHL professionals committed to tight team play and winners who have proven their level in European money leagues.

With Barkov and Anton Lundell leading the way, the center is in good shape, and the diligently defending team will not leak in their own zone. The only question mark is in the scoring department. Finland lacks a proven star sniper at this level. However, tight defensive play provides support here as well. The Lions do not need to enter a scoring competition against any opponent.

The defense features puck skills led by Mikko Lehtonen and Ville Heinola, and Olli Määttä, Nikolas Matinpalo, and their teammates will ensure that the opponent does not celebrate in front of Finland’s goal either.

The championship is complete realism for this spring’s Lions.

1) Canada

The arrival of Sidney Crosby to the team solidifies Canada’s position as the clear favorite of the tournament. On the other hand, they were also the favorites last spring when the then super team was surprisingly eliminated in the quarterfinals against Denmark.

On paper, the Maple Leafs’ squad is superior for this spring’s World Championships. In addition to Crosby, the offense includes the NHL’s breakout player of the season, Macklin Celebrini, who scored 115 points in the regular season at the age of 19, along with experienced players John Tavares, Ryan O’Reilly, and Mark Scheifele. Also, Robert Thomas is expected to deliver in the big European rink.

From the youth department, keep an eye on Porter Martone, who debuted in the NHL at the end of the season and scored 4+6=10 points in his first nine games.

While there is no need to worry about the Lions’ defensive stability, Canada’s Achilles’ heel is indeed in the defensive zone. Evan Bouchard, who scored 21 goals and 95 points in the NHL regular season, racks up points especially on the power play, but the Edmonton Oilers superstar’s defensive play is at times subpar. His teammate Darnell Nurse represents the same school of thought.

In goal, the main responsibility will likely fall on Jet Greaves of the Columbus Blue Jackets, who secured the starting goalie position in the NHL just this past season and may have to stretch to make miraculous saves, especially against top teams, behind a defense-oriented Canadian lineup.

Canada is the top favorite for the championship. Crosby, who has been left with silver twice in a row, will ensure that this time the team does not collapse outside the medal games.