The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has announced the schedule for the 69th IIHF World Championship to be played in Vienna and Innsbruck, Austria on April 30 - May 15, 2005.

Defending IIHF World Champions Canada begin their quest for a third consecutive world title on the opening day (April 30) against Latvia in Innsbruck. Canada, who top the IIHF World Ranking ahead of Sweden, play in Group B, which also includes the USA and newly promoted Slovenia.

The eagerly-awaited match up between Canada and 2004 bronze medallists USA, is scheduled for May 5 in Innsbruck, the same venue which hosted the 1964 and 1976 Olympic ice hockey tournaments.

The host nation Austria will take on Russia in Vienna on the opening day, while 2004 silver medallists Sweden have their first game on May 1, against Ukraine in Innsbruck. Sweden lost 5-3 to Canada in the 2004 IIHF World Championship gold medal game.

The gold medal game will be played in Vienna's Stadthalle on May 15. Vienna has been the site of four IIHF World Championships, 1967, 1977, 1987 and 1996. The quarter-finals (May 12) will be split between Vienna and Innsbruck while both semi-finals (May 14) and the bronze medal game (May 15) will be in Vienna.

The 2005 IIHF World Championship will be the last major tournament before the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin, Italy (10 - 26 February). The 2006 IIHF World Championship is scheduled for Riga in Latvia.

2007 will be in Russia (St. Petersburg and Moscow) while Quebec City and Halifax in Canada will host the 2008 event.

The 2004 IIHF World Championship in the Czech Republic set an all-time attendance record with 552,097 spectators attending the 56 games.

More information can be found at www.iihf.com