Welcome to my 2nd deep dive, this one will focus on the IIHF nations performance since season 53. There are 14 teams in the IIHF and this has remained the same during all of these seasons.

So let’s start with the first (combination of) team(s) in Austria, and France which I have combined because the switch only happened for the last season. Their highest finishing position during these seasons was third, with the lowest being 14th (3 times). In the play-offs Austria/France has also not participated 11 times, while getting knocked out in the Quarter final 5 times, and in the semi-finals 1 time. Never reaching the final. Austria/France got a average finishing position of 10th (10.235)

The second team is a giant, in Canada. Canada’s highest finishing position is 1st, with the lowest being 12th. Over these 17 seasons Canada has only placed outside of the top 3 4 times. In the play-offs Canada had 2 DNQ’s. With 2 Quarter final exists, and 5 semi-final exists Canada has reached the final 8 times, winning on 5 occasions. The average position of Canada is 3rd (3.353)

Next on the list, the Czech Republic. With a best finish of 4th, and a worst finish of 13th behind their name, the Czech republic is definitely more of a midfield team. Having reached the final once, the semi final 5 times, and the quarter 6 times. Not qualifying for the play-offs 5 times. The average finishing position is 8th (7.529)

Now onto Finland. One of the only teams which had a 1st place finish, and a 14th place finish during the period. What must be said is that Finland got most of it’s bad results in the first few seasons of this season range, and has been stellar afterwards. This is also reflected in the play-offs not qualifying for the first 7 seasons, after that Finland got 3 quarter-finals, 3 semi-finals, 1 final, and 3 wins. The average finishing position is 7th (6.529)

Next up, Germany. Germany’s had gotten a 2nd place finish as their highest finish, and a 13th place finish as their lowest. In the play-offs Germany has not qualified 9 time. The other 8 times they got knocked out of the quarter-finals 5 times, and the semi-finals 3 times. The average finishing positions of Germany is 8th (8.294)

Next up, the 2nd big powerhouse in Great Britain. With a highest position of 1st, and a lowest of 14th they are the 2nd team so far that has both a 1st and last place position in these seasons. Overall Great Britain did have great seasons, not qualifying for the play-offs 4 times, with 4 quarter-final exits, 2 semi-final exits, 7 final entries but only managing to win 2 of those. The average finishing position is 5th (5.176)

Now onto Ireland. With a best finish of 5th, and a worst of 14th Ireland does look like one of the weaker teams during these seasons. When looking at the play-offs it doesn’t look much better. Outside of their amazing run ending in a loss in the finals, Ireland only managed to reach the play-offs 4 times, all 4 times getting knocked out in the quarter-final (12 DNQ). Ireland has an average finishing position of 10th (9.824)

Now Japan, which has been a pretty strange team. During this period Japan had a best position of 3rd, and a worst of 14th. Of the 17 seasons Japan reached the play-offs 12 times (5 DNQ) getting knocked out in the quarter 4 times, semi 5 times, and winning 2 of the 3 final appearances. The average finishing position of Japan is 7th (6.647)

Latvia is the next team, and to say Latvia has struggles is an understatement. With a best finishing position of 6th, and a worst of 14th (8 times) Latvia didn’t impress to much. What might be a little bright point for Latvia is that both of their play-off performances despite ending in the quarter came in the recent 4 seasons. So they are on the way up. The average position of Latvia is 13th (12.529)

Norway is next on the list. With a best finish of 2nd, and a worst of 13th Norway managed to make the play-offs 8 times (9 DNQ). Of these 8 times they failed in the quarter on 4 occasions, and the semi on 3 occasions. But in the one final Norway had they did take home the win. The average position is 8th (7.588)

Next on the list is Russia, With a best finish of 4th, and a worst of 13th. Russia managed to reach the play-offs 6 times (11 DNQ). Of these 6 times they got past the quarters 3 times, and even got into the finals in 1 of those occasions. The average position is 10th (9.647)

Sweden is up next. With a best finish of 1st, and a worst of 12th they did do good during the regular season. But during the play-offs Sweden didn’t come out of the quarters on 9 occasions (not participating on 2). In the other 6 participations Sweden did manage to reach the finals 3 times, winning the final once and thus being the next team in the list of champions. The average finishing position is 4th (4.294)

Switzerland is up next, having each finishing position in the top 10, with a 2nd as the highest, and a 10th as the lowest. In the play-off Switzerland often fails to leave the quarter-finals, only making it through on 3 occasions (10 times getting knocked out of the quarters, 4 times not qualifying). Once they make it out Switzerland is a force to be reckoned with. Winning once, coming in the final once, and getting knocked out of the semi once as well. The average position is 7th (7.000)

Last but not least the United States. Having a highest finishing position of 1st, and a lowest of 14th the USA did have some good seasons. But recently they have seen a downturn not getting qualified on 5 of the last 6 occasions. The total play-off record is 6 DNQ, 8 quarters, 1 semi exit, and 2 final entries which the USA both won. The average position is 6th (6.353)

Average finishing position ranking:
14: (12.529) Latvia
13: (10.235) Austria/France
12: (9.824) Ireland
11: (9.647) Russia
10: (8.294) Germany
09: (7.588) Norway
08: (7.529) Czech republic
07: (7.000) Switzerland
06: (6.647) Japan
05: (6.529) Finland
04: (6.353) United States
03: (5.176) Great Britain
02: (4.294) Sweden
01: (3.353) Canada

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Tibuk Soonika - G - Tampa Bay Barracuda| Portal Page


Tibuk Soonika Career Stats
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Tibuk Soonika SMJHL Career S69 (nice) to S72
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S69 KEL | 29 GP | 1753 MP | 15 W| 11 L | 3 OTL | 722 SHA | 644 SAV | 78 GA | 2.67 GAA | 4 SO | 0.892 SAV% | 67 GR
S69 Playoffs | 2 GP | 121 MP | 1 W| 0 L | 1 OTL | 49 SHA | 45 SAV | 4 GA | 1.98 GAA | 0 SO | 0.918 SAV% | 74 GR
S70 KEL | 32 GP | 1928 MP | 13 W| 14 L | 5 OTL | 843 SHA | 757 SAV | 86 GA | 2.68 GAA | 2 SO | 0.898 SAV% | 69 GR
S70 Playoffs | 7 GP | 417 MP | 3 W| 4 L | 0 OTL | 210 SHA | 191 SAV | 19 GA | 2.73 GAA | 1 SO | 0.910 SAV% | 74 GR
##AWARD## S70 Matt Lewis-Flood Trophy
S71 KEL | 42 GP | 2329 MP | 11 W| 24 L | 4 OTL | 1484 SHA | 1310 SAV | 174 GA | 4.48 GAA | 0 SO | 0.883 SAV% | 68 GR
S71 Playoffs | 0 GP |
S72 KEL | 41 GP | 2302 MP | 11 W| 27 L | 2 OTL | 1487 SHA | 1307 SAV | 180 GA | 4.69 GAA | 0 SO | 0.879 SAV% | 67 GR
S72 Playoffs | 0 GP |
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Tibuk Soonika SHL Career S73 to ???
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S73 TBB | 59 GP | 3211MP | 22 W| 31 L | 1 OTL | 2250 SHA | 2013 SAV | 237 GA | 4.43 GAA | 2 SO | 0.895 SAV% | 73GR
S73 Playoffs | 5 GP | 227 MP | 1 W| 4 L | 0 OTL | 188 SHA | 161 SAV | 27 GA | 7.12 GAA | 0 SO | 0.856 SAV% | 56 GR