Listed according to the world ranking as of December 2022. With files from World Para Ice Hockey and www.paralympic.org
UNITED STATES
World ranking: First
Last decade of results
Paralympics 2022 -- Gold, defeated Canada in final
Worlds 2021 -- Gold, defeated Canada in final
Worlds 2019 -- Gold, defeated Canada in final
Paralympics 2018 -- Gold, defeated Canada in final
Worlds 2017 -- Silver, lost to Canada in final
Worlds 2015 -- Gold, defeated Canada in final
Paralympics 2014 -- Gold, defeated Russia in final
Worlds 2013 -- Silver, lost to Canada in final
Player to Watch: There are many, but it’s hard to ignore Declan Farmer. The 25-year-old forward has been part of Team U.S.A. since 2007 and in that span has won six Paralympic and World Championship gold medals. He led the 2022 Paralympics in scoring with seven goals and 18 points in four games, while also putting up a plus-16 plus/minus.
Quick note: Team U.S.A. has stood over the sport of para hockey like an iron colossus for much of the last decade, having won six gold medals in that span. Their offensive depth was on display at the 2022 Paralympics, with five players finishing in the top seven in scoring. Look for them to finish top three, without question.
CANADA
World Ranking: Second
Last decade of results
Paralympics 2022 -- Silver, lost to U.S. in final
Worlds 2021 -- Silver, lost to U.S. in final
Worlds 2019 -- Silver, lost to U.S. in OT in final
Paralympics 2018 -- Silver, lost to U.S. in OT in final
Worlds 2017 -- Gold, defeated U.S. in final
Worlds 2015 -- Silver, lost to U.S. in final
Paralympics 2014 -- Bronze, defeated Russia
Worlds 2013 -- Gold, defeated U.S. in final
Player to Watch: Team captain Tyler McGregor has been a member of Team Canada since 2011 and has been one of the sport’s leading luminaries in that time. Finished seventh in tournament scoring at the 2022 Paralympics with five goals and eighth points in four games.
Quick note: Canada has played bridesmaid to the United States much of the last decade, having finished second in the last four major tournaments, including the last two Paralympics. Canada lost three games to the U.S. in an exhibition series earlier this year, but two games were decided by one goal, giving the tournament hosts hope for a title this time around.
KOREA
World ranking: Third
Last decade of results
Paralympics 2022 - fourth, lost bronze to China
Worlds 2021 - 4th lost bronze to Russia
Worlds 2019 -- Bronze, defeated Czechia
Paralympics 2018 -- Bronze, defeated Italy
Worlds 2017 -- Bronze, defeated Norway
Worlds 2015 -- Won B Pool, promoted to A pool
Paralympics 2014 -- Seventh
Worlds 2013 -- Seventh
Player to Watch: Nicknamed ‘Messi on ice’ after the famous soccer player, Seung Hwan Jung is known for his blazing speed and ability to find time and space to create offence. He led South Korea in scoring during their bronze medal win in the 2018 Paralympics and has been a part of every Korean medal winner since the program’s inception.
Quick note: Korea has been a medal contender at World and Paralympic games ever since 2017, when they stunned the world by winning bronze after being promoted the year prior. Look for Korea to once again vie for a medal.
CZECHIA
World ranking: Fourth
Paralympics 2022 -- Sixth
Worlds 2021 -- Fifth
Worlds 2019 -- Fourth, lost bronze to Korea
Paralympics 2018 -- Sixth
Worlds 2017 -- Won B Pool, promoted to A Pool
Worlds 2015 -- Seventh, relegated to B Pool
Paralympics 2014 -- Fifth
Worlds 2013 -- Fourth, lost bronze to Russia
Player to Watch: Forward Michal Geier has been one of Czechia’s scoring stars dating all the way back to the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and will be a key component of their squad. He was named the most valuable player of the 2019 World Championship after putting up seven goals and 11 points in the tournament.
Quick note: Czechia is a bit of a wild card, having competed for medals in the last decade and also having found themselves relegated. They have seen success recently, though, taking gold in a tournament in Italy and defeating fellow Worlds contender Norway in overtime in the final back in January.
NORWAY
World ranking: Fifth
Last decade of results
Paralympics 2022 -- Did not qualify
Worlds 2021 -- Sixth
Worlds 2019 -- Fifth
Paralympics 2018 -- Fifth
Worlds 2017: Fourth, lost bronze to Korea
Worlds 2015: Fourth, lost bronze to Russia
Paralympics 2014: Fourth, lost bronze to Canada
Worlds 2013: Fifth
Player to Watch: The last time Norway took the ice in a major tournament, defenceman Audun Bakke was among the team’s scoring leaders with four goals at the 2021 World Championship. Known as a clutch performer, he’ll be looking to help Norway get back to their glory years during the sport’s inception.
Quick note: Back in the 2000s, Norway was an absolute powerhouse in para hockey, with top-two finishes in five straight World Championships from 1996 through 2009 to go along with Paralympic gold in 1998, silver in 2002 and 2006 and bronze in 2010. They haven’t played for a medal since 2017.
CHINA
World ranking: Sixth
Last decade of results
Paralympics 2022 -- Bronze, defeated Korea
Worlds 2021 -- Won B Pool, promoted to A Pool
Worlds 2019 -- Third in Pool B
Paralympics 2018 -- Did Not Qualify
Worlds 2017 -- Did Not Qualify
Worlds 2015 -- Did Not Qualify
Paralympics 2014 -- Did Not Qualify
Worlds 2013 -- Did Not Qualify
Player to Watch: Forward Shen Yifeng has drawn comparisons to Connor McDavid with his speed and vision on the ice, and one just has to look at what he did at the 2022 Paralympics for an idea. He finished second in scoring with eight goals and 14 points while going plus-10 as China won a surprise bronze.
Quick note: There aren’t many superlatives to describe what China has put together on the para hockey scene in the last decade. A non-factor in the sport as early as 2018, China first qualified for the World Championship A pool in 2021 and the following year dropped a lot of jaws with a bronze medal at the 2022 Paralympics. The fast-rising crew will be looking for another medal this time around.
GERMANY
World ranking: Seventh
Last decade of results
Paralympics 2022 -- Did Not Qualify
Worlds 2021 -- Finished 2nd in Pool B, promoted to Pool A
Worlds 2019 -- Fourth in Pool B
Paralympics 2018 -- Did Not Qualify
Worlds 2017 -- 7th place
Worlds 2015 -- 6th place
Paralympics 2014 -- Did Not Qualify
Worlds 2013 -- Won Pool B, promoted to Pool A
Player(s) to Watch: Forward Felix Schrader and defenceman Lucas Sklorz combined for 17 goals and 27 points at the World Championship B Pool in 2021, helping Germany qualify for Moose Jaw 2023. Schrader is considered a future star in the sport and models his game after Korea’s standout Seung Hwan Jung.
Quick note: Germany has never finished higher than sixth place at Worlds and has never competed at the Paralympic Games. The program is on the rise, though, moving up from Pool B to return to the top level of World Championship competition for the first time since 2017.
ITALY
World Ranking: Eighth
Last decade of results
Paralympics 2022 -- Fifth
Worlds 2021 -- Seventh
Worlds 2019 -- Sixth
Paralympics 2018 -- Fourth, lost bronze to Korea
Worlds 2017 -- Fifth
Worlds 2015 -- Fifth
Paralympics 2014 -- Sixth
Worlds 2013 -- Fifth
Player to watch: Andrea Macri is a four-time Paralympian and one of the most experienced players in the tournament, with the 32-year-old having picked up the sport shortly after recovering from a school roof collapse when he was 17. He was among the team’s leaders in their fourth-place finish at the 2018 Paralympics.
Quick note: If Italy can raise the level of their game just a little bit, there’s a good chance they’ll be in the medal hunt. They’ve never finished higher than fifth at a World Championship and never lower than seventh, having landed fifth or sixth seven times since 2008.
