According to Japanese ice hockey commentator “Kataribe” Jiro-san (Japanese), JIHF has announced the national team selection schedule (information not on JIHF site yet) for the senior national teams that will be competing in this year’s IIHF World Championships. Japan will host the men’s Division I Group B tournament in Sapporo, Hokkaido at the Tsukisamu Arena.
Preliminary selections of 40 players for the men’s team and 30 players for the women’s team will be announced on 9 February in Kushiro, Hokkaido.
The men’s roster will be trimmed down to 30 players at the 1 March announcement. (Location TBA.)
Men’s selection camp with the 30 players will be held starting on 31 March in Tomakomai, Hokkaido. 2 training matches will be scheduled (opponents TBD) and the final roster of 23 players will be announced in Sapporo on 12 April, the day before the start of the tournament.
Dates and locations above are subject to change, and further details for the women’s team selection process was not announced.
