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Glad Unkraine made it. I must give credit to Estonia also. They came to play when really there was nothing at stake for them.

Okay since you kind of called Japan. Let me ask you about the 2 games that matter tomorrow. Ukraine must win to advance. Any trouble winning over Estonia ? Your take on Romania vs Great Britain ?

Japan putting up a fight. Great Britain rolling over Serbia. Romania will have a hard time tomorrow.

Ukraine- Poland was the best game of the first two rounds... Ukraine still has to beat Estonia. If they lose Poland or even South Korea could advance. For me i was torn on this game. I am a American but my dad was from Poland and my mom from Ukraine

Ukraine did it on shootouts ! They still have to beat Estonia to advance to finals. Never thought they had a chance after the 1st period.

I must admit i thought Ukraine after the win over South Korea might just give Ukraine a long shot chance of a upset. After watching 1st period i doubt they have any chance. Out shot 16-4 Poland is outplaying them by a large margin. UKR lucky to get out of 1st period down only 1-0. Of course after i said that its now 1-1 late in 2nd period... Ukraine playing a lot better in the 2nd period.

With South Korea win Ukraine clinches if they beat Poland in regulation. Will be tough but a great game to watch.

Looks like Poland vs Ukraine tomorrow for the right to advance. Depending on how both games in the group go it could be clinched on Friday.

They are posted now..... Was a surprise they waited till today to post it.

So for those who know the teams in Round 3 far better then i do. What are your thoughts on the groups ? Who are the real contenders to advance in your opinion ?

So for Round Three it looks like this Group G (19) Hungary (24) Lithuania (25) Japan (32) Spain Group H (20) Great Britain (23) Romania (26) China (30) Serbia Group J (21) Korea (22) Poland (27) Ukraine (28) Estonia

So who do you think will be the 3 that advance tomorrow? I think Estonia, Netherlands, Croatia.,

The end of the Bulgaria vs Iceland game was horrible. Of course a Bulgarian win likely would give Estonia the winner of the group even before the Iceland/Estonia game was played. Bulgaria was up 3-2 when Iceland pulled its goalie with about 2 minutes left. With about 30 seconds left a Iceland player takes down a Bulgarian player from behind. The player looked seriously hurt not moving at all. Looked like a dead body. Refs don't stop play. So its 6 Iceland players against 4. Because of the injury Iceland scores with 17 seconds left. The player would remain not moving while staff came out. Suddenly Refs huddle with Bulgarian and Iceland players. Looks like the goal might not be allowed. Then suddenly they declare goal counts plus say Iceland also scored with 1:23 to play ! Suddenly scoreboard changes from 3-2 Bulgaria to 4-3 Iceland. Never have a seen a team get credit for two goals as the same time. There was no stoppage of play for a goal at 1:23 nor any indication on the ice that a questionable decision even existed. I wish all 12 teams the best wishes in Round Two but that result smells. I hope Estonia wins on Sunday because they deserve it not Iceland

I give credit to Chinese Taipei and Turkiye who were big underdogs for playing tough for at least 2 periods. However in Iceland Bulgaria & South Africa were just bombed. Totally outclassed.

Finally its here ! I will be able to watch the 2 games from Iceland, Sadly the ones from Serbia i will just have to follow the scores.

Anyone hearing anything about the tournament scheduled for Iceland in December ? That volcano that everyone is saying is near eruption is only 31 miles from the place where the tournament is scheduled. Are we facing another cancellation ?

First Iraq vs Singapore for the right to join GROUP O was cancelled. No word from IIHF why. Then Group N (UAE, Kyrgystan, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Georgia) & Group O (Thailand, Chinese Taipei, Bosnia, South Africa, Iraq) were cancelled wiithout a explanation by IIHF. As a result Chinese Taipei, Thailand, UAE were promoted to round 2. Again no explanation Then UAE drops out replaced by Kyrgystan. Again no explanation. Then Kyrgystan drops out replaced by South Africa. Again no explanation. Now Mexico drops out replaced by Georgia. Again no explanation. Never seen these kind of changes before.

THis is getting crazy... Very Weird compared to other years. Now Mexico drops out of Group L.... REPLACEMENT IS Georgia !!!!!

Finally Official https://blob.iihf.com/iihf-media/iihfmvc/media/2023/owgq/2026_owg_men_qualification_hosting_231023.pdf

Another change to Round Two South Africa to Round 2 replacing Kyrgyzstan who earlier replaced UAE Group K Estonia, Iceland, Bulgaria, South Africa Group L Netherlands, Spain, Mexico, Thailand Group M Serbia, Croatia, Turkey, Chinese Taipei

Think your right. If by hope they do give both the boot then i suspect the top two ranked that did not win in Round 3 would get a 2nd chance.

English news is reporting today confirmed info on Group H for Round 3 played in England. Given Group H is now more or less confirmed it looks easy to figure what G and J are Grp G (unconfirmed) Hungary, Lithuania, Japan, 3rd Qualifier Grp H (Confirmed) Great Britain, Romania, China, 2nd Qualifier Grp J (unconfirmed) Korea, Poland, Ukraine, 1st Qualifier

Another change to qualifying for Round 2 Group K Estonia, Iceland, Bulgaria, Kyrgyzstan Group L Netherlands, Spain, Mexico, Thailand Group M Serbia, Croatia, Turkey, Chinese Taipei Basically UAE given the boot. Chinese Taipei & Thailand move up. Kyrgyzstan gets in... Why who knows ?

I guess i hoped against hope above. I received confirmation from my source no effort is being made to save round one. It is cancelled period. I am appalled by the decision. What sports governing body would receive requests from 8 nations to attempt to qualify for the Olympics. Determine one nation would not be allowed because they already had a two 5 team groups for Round One and felt it would be unfair to make one group 6. Then would approve 7 other national teams but one month later advise those 7 sorry come back in 4 years because we can't find a hockey rink for you to play in. The IIHF is supposed to be promoting ice hockey. The treatment of the 8 nations and their players is pathetic. They should have played these games even in Switzerland the home base of the IIHF if necessary. I can't think of another governing body of a team sport that would treat member teams in this fashion. Some of these teams were already in training camp !

I wonder now that i identified what the cause is of the cancel in my above post. I wonder if its possible things could still change. I see the TBA or To Be Announced gives me a slim hope that something could still occur. Perhaps somehow the 7 now on the outside could still pull something or at least are trying. Of course they would need two locations to step forward with limited time to do it.