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We will know much more on June 27. The state of Arizona is selling 110 acres of land just outside of the city limits of Phoenix on the 27th .  Its not in any city so community issues don't exist.  As of this moment the Coyotes are the only bidder.  The NHL did not want to wait for the stadium build which will take a couple years. So we will see what occurs.   

There is much more to this story... Arizona Coyotes will be sold to NHL for 1 billion. Then NHL will sell to Salt Lake for  1.2 billion.  IF the Coyotes complete their new stadium within the next 5 years they will be immediately granted a expansion franchise  along with one other city.    

and we have a new fresh new information (confirmed by a IIHF leaderboard member)
 
The groups are now reshuffled after BLR being excluded
 
The last spot was indeed awarded to @Vektor @lapaj
 
@avlar you are now going to Riga
 
Final Qualifying Tournaments
 
D in Bratislava, Slovakia
 




 
E in Riga, Latvia
 




 
F in TBD, Denmark
 




 
Link https://sport.aktuality.sk/hokej/clanok/slovensko-ma-v-zoh-kvalifikacii-novych-superov-caka-nas-derby-2024021221351839297

Translated from Šport.SK (The link under the text)
 
 
The IIHF has (not) decided on the fate of Russia and Belarus. It will also affect Slovakia
 
Today, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) decided on the fate of Russia and Belarus for the next season. It extended the ban on both countries from participating in IIHF events and excluded Belarus from qualifying for the Olympics.
 
Belarus was supposed to play Slovakia in the qualifiers in Bratislava. The IIHF has not announced who will replace them or how the situation will be resolved. At the end of August, teams from Kazakhstan and Ukraine are scheduled to arrive to Bratislava. Who will be the fourth team is still questionable. Likewise, what would happen in the case that Russia will not be allowed to play at the Olympics and how their place will be awarded.
 
IIHF Statement Today,
during one of its regular meetings, the IIHF Council reviewed the current security risks associated with the re-inclusion of the Russian and Belarusian national and club teams in IIHF competitions. Based on a thorough analysis, the IIHF Council has concluded that it is not yet safe to re-enter Russian and Belarusian teams into IIHF competitions. Therefore, Russia and Belarus will not participate in the 2024/2025 season. This decision will also affect the Belarusian team in connection with the final Olympic tournament, which will take place in August 2024. The IIHF Council will, as it has done in previous years, continue to monitor the situation, with the deadline to determine whether it is safe to re-include Russia and Belarus in the 2025/2026 IIHF season to be May 2025 during the IIHF Council meeting prior to the IIHF Annual Congress.
 
https://sport.aktuality.sk/hokej/clanok/iihf-rozhodla-o-osude-ruska-a-bieloruska-ovplyvni-to-aj-slovakov-2024021221063315986

A special general assembly of IIHF leaderboard is schedulled from Monday (Tomorrow) in Zurich. One of the main points (the most important) is the discussion followed by vote about the eventual extention of the ban on and from IIHF program (including the WOG Milano-Cortina 2026)
 
This is a full 14 members list of the leaderboard which will vote for or against extention of the ban
 
Luc Tardif (FRA), Petr Bříza (CZE), Bob Nicholson (CAN), Henrik Bach Nielsen (DEN), Aivaz Omorkanov (KGZ), Zsuzsanna Kolbenheyer (HUN), Marta Zawadzka (POL), Franz Reindl (GER), Pavel Bure (RUS), Andrea Gios (ITA), Heikki Hietanen (FIN), Viesturs Koziols (LAT), Anders Larsson (SWE) and Raeto Raffainer (SUI)
 
 
PS: We already know 2 votes for the continue of the ban
 
The Swede Larsson and Finn Hietanen have already told to their domestic media that their oppinion about the continuation of the ban not changed. "In the current situation, we consider it impossible for Russia and Belarus to start. This is about the safety of players and events. My clear opinion is that the situation has not changed, so Sweden's position is clear," the Swedish official told Expressen.    

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

Frankly, I don´t think there should be any surprises in these matches.
 
The day off yesterday certainly helped the Ukrainians. They know what is at stake today. And their nature is always the same, They will go for it at full gas, I don´t believe a second that they would be able to underestimate Estonia today. Maybe some small nervousness can tie hands at the beginning of the match, but the significant difference in quality should prevail by the end. No, it´s hard to expect any other result than a Ukrainian victory.
 
The Brits are the favorite too. And I think they will make it too. The Romanians need a hell of big day of their goalie and perhaps tactical substitutions, sending their checking line against the GBR first line regularly with anti-hockey system in an attempt to make them hate the game and eliminate their power. I do not see any other way to reverse the British triumph

did it. Congrats neighbors. See you in Bratislava
 

Huge relief in IIHF leaderbord just happened I guess. That huge stone that fell from Tardif & co. backs was probably be heard even on Jupiter ...
 
Sorry for , so heartbreaking to lose this way at home but I warned that this Japan is quite good and they are really working hard on their program in the last years. We will see a lot from Japan in the next years

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

Poland - Ukraine. Live
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTG43X5xpms

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

Just a small reminder. IIHF will have some good troubles to solve if beat today.
 
In this case and GBR & HUN winning their respective groups, will play in Bratislava tournament also against
 
Apparently, this information moved some asses within the IIHF leaderbard. Like, no one see this coming... Next week IIHF will announce on its special general assembly its final decision about RUS & BLR

and just like yesterday Japan has arrived to the ice in the middle of the 2nd period

again completely overslept the start of the match again. They seems having big problems with the starts In other hand, is really doing great lately, that´s very nice and encouraging for the future

Japan can be a real threat for Hungary (assuming they will start the match the same time as their opponent ). The host team will really have to be focused and avoid the penalty box because they may end being very unhappily surprised

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

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

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

It is still too early to make guesses, All will depend on the actual rosters, current form of the important players, eventual injuries etc...
 
If the tournaments were played next weekend I would say in
 
Group G.
 
Should be the favorite on home ice, but must stay focused in its games against Lithuania and Japan, especially the one against may be a tricky one and I can see Japan doing the upset in this group. but at the start if I had to bet my money, I would be more willing to put one penny on the Magyars.
 
Group H
Everything will depend on roster, if at least half of their naturalized north-americans, Russians & co. will be still there, then there no competition for them.
If China will play with mostly chinese-born roster then on home ice should pass the group quite easily.
 
Group J
Is the most open Group. vs can be a real do-or-die thriller and anyone´s game to win. S. Korea at home can be a threat, but PC 2018 hype is far gone and today´s roster is considerably inferior to both above mentioned neighboring countries.

is the obvious favorite, the other two groups finals are rather more open. vs and especially the - derby can be anyone´s, and I would not be surprised to see them ending in Overtime or PSO

2nd QUALIFYING ROUND   LAST DAY RESULTS Round-Robin
December 14th - December 17th, 2023
12 Nations, 3 Groups, the 1st Nation from each Group will qualify for the 3rd Qualifying Round   Group K Greenwich Mean Time (GMT )  
South Africa   4 - 1  Bulgaria
Period-by-Period: 0-0, 1-0, 3-1
December 17th 2023, h. 13:30, Laugardalur Arena, Reykjavik
  Estonia   6 - 0  Iceland
Period-by-Period: 3-0, 2-0, 1-0
December 17th 2023, h. 17:00, Laugardalur Arena, Reykjavik   Group K Final Standing   Nation P W(OTW) L(OTL) GF GA +/- Pt. Estonia 3 3(0) 0(0) 36 2 +34 9 Iceland 3 2(0) 1(0) 13 9 +4 6 South Africa 3 1(0) 2(0) 6 19 -13 3 Bulgaria 3 0(0) 3(0) 4 29 -25 0   Group L Central European Time (GMT +1)  
Netherlands   3 - 4  Spain
Period-by-Period: 1-0, 2-3, 0-1
December 17th 2023, h. 16:30, Ijssportscentrum, Tilburg
  Georgia   10 - 0  Thailand
Period-by-Period: 3-0, 4-0, 3-0
December 17th 2023, h. 20:00, Ijssportscentrum, Tilburg   Group L Final Standing   Nation P W(OTW) L(OTL) GF GA +/- Pt. Spain 3 3(0) 0(0) 24 6 +18 9 Netherlands 3 2(0) 1(0) 34 7 +27 6 Georgia 3 1(0) 2(0) 13 13 0 3 Thailand 3 0(0) 3(0) 3 48 -45 0   Group M Central European Time (GMT +1)  
Turkiye   1 - 3  Chinese Taipei
Period-by-Period: 0-1, 1-2, 0-0
December 17th 2023, h. 15:30, Pionir Ice Rink, Belgrade
  Serbia   4 - 0  Croatia Period-by-Period: 1-0, 0-0, 3-0
December 17th 2023, h. 19:00, Pionir Ice Rink, Belgrade   Group M Final Standing   Nation P W(OTW) L(OTL) GF GA +/- Pt. Serbia 3 3(0) 0(0) 15 0 +15 9 Croatia 3 2(0) 1(0) 12 7 +5 6 Chinese Taipei 3 1(0) 2(0) 4 13 -9 3 Turkiye 3 0(0) 3(0) 3 14 -11 0 The following Nations have qualified for the Third Qualifying Round
Estonia Serbia Spain

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 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

beat 4-3 and progress to Round 3. Was a real hard battled game, I watched the whole last period and despite the very low speed and a few really silly decisions by players here and there it was a fun match to watch
 
 
is already leading 3-0 after 1st frame. One sided game as expected