From its humble beginnings in France in 1908 to the centennial World Championships in Canada in 2008, the International Ice Hockey Federation has represented a remarkable rise in popularity of international hockey. It began as a federation which claimed six members in its first year and has grown to boast a membership that today stands at 63 nations playing dozens of tournaments annually.

World of Hockey is a celebration of the game and its growth, from the early days when Canadas amateur teams routinely won by scores of 30-0 to a game in which many nations can win Olympic gold and many more compete at a high level. It is a book that traces the development of the game and its players as well as the IIHF itself. It shows a game that started as men only but now includes a full womens program in which more than two dozen nations compete every year at a variety of levels. The book is accompanied by an appendix including all results and rosters from the 72 world championships played to date.

ANDREW PODNIEKS is the bestselling author of more than forty-five books, including World of Hockey: Celebrating 100 Years of the IIHF; The Complete Hockey Dictionary; Justin Morneau: All-Star Ball Star; GEM Hockey; and A Day in the Life of the Maple Leafs. Please visit www.andrewpodnieks.com for more on the author.]]>

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