Thanks for the infos !
Yes, top 4 nations (swe, fin, cze, sui), with russia once they return, probably aren't too excited since they can get relegated...but I like idea of having this competition.My ideal IIHF NT calendar would be Olympics and World Cup (where IIHF and NHL join forces) every two years, with this Nations Cup in "off" years.
So, my source wasn't quite right - the first edition of the european cup of nations is indeed going to be played this year, starting with next week.
Here is the official schedule, published by the IIHF:
IIHF - IIHF Announces Release of First Game Schedules for the IIHF European Cup of Nations
The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has officially released the first game schedules for the European Cup of Nations...
www.iihf.com