Best Ice Hockey Nations of All Time
Who are the greatest ice hockey nations of all time? Explore the leading countries in Sport Ranking’s historical Ice Hockey ranking, based on results from major international competitions across different eras.
Greatest Men’s Ice Hockey Nations
Ice Hockey Men
| # | Country | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canada | 699 |
| 2 | Russia | 550 |
| 3 | Sweden | 455 |
| 4 | Czech Republic | 423 |
| 5 | United States | 341 |
| 6 | Finland | 255 |
| 7 | Switzerland | 99 |
| 8 | Germany | 91 |
| 9 | Great Britain | 58 |
| 10 | Slovakia | 55 |
Greatest Women’s Ice Hockey Nations
Ice Hockey Women
| # | Country | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canada | 315 |
| 2 | United States | 279 |
| 3 | Finland | 106 |
| 4 | Sweden | 64 |
| 5 | Switzerland | 43 |
| 6 | Russia | 39 |
| 7 | Germany | 17 |
| 8 | Czech Republic | 16 |
| 9 | China | 15 |
| 10 | Japan | 12 |
How the All-Time Ranking Works
The ranking is based primarily on the annual World Championship and the Olympic Games. For men, the system reflects differences in the strength of international tournaments based on the availability of the world’s leading NHL players, with events featuring unrestricted NHL participation carrying a higher point value.
The ranking also includes other major tournaments featuring NHL players, most notably the historic Canada Cup, the World Cup of Hockey, and the 4 Nations Face-Off. The women’s ranking is based primarily on the Olympic Games and the World Championship, complemented by selected historically significant international competitions.
Learn more about Ice Hockey scoring →