Sports Streaming
How to Watch the IIHF World Championship in Canada
The IIHF World Championship is the senior men’s world hockey tournament, played every May across sixteen nations. In Canada it is the tournament people forget about, because it overlaps with the NHL playoffs — but it is also the one where you see NHL players in national colours, and where a Canadian roster is assembled from whoever has been eliminated. TSN and RDS are Hockey Canada’s official broadcasters and carry it in full.
Key takeaways
- TSN carries the IIHF World Championship in English; RDS covers it in French.
- It is played in May, overlapping the NHL playoffs.
- The tournament is hosted in Europe most years, so games air in the Canadian morning and early afternoon.
- Canada's roster is built from players whose NHL teams have been eliminated.
- TiviLeaf includes TSN, TSN2-5 and RDS from $9 CAD/month.
Tournament Format
| Stage | Format | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Group stage | Two groups of eight, round robin | First two weeks of May |
| Quarter-finals | Top four from each group | Third week |
| Semi-finals | Four teams remaining | Final weekend |
| Bronze and gold medal games | Played the same day | Final Sunday |
Each team plays seven group games, which means a lot of hockey across two weeks — and TSN typically spreads it across multiple feeds when Canadian games overlap with other fixtures worth showing.
Start Times in Canada
This is the tournament’s main obstacle for Canadian viewers. Hosting rotates through Europe, so most games are played in central European afternoons and evenings:
| Local (CET) | Eastern | Central | Mountain | Pacific |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:20 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. | 5:20 a.m. | 4:20 a.m. | 3:20 a.m. |
| 4:20 p.m. | 10:20 a.m. | 9:20 a.m. | 8:20 a.m. | 7:20 a.m. |
| 8:20 p.m. | 2:20 p.m. | 1:20 p.m. | 12:20 p.m. | 11:20 a.m. |
The evening European slot — roughly 2:20 p.m. Eastern — is the most watchable, and it is where marquee fixtures are usually scheduled. Morning games are where replay access earns its keep.
Why the Rosters Are Unusual
The World Championship runs concurrently with the NHL playoffs, which produces a distinctive dynamic: national teams are assembled from players whose clubs have been eliminated. In practice that means:
- Canada’s roster changes during the tournament as more NHL teams are knocked out and players fly over.
- European nations field stronger sides, because their domestic leagues have finished and their NHL contingent is often available earlier.
- Upsets are common, which is a large part of the tournament’s appeal.
- Younger Canadian players get senior international minutes they would not otherwise see.
Option 1 — TSN Direct
Approximately $19.99 CAD per month, covering all five TSN feeds plus on-demand replays. Because the tournament sits inside a single month, one billing period covers it end to end.
Option 2 — IPTV
TiviLeaf includes TSN, TSN2–5, RDS and RDS2 from $9 CAD per month. In May that also covers the NHL playoffs and the Memorial Cup, both running at the same time on the same networks. The 7-day replay window is what makes a 6:20 a.m. group game realistic to watch. Plans and pricing are listed at tivileaf.com/#pricing.
Best Devices for Watching
- Amazon Firestick / Fire TV: the most common streaming stick in Canadian homes. See the Fire TV setup guide.
- Samsung and LG smart TVs: app support built in, no extra box needed. See the Samsung guide or the LG guide.
- Apple TV: the smoothest option for 4K streams. See the Apple TV guide.
- Android TV, Google TV and NVIDIA Shield: including budget boxes like the Walmart onn. See the Google TV guide.
- iPhone, iPad and Android phones: for watching on the move or on a second screen.
FAQ
What channel is the IIHF World Championship on in Canada?
TSN carries the IIHF World Championship in English and RDS carries it in French. Both are Hockey Canada's official broadcast partners and cover the tournament in full.
When is the IIHF World Championship?
It is played each May, overlapping with the NHL playoffs. The group stage runs the first two weeks, with the medal games on the final Sunday.
What time do IIHF Worlds games air in Canada?
Most years the tournament is hosted in Europe, so games air between roughly 6:20 a.m. and 2:20 p.m. Eastern. The European evening slot at about 2:20 p.m. Eastern is the most watchable for Canadian viewers.
Why do NHL players miss the World Championship?
The tournament runs at the same time as the NHL playoffs, so national teams are built from players whose clubs have already been eliminated. Canada's roster typically grows during the tournament as more teams are knocked out.