title: 2003 Men's Ice Hockey World Championships
text: # 2003 Men's Ice Hockey World Championships
  
  The 2003 Men's Ice Hockey World Championships was the 67th such event sanctioned by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). The competition also served as qualification for division placements in the 2004 competition. Canada won the gold medal, beating Sweden 3–2 in the final.
  
  ## Championship
  
  ### Final standings
  
  * Canada
  * Sweden
  * Slovakia
  * Czech Republic
  * Finland
  * Germany
  * Russia
  * Switzerland
  * Latvia
  * Austria
  * Denmark
  * Ukraine
  * United States
  * Belarus — relegated to Division I for 2004
  * Slovenia — relegated to Division I for 2004
  * Japan
  
  ## Division I
  
  ### Group A
  
  Played in Budapest, Hungary (April 15–21).
  
  | Team | Pld | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Kazakhstan | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 9 | +25 | 10 |
  | Poland | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 9 | +15 | 8 |
  | Hungary | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 13 | +1 | 5 |
  | Netherlands | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 17 | 22 | −5 | 3 |
  | Romania | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 26 | −13 | 3 |
  | Lithuania | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 30 | −23 | 1 |
  
  ### Group B
  
  Played in Zagreb, Croatia (April 13–20).
  
  | Team | Pld | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | France | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 21 | 5 | +16 | 9 |
  | Norway | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 9 | +10 | 8 |
  | Estonia | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 20 | −8 | 4 |
  | Italy | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 16 | 11 | +5 | 4 |
  | Great Britain | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 14 | +2 | 3 |
  | Croatia | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 35 | −25 | 2 |
  
  France and Kazakhstan were promoted to the 2004 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships, while Croatia and Lithuania were demoted to Division II.
  
  ## Division II
  
  ### Group A
  
  Played in Seoul, South Korea (April 5–12).
  
  | Team | Pld | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | South Korea | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 10 | +40 | 10 |
  | Serbia and Montenegro | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 11 | +35 | 8 |
  | Spain | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 27 | 23 | +4 | 6 |
  | Australia | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 25 | 26 | −1 | 4 |
  | South Africa | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 19 | 32 | −13 | 2 |
  | Mexico | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 70 | −65 | 0 |
  
  ### Group B
  
  Played in Sofia, Bulgaria (March 24–30).
  
  | Team | Pld | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Belgium | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 8 | +21 | 8 |
  | China | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 13 | +6 | 8 |
  | Bulgaria | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 10 | +5 | 5 |
  | North Korea | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 13 | +3 | 5 |
  | Israel | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 19 | −8 | 4 |
  | Iceland | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 31 | −27 | 0 |
  
  Belgium and South Korea were promoted to Division I, while Iceland and Mexico were demoted to Division III.
  
  ## Division III
  
  Played in Auckland, New Zealand (April 3–6).
  
  | Team | Pld | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | New Zealand | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 3 | +11 | 4 |
  | Luxembourg | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 10 | −3 | 2 |
  | Turkey | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 12 | −8 | 0 |
  
  Luxembourg and New Zealand were promoted to Division II.
  
  