The World Championship heads over the border to Germany for 2027, with matches being held in Dusseldorf and Mannheim, and is scheduled to take place between 14-30 May.
Finland and Switzerland have been drawn in Group A, just as they were for last month's tournament, where the Swiss won the group match only for Finland to end their perfect run when the gold medals were on the line.
A duel for the top two places in the group - let alone the tournament - is not guaranteed next time, as both sides will have to contend with a Sweden side looking to bounce back after an inconsistent performance last time out, and the hosts Germany, who will be aiming for a strong showing on home ice.
Local rivalries make the headlines in Group B, which features a North American derby between Canada and the USA, as 2026's surprise bronze medallists Norway meet their near-neighbours Denmark, while Czech Republic and Slovakia will both have ambitions of reaching the knockout stages.
Returning to the top tier of international ice hockey are Ukraine and Kazakhstan, who have replaced the relegated Great Britain and Italy, respectively.
2027 World Ice Hockey Championship Group Stage
Group A: Switzerland, Finland, Sweden, Germany, Latvia, Austria, Slovenia, Ukraine.
Group B: Canada, USA, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Denmark, Norway, Kazakhstan, Hungary.