2009 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship

From April 24 to May 10, 2009, Switzerland was at the centre of international ice hockey, with the world's 16 best teams facing off in Bern and Zurich.

As the rest of the field chased defending champions Russia, swissinfo.ch provided live game reports, background features and profiled the two host cities.

Swiss hockey supporters have a reputation for being among the most enthusiastic in Europe. Zurich is home to the European champions and the rink in Bern, the country's capital, routinely hosts more than 16,000 rabid fans, thousands of whom pack the standing room only grandstands.