For International Hockey Coverage

Attendance issues have been a major topic so far at the 2012 IIHF World Championships. Find out how big of a reduction Swedish organizers are making in prices, as well as a recap of the first two days of on ice action here.

The 2012 IIHF World Championships begin on Friday, May 4 in Stockholm and Helsinki. Here's a preview of some of the teams for whom winning a medal is only a dream at this point, including Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Denmark, Belarus and France.