For International Hockey Coverage

The Polar Bears will be back at Sochi in 2014, as the Norwegian national men's hockey team qualified for the Olympics by reaching the quarterfinal at the 2012 IIHF World Championships. The finish ensures Norway a top 9 World Ranking, and leaves only two automatic berths open for potential suitors to claim on Tuesday.

It's Part Two of our 2012 IIHF World Championships previews, having a look at the bubble teams, the ones likely to finish outside the medals but compete for a playoff spot. We feature Slovakia, Germany, Switzerland, Norway, and the USA.