The new series aims to bring together matches that currently take place between countries, but also incorporate new fixtures in order to formalise a competition calendar.

It will see nations from both the A and B pools of ice sledge hockey competing against each other for end-of-season ranking points.

The Four Nations tournament at the Eishalle Langenhagen will begin with European champions Italy versus Czech Republic, who will both feature at the 2015 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships A-Pool in Buffalo, United States, due to take place from April 24 until May 2.

The dynamic duo of Florian Planker and Gianluigi Rosa will make Italy the team to beat, with Planker the lead scorer for his country at the last two World Championships A-Pool.

Florian Planker will be a huge asset to Italy after finishing the lead scorer for his country at the last two World Championships A-Pool ©Getty Images



Meanwhile, Czech Republic have seen a series a retirements following Sochi 2014, where they finished third in Group A, and will be hoping they can start the season well.

Joining them in Langehagen will be A-Pool newcomers Germany, whose first match will be against Sweden.

Headlining the home team are four club players, including young forward Felix Schrader.

The Swedes are using the World Series competition to test some new players as well as fielding their established names such as Rasmus Lundgren, Marcus Holm and Per Kasperi.

They will be playing in the B-Pool World Championships at home in 2015 after it was announced in October that Ostersund would host the competition from March 15-21.

The World Series is scheduled to get underway tomorrow with competition running through until Sunday (October 26).

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
October 2014: Östersund announced as host for 2015 Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships B-Pool
July 2014: Ice sledge hockey to launch World Series