If you don't follow hockey outside the NHL, you might be surprised to learn that a tournament called the World Hockey Championship is held every spring. This year's event begins April 30 in Vienna.

The world championship is very popular in Europe, where it originated in 1930 and where domestic leagues finish by mid-April, freeing players to join their national teams. It has never really made peace with North America, where the Stanley Cup is prized above all. In the early years of the tournament, Canada sent an amateur club team. For much of the 1970s, Canada didn't participate at all. A lengthy debate over player eligibility was not resolved until 1976, when the tournament was opened to professionals.

Because it usually conflicts with the Stanley Cup playoffs, the world championship has little profile among NHL fans, and remains a low priority for NHL players. It also has a credibility problem. The phrase "world championship" implies a gathering of the best athletes. But the timing of the annual hockey event restricts NHL participation to players who didn't make it past the opening playoff round. It's a consolation prize which might be more accurately called "The Best of the Rest."

The Stanley Cup playoffs aren't a problem this year, obviously. But stars from every country are finding reasons not to go. Some who spent the season in Europe are injured, Peter Forsberg, Patrick Elias and Vincent Lecavalier among them. Others are using the beer-and-pretzels excuse: after a winter of inactivity, Jarome Iginla, Mario Lemieux and Mats Sundin say they are in no shape to play hockey.

Canada named its roster on Monday, with 15 players returning from the 2004 World Cup champions. Team USA was announced last week, a young lineup that excludes veterans like Brett Hull and Keith Tkachuk. Russia will also go with youth.

The Czech Republic has yet to name a team, but most of its top players are in shape after playing in Europe all season, with few major injuries to report. As long as most of them accept the invitation, the Czechs will go into the tournament as the early favorite.

2005 World Hockey Championship: Tournament format and schedule.