It is said that the World championship in the Olympic year (e.g. 2006, 2010) attracts less famous hockey players than usual. World championship in Minsk is not an exception. Many players who took part in Olympic games wasn't able to visit Belarusian capital for many reasons.

Nevertheless Ice Hockey World Championship 2014 in Minsk has attracted well-known players and they are showing their skills to the audience.

Today we present our top-10 players who are taking part in the World championship.

10. Jere Karalahti (national team – Finland, club – Jokerit/Finland)

He played only 149 games in the NHL (8+19 points) and won three medals at World championships (2 silver medals and one bronze). Karalahti played two seasons in Dinamo Minsk. Jere was one of the favorite players of Minsk’s audience.

9. Nathan MacKinnon (Canada, Colorado Avalanche/NHL)

It is thought that he will win the Colder Trophy this year. In his first season in the NHL he got 63 points (24+39) in regular season and 10 (2+8) in playoffs. He is one of the youngest player at the World championship. MacKinnon was selected first overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

8. Pekka Rinne (Finland, Nashville Predators/NHL)

He is the most well-paid goalkeeper in the NHL. He was twice finalist for Vesina Trophy (2011, 2012). During the NHL lockout in 2012 Rinne played in Dinamo Minsk in the KHL.

7. Mikhail Grabovski (Belarus, Washington Capitals/NHL)

Grabovski is the main star of Belarusian national team. During his career in the NHL he got 252 points (107+145) and 2 points (0+2) in playoffs.

6. Sergei Bobrovsky (Russia, Columbus Blue Jackets/NHL)

Bobrovsky won the Vezina Trophy for the 2012–13 regular season with 93.2 save percentage.

5. Olli Jokinen (Finland, Winnipeg Jets/NHL)

He was selected by the Los Angeles Kings third overall in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. Jokinen played 1169 in regular season in the NHL and got 740 points (317+423). In playoffs his career was not so successful – only 5 points (2+3) in 6 games. Jokinen won 3 medals at Olympic games (silver in 2006 and bronze in 2010, 2014).

4. Tim Thomas (USA, Dallas Stars/NHL)

Thomas twice won the Vezina Trophy (2009, 2011) as the league's best goalkeeper. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player (MVP) of the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs – his club Boston Bruins won the Stanley Cup. Thomas also won silver medal in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

3. Miroslav Satan (Slovakia, Slovan Bratislava/KHL)

He is one of the most valuable players of Slovak national team. In 2002 he led the national team to win gold medal at the World championships and became the MVP of the tournament. He also won two silver medals and one bronze medal at World championships. Satan also won the Stanley Cup in 2009 with Pittsburgh Penguins. During his career in the NHL he got 735 (363+372) points in regular season and 54 (21+33) points in playoffs.

2. Alexander Ovechkin (Russia, Washington Capitals/NHL)

He was the first overall selection in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. In his first season in the NHL he won the Calder Trophy as the rookie of the year with 106 (52+54) points. He won third the Hart Memorial Trophy (2008, 2009, 2013) and got the Art Ross Trophy in 2008 (112 points). Ovechkin twice won the World championship. He got 814 (422+392) points in 678 games of regular season and 61 (31+30) points in playoffs.

1. Jaromír Jagr (Czech Republic, New Jersey Devils/NHL)

He is a legend of the world hockey. Jagr was the fifth overall selection in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft. He won the Art Ross Trophy (1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001) and the Hart Memorial Trophy in 1999. Jagr is the member of the Triple Gold Club – he won the Stanley Cup (1991, 1992), the Ice Hockey World Championships (2005, 2010) and Olympic games in Nagano (1998). During his career in the NHL he got 1755 (705+1050) points in regular season and 199 (78+121) points in playoffs. Jagr is currently tied for 6th for all-time NHL regular season point scoring and 5th in all-time playoff point scoring. Jaromir Jagr said that the World championship in Minsk will be the last in his career.

Nowadays Minsk is waiting for another famous players who will be able to come after the second round of playoff in the NHL.