Big Six (ice hockey)

In men's international ice hockey, the Big Six is a group comprising the six national teams that have dominated play throughout the history of international ice hockey, especially since the 1950s. It has traditionally been composed of the North American countries of Canada and the United States and four European countries: Czechia, Finland, Russia, and Sweden. During the Cold War and for two years afterwards, the Soviet Union/CIS and Czechoslovakia held the places of Russia and Czechia, respectively, within the group. The four European members are sometimes referred to as the "European Big Four" or "Big Four", especially to distinguish them from the North American teams.

As of 2026, out of the 267 Ice Hockey World Championships medals awarded by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), 235 have been won by the Big Six teams. Since 1954, only twelve medals have been won by teams outside the Big Six (five by Switzerland, four by Slovakia, and one each by Germany, Latvia and Norway). Of the 78 Olympic ice hockey medals awarded, 70 have been won by a Big Six team.