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In a retrospective piece from June 29, 2009, writer John Grigg highlighted the dominance of five nations in men’s Olympic hockey, with only Great Britain breaking through for gold in 1936, aided by Canadian military players. As hockey continues to gain popularity worldwide, several emerging countries are striving to establish themselves among the elite twelve teams globally.

Denmark currently holds the 12th spot in the IIHF rankings, surpassing Olympic contender Germany. Despite their efforts, they were unable to qualify for the 2010 Winter Games after losing to Norway in a decisive match. Prominent NHL players like Frans Neilsen, Lars Eller, and Mikkel Boedker are helping elevate Denmark's status in the sport. THN's European correspondent Risto Pakarinen remarked, “Denmark probably would have made the Olympics if they had all their guys. It’s a shame they didn’t; they play really good hockey and have several good young players.” Eller voiced his confidence that Denmark could have qualified, stating, “We lost to Norway and they qualified. It was close.”

France made notable progress in 2009, climbing four positions to become the 14th best team in the world. Pakarinen noted their strong performances in recent World Championships, suggesting that the current roster has more potential to showcase. Players like Baptiste Amar and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare have been making their mark in the Swedish Elite League.

Ukraine struggled to qualify without its NHL stars, including Alexei Ponikarovsky. However, they managed a respectable 10th place finish at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games with the help of those players. With the upcoming 2014 Games nearby, Ukraine is poised to be a team to keep an eye on as they continue to develop their program.

Kazakhstan, ranked 20th, also has a rich hockey tradition and a passionate fan base. Having participated in the Olympics in 1998 and 2006, players like Nik Antropov reminisce about their Olympic experiences, emphasizing the significance of representing their country on the world stage.