The Big Six are uninvolved with ice hockey.
The Big Six in men 's international ice hockey are the six national teams that have been dominant in competitive play throughout the history of international hockey and especially since the 1950s . The group is composed of the North American countries of Canada and the United States , and four European countries : Czech Republic , Finland , Russia and Sweden . Of the 69 Olympic ice hockey medals awarded , only 6 have not been won by a Big Six team . Ice hockey . In international competitions , the national teams of six countries ( the `` Big Six '' ) predominate : Canada , Czech Republic , Finland , Russia , Sweden and the United States . Teams outside the `` Big Six '' have won only five medals in either competition since 1953 : All 12 Women 's Olympic and 36 IIHF World Women 's Championships medals have been awarded to one of these six countries , and every gold medal in both competitions has been won by either the Canadian national team or the United States national team .