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1978 Ice Hockey World Championships

1978 edition of the World Ice Hockey Championships


1978 edition of the World Ice Hockey Championships

FieldValue
year1978
countryCzechoslovakia
dates26 April – 14 May
num_teams8
venues1
cities1
typeih
winnersUSSR
count15
secondCzechoslovakia
thirdCanada
fourthSweden
games40
goals322
attendance362642
scoring_leaderFRG Erich Kühnhackl 16 points
prevseason[1977](1977-ice-hockey-world-championships)
nextseason[1979](1979-ice-hockey-world-championships)

The 1978 Ice Hockey World Championships took place in Prague, Czechoslovakia from 26 April to 14 May. Held at the Sportovní hala ČSTV in the capital city, it was the sixth time Czechoslovakia hosted the competition. Eight teams took part, with each team playing each other once in the first round, and then the four best teams meeting in a new round. This was the 45th World Championships, and also the 56th European Championships. The USSR won for the 15th time, narrowly defeating the incumbent Czechoslovaks.

On the final day, there was essentially a gold medal game, and a bronze medal game. The Soviets played the Czechoslovaks and needed to win by at least two to win the Championship. They took a three nothing lead, and hung to win by two, capturing gold by being even head-to-head with the Czechoslovaks, but having a cumulative two goal advantage against everyone else. Canada and Sweden came into the final game even, so the winner would claim the bronze. Pat Hickey scored with a minute left in the game to give Canada a three to two victory, and the medal.

Because of the allowance of professionals from the NHL into the tournament, a peculiar (and new) situation arose during this year's tournament. The Minnesota North Stars had players representing Canada (2), Sweden (3), and the United States (4).

World Championship Group A (Czechoslovakia)

First round

Final Round 1–4 place

Consolation round 5–8 place

East Germany was relegated to Group B.

World Championship Group B (Yugoslavia)

Played in Belgrade 17–26 March.

Undefeated Poland was promoted to Group A, and both Italy and Yugoslavia were relegated to Group C.

World Championship Group C (Spain)

Played in the Canary Islands (Las Palmas) 10–19 March.

The Netherlands and Austria were both promoted to Group B. China and Denmark also ended up being promoted to alleviate a political situation between the Chinese and the South Koreans and to address the IIHF missing that Austria should have been disqualified for using Pentti Hyytiäinen.

Ranking and statistics

Tournament Awards

  • Best players selected by the directorate:
    • Best Goaltender: CSK Jiří Holeček
    • Best Defenceman: URS Viacheslav Fetisov
    • Best Forward: CAN Marcel Dionne
  • Media All-Star Team:
    • Goaltender: CSK Jiří Holeček
    • Defence: CSK Jiří Bubla, URS Viacheslav Fetisov
    • Forwards: CSK Ivan Hlinka, URS Sergei Kapustin, URS Alexander Maltsev

Final standings

The final standings of the tournament according to IIHF:

8

European championships final standings

The final standings of the European championships according to IIHF:

6

Citations

References

References

  1. (27 April 1978). "Úspěšné vykročení našich". [[Rudé právo]].
  2. [http://www.passionhockey.com/hockeyarchives/mondial1978.htm Tie breaker]
  3. [http://www.passionhockey.com/hockeyarchives/mondial1978.htm Tournament summary]
  4. Duplacey page 506
  5. (15 May 1978). "Skončilo mistrovství světa a Evropy v ledním hokeji". [[Rudé právo]].
  6. [http://www.passionhockey.com/hockeyarchives/mondial1979.htm Group B and C summaries 1979]
  7. [http://www.passionhockey.com/hockeyarchives/register/HyytiainenPentti.htm Pentti Hytiainen profile]
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