1954 Ice Hockey World Championships


The 21st Ice Hockey World Championships and 32nd European ice hockey championships were held from 26 February to 7 March 1954 in Stockholm, Sweden. Every team played each other once with the top three finishers receiving medals at the end. The USSR won in its first attempt, led by Vsevolod Bobrov who was recognized as the best forward of the tournament in the first ever presentation of Directorate Awards.

Description

The USSR won their first five games before meeting up with the host, and defending champion, Sweden. Sweden, having already lost eight to nothing to Canada, desperately needed to beat the Soviets, but settled for a one all tie. The final game of the tournament pitted the East York Lyndhursts, representing Canada, against the USSR, both teams being undefeated. Tournament organizers believed the Canadians would cruise to their seventh straight win and had begun to sell tickets for a planned tie-breaking game between the Soviets and Swedes to determine the European Championship. However the Soviets "appeared to pass too much, check too little, and skate too fast" and "thoroughly dominated" in a 7–2 win before 16,000 fans.
Beginning with this year the IIHF began giving out official awards to the best forward, defensemen, and goaltender, of the tournament.

Final round

Standings

RankTeamGPWinsTiesLossesGoalsGoal Diff.Pts.
1761037:10+2713
2760159:12+4712
3751130:18+1211
4740341:21+208
5721422:32−105
6711512:52−403
7702515:34−192
871066:43−372

Team members

  7. Citations