1977 World Ice Hockey Championships
The games of the A group of the 44th Ice Hockey World Championship and 55th Hockey Championships were held until May 8, 1977 in Vienna, Austria on 21 April. The B group played from March 10 to March 21 in Tokyo, Japan, and the crews of the C group met from 12 March to 20 March in Copenhagen in Denmark. With 24 participating teams, there was a new record. For the first time joined a ice hockey world championship on a team of Spain; also took part for the first time after 1969 a Canadian team.
It was in this World Cup year a novelty. After there had been an ice hockey championship for juniors under 19 years of age ( U -19) since 1969, also a Junior World Championship was held this year for the first time. Approved players were under 20 years old (U -20). Venues this Junior World Championships were the cities of Banská Bystrica and Zvolen, Czechoslovakia. The games took place between January 2, 1977 December 22, 1976. Participated have 8 teams. First Junior World Champion team of the Soviet Union.
- 2.1 Games
- 2.2 Final Table
- 2.3 Ascent and Descent
- 3.1 Games
- 3.2 Final Table
- 3.3 Ascent and Descent
A World Championship
The competition format of last year's A-WC was retained. There was first a preliminary round with all 8 teams, then the best 4 teams to titles and medals and the 4 remaining teams played against relegation. The points from the first round were taken there, on points, the direct comparison decided. The B group played this year with 9 teams, a consequence of the return of Canadians. There was, therefore, in this year at 2 losers from the B group only a promoted from the C group.
The World Cup tournament in Vienna was one of the most exciting World Cup history, which was due to the lack of performance continuity of the supposed favorites in the first place. So playful Canada - after falling out with the International Amateur Ice Hockey Federation IIHF for the first time in eight years there - in the preliminary round almost all chances of gold, as it only against Czechoslovakia at least could fight for a spot beside two defeats against the USSR and Sweden. Even the best with convincing wins against Czechoslovakia and Sweden balance of all participants in the subsequent final round brought for the world champion no improvement in the placement and meant to conclude rank four. In contrast, the USSR seemed by sovereign preliminary round victories over Canada and Czechoslovakia counteract a superior title, but had to play Sweden in both the pre-and in the final round plug in two significant defeats. After losing revenge against Czechoslovakia in the medal round was only third place for the title contenders at the end. Preliminary winners Sweden remained after his new victory against the Soviet selection in the final without further success, and ultimately won the silver medal. So finally able to defend their title successfully Czechoslovakia, although this again was against Canada in two games without a win. It was the fifth World Cup and the 14th European title win for the Czechoslovaks.
Preliminary round
Final Table
Relegation round for the places 5-8
( Points in the preliminary round with accepted)
Final Table
Meisterrunde for places 1-4
( Points in the preliminary round with accepted)
Final Table
Final placement of WM
Final placement of the EM
Champion teams
B World Cup
The tournament of the B group was in Tokyo, Japan, discharged.