1957 World Ice Hockey Championships
Encyclopedia
The 1957 Men's Ice Hockey World Championships
were held between 24 February and 5 March 1957 at the Palace of Sports
of the Central Lenin Stadium
in Moscow
, USSR.
This was the last World Championships played on natural ice; and were the first World Championships held in the USSR and they are remembered for the political circumstances surrounding the games. Hungary
had been recently occupied by the Soviet Army
(to suppress a revolution in October and November 1956), and as a result, the United States
and Canada
boycotted the World Championships in protest. Joining them were Norway
, West Germany
, Italy
and Switzerland
. East Germany was participating for the first time.
surprised the world by pulling off an upset. The first step was taken in their third game, when they beat Czechoslovakia
2-0. This important victory was saved by the head of Leksands IF
defenseman Vilgot Larsson. He literally headed the puck away from the Swedish net to save a goal, and in the days before mandatory helmets, received several stitches for his heroics. In the final game, Sweden opened with two goals, but the dynamic Soviets responded with 4 goals of their own. Down by two in the third period, goals by Eilert Määttä
and Erling Lindström tied the game, and the goaltending of Thord Flodqvist
and play of Sven "Tumba" Johansson guaranteed the final draw. The USSR had previously only tied Czechoslovakia
, so all Sweden needed was one point, or a tie, for gold.
Karel Straka, of Czechoslovakia
, was named best goalkeeper. Nikolaï Sologubov
, of the USSR was best defenseman, and Sven "Tumba" Johansson of Sweden was best forward. Konstantin Loktev
, of the USSR, led all scorers with 18 points (on 11 goals and 7 assists), followed by Nils Nilsson and Ronald Pettersson
of Sweden
, both with 16 points. Vsevolod Bobrov
, of the USSR, led all scorers with 13 goals. Japan
, competed for the first time since 1930, and finished last with one point in the standings.
for the championship) was played on the football field of the Grand Sports Arena of the Luzhniki Stadium
. It is reputed that over 50,000 fans (or 55,000, depending on sources) fans saw the game, the most ever for an international hockey game. This stood as the world record until 6 October 2001, when 74,544 fans saw Michigan State University
and the University of Michigan
play an American NCAA Hockey game outdoors at Spartan Stadium
in East Lansing, Michigan
.
Ice Hockey World Championships
The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European...
were held between 24 February and 5 March 1957 at the Palace of Sports
Luzhniki Palace of Sports
Luzhniki Palace of Sports, formerly the Palace of Sports of the Central Lenin Stadium, is a sports palace in Moscow, Russia, a part of the Luzhniki Sports Complex. Built in 1956, it originally had a spectator capacity of 13,700...
of the Central Lenin Stadium
Luzhniki Stadium
The Grand Sports Arena of the Luzhniki Olympic Complex in Moscow, or briefly Luzhniki Stadium , is the biggest sports stadium in Russia. Its total seating capacity is 78,360 seats, all covered. The stadium is a part of the Luzhniki Olympic Complex, previously called the Central Lenin Stadium...
in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, USSR.
This was the last World Championships played on natural ice; and were the first World Championships held in the USSR and they are remembered for the political circumstances surrounding the games. Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
had been recently occupied by the Soviet Army
Soviet Army
The Soviet Army is the name given to the main part of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union between 1946 and 1992. Previously, it had been known as the Red Army. Informally, Армия referred to all the MOD armed forces, except, in some cases, the Soviet Navy.This article covers the Soviet Ground...
(to suppress a revolution in October and November 1956), and as a result, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
boycotted the World Championships in protest. Joining them were Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. East Germany was participating for the first time.
Competition
With the boycott, the home team USSR was heavily favoured to win the tournament, but SwedenSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
surprised the world by pulling off an upset. The first step was taken in their third game, when they beat Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
2-0. This important victory was saved by the head of Leksands IF
Leksands IF
Leksands Idrottsförening is a Swedish ice hockey team from the town of Leksand in the region of Dalarna. The team is currently playing in the second highest league in Sweden, HockeyAllsvenskan. Leksand has played 53 seasons in the top Swedish league – between 1951 to 2001, 2002 to 2004, and 2005–06...
defenseman Vilgot Larsson. He literally headed the puck away from the Swedish net to save a goal, and in the days before mandatory helmets, received several stitches for his heroics. In the final game, Sweden opened with two goals, but the dynamic Soviets responded with 4 goals of their own. Down by two in the third period, goals by Eilert Määttä
Eilert Määttä
Yngve Eilert "Garvis" Määttä was a retired Swedish professional ice hockey player and coach. He played for Skellefteå AIK and Södertälje SK...
and Erling Lindström tied the game, and the goaltending of Thord Flodqvist
Thord Flodqvist
Thord Rubert "Flodan" Flodqvist was a Swedish ice hockey goaltender who represented his country at the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo, winning the bronze medal in the team competition. He played club hockey for Södertälje SK and AIK IF.- References :...
and play of Sven "Tumba" Johansson guaranteed the final draw. The USSR had previously only tied Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, so all Sweden needed was one point, or a tie, for gold.
Karel Straka, of Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, was named best goalkeeper. Nikolaï Sologubov
Nikolai Sologubov
Nikolai Mikhailovich Sologubov was an ice hockey defenceman in the Soviet Union.-German-Soviet War:Sologubov took part in the German-Soviet War. Serving in the naval infantry he was wounded to leg in a battle near Shlisselburg in 1943. After a month and a half rehabilitation at a hospital he...
, of the USSR was best defenseman, and Sven "Tumba" Johansson of Sweden was best forward. Konstantin Loktev
Konstantin Loktev
Konstantin Borisovich Loktev was an ice hockey player who played in the Soviet Hockey League. He played for HC CSKA Moscow. He was inducted into the Russian and Soviet Hockey Hall of Fame in 1964. He was born and died in Moscow.-External links:* * * * *...
, of the USSR, led all scorers with 18 points (on 11 goals and 7 assists), followed by Nils Nilsson and Ronald Pettersson
Ronald Pettersson
Erik Ronald "Sura-Pelle" Pettersson was a Swedish ice hockey player. He played 252 international games for Sweden between 1955 and 1967, including thirteen World Championships and three Olympic Games. Between 1951 and 1967 Pettersson played for Surahammars IF, Södertälje SK and Västra Frölunda IF...
of Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, both with 16 points. Vsevolod Bobrov
Vsevolod Bobrov
Vsevolod Mikhailovich Bobrov was a Soviet athlete, who excelled in both football , bandy, and ice hockey. He is considered one of the best Russians ever in all of those sports.- Biography :...
, of the USSR, led all scorers with 13 goals. Japan
Japan national ice hockey team
The Japanese men's national ice hockey team is the national men's ice hockey of Japan. They are currently ranked 22nd in the IIHF World Ranking and currently compete in IIHF World Championship Division I...
, competed for the first time since 1930, and finished last with one point in the standings.
Standings
| Place | Team | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 62 | 11 | 13 | |
| Silver | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 77 | 9 | 12 | |
| Bronze | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 66 | 9 | 11 | |
| 4th | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 28 | 33 | 8 | |
| 5th | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 23 | 48 | 6 | |
| 6th | 7 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 25 | 45 | 4 | |
| 7th | 7 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 61 | 1 | |
| 8th | 7 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 11 | 84 | 1 |
Final round
Attendance record
The final game (USSR versus SwedenSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
for the championship) was played on the football field of the Grand Sports Arena of the Luzhniki Stadium
Luzhniki Stadium
The Grand Sports Arena of the Luzhniki Olympic Complex in Moscow, or briefly Luzhniki Stadium , is the biggest sports stadium in Russia. Its total seating capacity is 78,360 seats, all covered. The stadium is a part of the Luzhniki Olympic Complex, previously called the Central Lenin Stadium...
. It is reputed that over 50,000 fans (or 55,000, depending on sources) fans saw the game, the most ever for an international hockey game. This stood as the world record until 6 October 2001, when 74,544 fans saw Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
and the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
play an American NCAA Hockey game outdoors at Spartan Stadium
Spartan Stadium (East Lansing)
Spartan Stadium opened in 1923 in East Lansing, Michigan, United States. It is primarily used for football, and is the home field of the Michigan State University Spartans...
in East Lansing, Michigan
East Lansing, Michigan
East Lansing is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located directly east of Lansing, Michigan, the state's capital. Most of the city is within Ingham County, though a small portion lies in Clinton County. The population was 48,579 at the time of the 2010 census, an increase from...
.