1991 Men's Ice Hockey World Championships

The 1991 Men's Ice Hockey World Championships was the 55th such event sanctioned by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), and at the same time served as the 66th and last Ice Hockey European Championships. Teams representing 25 countries participated in several levels of competition. The competition also served as qualifications for group placements in the 1992 competition.

1991 Men's Ice Hockey World Championships
The main venue of the 1991 World Ice Hockey Championships; Turkuhalli.
Tournament details
Host country Finland
Venue(s)3 (in 3 host cities)
Dates19 April – 4 May
Teams8
Final positions
Champions  Sweden (5th title)
Runner-up  Canada
Third place  Soviet Union
Fourth place United States
Tournament statistics
Games played40
Goals scored272 (6.8 per game)
Attendance310,627 (7,766 per game)
Scoring leader(s)Sweden Mats Sundin 14 points
← 1990
1992 →

The top Championship Group A tournament took place in Finland from 19 April to 4 May 1991, with games played in Turku, Helsinki and Tampere. Eight teams took part, with each team playing each other once. The four best teams then played each other once more. Sweden became world champions for the fifth time, and the Soviet Union won their 27th European title. In the European Championships, only matches between European teams in the first round were counted towards scoring.

There were three significant 'lasts' in this year's championships. This would be the last year that a separate European title would be awarded, which the Soviets captured in their last appearance before the dissolution of the Soviet Union seven months later. Their position in Group A would be inherited by Russia, while newly independent former Soviet member states Belarus, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, and Ukraine began play in 1993 in qualification tournaments for Group C. The tournament itself would change significantly after this year as well. This was the last time the top level was contested by eight teams; beginning in 1992 it would expand to twelve, requiring both Groups B and C to promote four nations each.

The final round of four teams was a very tight battle, except for the United States. Getting only a tie against the last place Germans, the Americans only advanced to the final round by narrowly defeating the host Finns. The USA were easily defeated by the three other teams in the final round, but were involved in a controversial finish. The Canadians, having tied both the Swedes and the Soviets, needed to win their game against the US by five goals, then hope that the Swedes and Soviets tied, ensuring Canada the gold. Winning 7–4 in the final minute, and despite playing short-handed, they scored the two goals they needed. American coach Tim Taylor, trailing 9–4, pulled his goalie in the final minute, later claiming that he was trying to score the necessary number of goals to win the bronze medal. It was the last of many questionable finishes over the years that hastened the IIHF to change the format of the tournament.

The Soviets and Swedes took a 1–1 tie into the third period of the last game, which would have given the gold medal to Canada had it held up. However, Mats Sundin scored at 9:37, and the Swedes held on to capture gold.[1][2]

World Championship Group A (Finland)

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First round

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1   Soviet Union 7 6 1 0 41 16 +25 13
2   Sweden 7 3 4 0 30 21 +9 10
3   Canada 7 4 1 2 24 20 +4 9
4   United States 7 3 2 2 23 28 −5 8
5   Finland 7 3 1 3 22 15 +7 7
6   Czechoslovakia 7 3 0 4 19 19 0 6
7    Switzerland 7 1 0 6 13 26 −13 2
8   Germany 7 0 1 6 13 40 −27 1
Source: [citation needed]
19 AprilFinland  2–0  Czechoslovakia
19 AprilCanada  4–3  United States
19 AprilSoviet Union  3–1   Switzerland
19 AprilSweden  8–1  Germany
20 AprilCanada  3–0   Switzerland
20 AprilFinland  4–4  Sweden
20 AprilGermany  3–7  Soviet Union
20 AprilUnited States  4–1  Czechoslovakia
22 AprilCanada  3–2  Germany
22 AprilFinland  0–3  Soviet Union
22 AprilCzechoslovakia  4–1   Switzerland
22 AprilSweden  4–4  United States
23 AprilGermany  1–7  Czechoslovakia
23 AprilFinland  3–5  Canada
23 AprilSweden  4–3   Switzerland
23 AprilUnited States  2–12  Soviet Union
25 AprilSweden  2–1  Czechoslovakia
25 AprilSwitzerland  2–4  United States
25 AprilSoviet Union  5–3  Canada
25 AprilFinland  6–0  Germany
26 AprilCanada  3–3  Sweden
26 AprilGermany  4–4  United States
26 AprilCzechoslovakia  2–6  Soviet Union
26 AprilFinland  6–1   Switzerland
28 AprilFinland  1–2  United States
28 AprilSwitzerland  5–2  Germany
28 AprilSoviet Union  5–5  Sweden
28 AprilCzechoslovakia  4–3  Canada

Final Round

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1   Sweden 3 2 1 0 13 8 +5 5
2   Canada 3 1 2 0 15 10 +5 4
3   Soviet Union 3 1 1 1 10 9 +1 3
4   United States 3 0 0 3 12 23 −11 0
Source: [citation needed]
30 AprilSoviet Union  6–4  United States
30 AprilSweden  3–3  Canada
2 MayUnited States  4–8  Sweden
2 MayCanada  3–3  Soviet Union
4 MayUnited States  4–9  Canada
4 MaySweden  2–1  Soviet Union

Consolation round

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
5   Finland 10 6 1 3 35 21 +14 13
6   Czechoslovakia 10 4 0 6 28 27 +1 8
7    Switzerland 10 2 1 7 22 38 −16 5
8   Germany 10 0 2 8 19 51 −32 2
Source: [citation needed]

No team was relegated because of the expansion to twelve teams.

29 AprilGermany  2–4  Finland
29 AprilSwitzerland  4–3  Czechoslovakia
1 MayCzechoslovakia  4–1  Germany
1 MayFinland  6–2   Switzerland
3 MayFinland  3–2  Czechoslovakia
3 MayGermany  3–3   Switzerland

World Championship Group B (Yugoslavia)

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Played in Ljubljana, Bled and Jesenice 28 March to 7 April. With the expansion of Group A impending, promotion was available to the top four finishers. As well, the top three qualified directly for the Olympics, with fourth place needing to defeat the winner of Group C.[1][3]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
9   Italy 7 7 0 0 49 11 +38 14
10   Norway 7 5 0 2 26 13 +13 10
11   France 7 5 0 2 28 18 +10 10
12   Poland 7 4 0 3 24 15 +9 8
13   Austria 7 3 1 3 21 18 +3 7
14   Yugoslavia 7 2 0 5 18 36 −18 4
15   Netherlands 7 1 0 6 9 40 −31 2
16   Japan 7 0 1 6 10 34 −24 1
Source: [citation needed]

Italy, Norway, France, and Poland all were promoted to Group A, no one was relegated.

28 MarchAustria  2–2  Japan
28 MarchFrance  4–2  Poland
28 MarchItaly  13–0  Netherlands
28 MarchNorway  5–1  Yugoslavia
29 MarchPoland  2–1  Austria
29 MarchNetherlands  0–4  Norway
29 MarchFrance  4–2  Yugoslavia
29 MarchJapan  2–7  Italy
31 MarchFrance  9–1  Netherlands
31 MarchItaly  2–1  Poland
31 MarchAustria  6–1  Yugoslavia
31 MarchNorway  6–1  Japan
1 AprilAustria  6–4  Netherlands
1 AprilItaly  13–3  Yugoslavia
2 AprilJapan  3–5  France
2 AprilPoland  2–4  Norway
3 AprilItaly  5–1  Austria
3 AprilYugoslavia  3–6  Poland
4 AprilJapan  1–2  Netherlands
4 AprilFrance  2–3  Norway
5 AprilYugoslavia  5–1  Japan
5 AprilFrance  1–5  Italy
6 AprilNetherlands  1–4  Poland
6 AprilAustria  3–1  Norway
7 AprilNorway  3–4  Italy
7 AprilYugoslavia  3–1  Netherlands
7 AprilPoland  7–0  Japan
7 AprilAustria  2–3  France

World Championship Group C (Denmark)

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Played in Brøndby 23 March to 3 April. With the expansion of Group A, four openings in Group B were available. In addition, the winner got to play off for the last Olympic spot against the fourth place Group B finisher.[1]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
17   Denmark 8 7 1 0 71 13 +58 15
18   China 8 6 1 1 44 24 +20 13
19   Romania 8 6 0 2 51 22 +29 12
20   Bulgaria 8 4 1 3 35 26 +9 9
21   Great Britain 8 4 1 3 45 25 +20 9
22   Hungary 8 3 1 4 37 32 +5 7
23   North Korea 8 2 1 5 29 35 −6 5
24   South Korea 8 1 0 7 19 64 −45 2
25   Belgium 8 0 0 8 11 101 −90 0
Source: [citation needed]

Denmark, China, Romania and Bulgaria were all promoted. With no Group D in existence at this time, there was no relegation.

23 MarchHungary  11–1  Belgium
23 MarchDenmark  15–1  South Korea
23 MarchChina  6–5  Great Britain
24 MarchRomania  14–0  Belgium
24 MarchGreat Britain  7–2  North Korea
24 MarchBulgaria  3–4  China
25 MarchSouth Korea  4–9  Hungary
25 MarchRomania  7–2  North Korea
25 MarchDenmark  7–3  Bulgaria
26 MarchSouth Korea  7–2  Belgium
26 MarchHungary  3–4  China
26 MarchDenmark  3–2  Great Britain
27 MarchBulgaria  1–3  Romania
27 MarchBelgium  0–11  Great Britain
27 MarchNorth Korea  2–3  China
28 MarchDenmark  11–1  North Korea
28 MarchBulgaria  4–3  Hungary
28 MarchRomania  11–3  South Korea
29 MarchDenmark  17–1  Belgium
29 MarchChina  9–1  South Korea
29 MarchHungary  3–3  Great Britain
30 MarchBelgium  0–12  North Korea
30 MarchGreat Britain  4–5  Bulgaria
30 MarchRomania  3–1  China
31 MarchDenmark  8–2  Romania
31 MarchSouth Korea  2–4  Bulgaria
31 MarchNorth Korea  2–6  Hungary
1 AprilDenmark  8–1  Hungary
1 AprilGreat Britain  7–1  South Korea
1 AprilBelgium  5–15  China
2 AprilRomania  5–6  Great Britain
2 AprilNorth Korea  1–1  Bulgaria
3 AprilRomania  6–1  Hungary
3 AprilBelgium  2–14  Bulgaria
3 AprilSouth Korea  0–7  North Korea
3 AprilDenmark  2–2  China

Ranking and statistics

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 1991 IIHF World Championship winners 
 
Sweden
5th title

Tournament Awards

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Final standings

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The final standings of the tournament according to IIHF:

    Sweden
    Canada
    Soviet Union
4   United States
5   Finland
6   Czechoslovakia
7    Switzerland
8   Germany

European championships final standings

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The final standings of the European championships according to IIHF:

    Soviet Union
    Sweden
    Finland
4   Czechoslovakia
5    Switzerland
6   Germany

Scoring leaders

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List shows the top skaters sorted by points, then goals.

Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM POS
  Mats Sundin 10 7 5 12 +2 12 F
  Jari Kurri 10 6 6 12 +1 2 F
  Valeri Kamensky 10 6 5 11 +8 10 F
  Joe Sakic 10 6 5 11 +6 0 F
  Teemu Selänne 10 6 5 11 +8 2 F
  Jeremy Roenick 9 5 6 11 +4 8 F
  Mika Nieminen 10 5 6 11 +3 2 F
  Pavel Bure 10 3 8 11 +5 2 F
  Christian Ruuttu 10 7 3 10 +3 10 F
  Danton Cole 10 6 4 10 +1 14 F
  Thomas Rundqvist 10 6 4 10 +2 4 F

Source: [1]

Leading goaltenders

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Only the top five goaltenders, based on save percentage, who have played 50% of their team's minutes are included in this list.

Player MIP GA GAA SVS% SO
  Markus Ketterer 420 12 1.71 .939 2
  Sean Burke 479 21 2.63 .923 0
  Renato Tosio 420 27 3.86 .895 0
  Petr Bříza 480 23 2.88 .893 0
  Rolf Ridderwall 479 21 2.63 .892 0

Source: [2]

Citations

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References

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  • Complete results
  • Duplacey, James (1998). Total Hockey: The official encyclopedia of the National Hockey League. Total Sports. pp. 498–528. ISBN 0-8362-7114-9.
  • Podnieks, Andrew (2010). IIHF Media Guide & Record Book 2011. Moydart Press. pp. 154–5.