1955 Ice Hockey World Championships

The 1955 Ice Hockey World Championships was the 22nd edition of the Ice Hockey World Championships. The tournament was held in Düsseldorf, Dortmund, Krefeld and Cologne, West Germany from February 25 to March 6, 1955. A total of 14 nations participated in this World Championship, which was a new record for the postwar era. As a result, the teams were seeded with the strongest 9 teams placed in Pool A (the championship pool) and the remaining 5 nations as well as the West German B team placed in Pool B.

1955 Ice Hockey World Championships
Tournament details
Host country West Germany
Dates25 February – 6 March
Teams9
Final positions
Champions  Canada (16th title)
Runner-up  Soviet Union
Third place  Czechoslovakia
Fourth place United States
Tournament statistics
Games played36
Goals scored319 (8.86 per game)
Attendance153,300 (4,258 per game)
Scoring leader(s)Czechoslovakia Vlastimil Bubnik (17 goals)
← 1954
1956 →
Trophy awarded for the 1955 World Championships

Canada, represented by the Penticton Vees of the Okanagan Senior League, won their 16th international title. For the second straight year both the Soviets and Canadians were undefeated until they played each other in the final game of the tournament. This time Canada won 5–0, giving the Soviets the silver medal, and their second European Championship. Czechoslovakia won the bronze by dominating the weaker teams, drawing the Americans, and narrowly defeating the Swedes.

Despite the victory, the Canadian Press reported sentiments from Canadian players and spectators that "Canada should never again take part in the tournament under its present setup",[1] and Canadian Amateur Hockey Association president W. B. George was concerned that the game in Europe took on political and religious meanings in which Canada did not want to become involved.[2]

World Championship Group A (West Germany)

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Final Round

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25 FebruaryCzechoslovakia  7–0   SwitzerlandCologne
25 FebruaryCanada  12–1  United StatesDortmund
25 FebruarySoviet Union  10–2  FinlandDüsseldorf
25 FebruaryWest Germany  4–5  SwedenKrefeld
26 FebruaryUnited States  8–1  FinlandCologne
26 FebruarySoviet Union  2–1  SwedenDortmund
26 FebruaryCanada  5–3  CzechoslovakiaDüsseldorf
26 FebruaryWest Germany  4–5  PolandKrefeld
27 FebruaryCanada  8–0  PolandCologne
27 FebruaryWest Germany  3–6  United StatesDortmund
27 FebruarySweden  10–0   SwitzerlandDüsseldorf
27 FebruarySoviet Union  4–0  CzechoslovakiaKrefeld
28 FebruarySoviet Union  8–2  PolandCologne
28 FebruaryCanada  12–0  FinlandDüsseldorf
28 FebruaryUnited States  7–3   SwitzerlandKrefeld
1 MarchCzechoslovakia  6–5  SwedenCologne
1 MarchPoland  2–4   SwitzerlandDüsseldorf
1 MarchWest Germany  7–1  FinlandKrefeld
2 MarchCanada  11–1   SwitzerlandCologne
2 MarchSweden  9–0  FinlandDüsseldorf
2 MarchWest Germany  0–8  CzechoslovakiaDüsseldorf
2 MarchSoviet Union  3–0  United StatesKrefeld
3 MarchPoland  6–3  FinlandCologne
3 MarchCanada  3–0  SwedenKrefeld
3 MarchWest Germany  1–5  Soviet UnionDüsseldorf
3 MarchCzechoslovakia  4–4  United StatesCologne
4 MarchWest Germany  1–10  CanadaCologne
4 MarchUnited States  6–2  PolandDüsseldorf
4 MarchSoviet Union  7–2   SwitzerlandKrefeld
5 MarchFinland  7–2   SwitzerlandCologne
5 MarchSweden  1–1  United StatesDüsseldorf
5 MarchCzechoslovakia  17–2  PolandKrefeld
6 MarchWest Germany  8–3   SwitzerlandDüsseldorf
6 MarchSweden  9–0  PolandCologne
6 MarchCzechoslovakia  18–2  FinlandDüsseldorf
6 MarchCanada  5–0  Soviet UnionKrefeld

Standings

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1   Canada 8 8 0 0 66 6 +60 16
2   Soviet Union 8 7 0 1 39 13 +26 14
3   Czechoslovakia 8 5 1 2 63 22 +41 11
4   United States 8 4 2 2 33 29 +4 10
5   Sweden 8 4 1 3 40 16 +24 9
6   West Germany 8 2 0 6 28 43 −15 4
7   Poland 8 2 0 6 19 59 −40 4
8    Switzerland 8 1 0 7 15 59 −44 2
9   Finland 8 1 0 7 16 72 −56 2
Source: [citation needed]

Tournament awards

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World Championship Group B (West Germany)

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Final Round

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25 FebruaryAustria  3–2  YugoslaviaDortmund
25 FebruaryWest Germany   B2–2  ItalyDüsseldorf
27 FebruaryNetherlands  6–3  BelgiumDortmund
27 FebruaryWest Germany   B3–2  AustriaKöln
28 FebruaryYugoslavia  5–2  BelgiumKrefeld
28 FebruaryItaly  3–1  AustriaDüsseldorf
2 MarchAustria  5–3  BelgiumKrefeld
2 MarchItaly  10–2  NetherlandsDortmund
2 MarchWest Germany   B5–1  YugoslaviaDüsseldorf
4 MarchItaly  9–1  YugoslaviaCologne
4 MarchWest Germany   B11–1  NetherlandsKöln
5 MarchAustria  6–1  NetherlandsKrefeld
5 MarchWest Germany   B11–1  BelgiumDüsseldorf
6 MarchItaly  28–0  BelgiumKrefeld
6 MarchNetherlands  9–1  YugoslaviaKrefeld

Standings

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
10   Italy 5 4 1 0 52 6 +46 9
NC   West Germany B 5 4 1 0 30 5 +25 9
11   Austria 5 3 0 2 17 12 +5 6
12   Netherlands 5 2 0 3 19 31 −12 4
13   Yugoslavia 5 1 0 4 10 28 −18 2
14   Belgium 5 0 0 5 9 55 −46 0
Source: [citation needed]

Note:West Germany B games were unofficial.

European Championship medal table

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    Soviet Union
    Czechoslovakia
    Sweden
4   West Germany
5   Poland
6    Switzerland
7   Finland

Citations

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  1. ^ MacKenzie, Arch (Mar 8, 1955). "Vees Now Relax, "Rewind" After Keyed-Up Contest". St. John's Daily News. St. John's, Newfoundland. p. 11. 
  2. ^ "Canada May Not Enter 1956 Tourney". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg, Manitoba. April 20, 1955. p. 23. 

References

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