Ice hockey at the 1968 Winter Olympics

The men's ice hockey tournament at the 1968 Winter Olympics held in Grenoble, France, was the 11th Olympic Championship, also serving as the 35th World Championships and the 46th European Championships. This was the last Olympic tournament to include the World and European titles. Games were held at the Palais des Sports. The Soviet Union won their third Olympic gold medal, eighth World Championship and twelfth European Championship. Czechoslovakia won the silver, followed by Canada taking the bronze.[1]

Ice hockey at the 1968 Winter Olympics
Tournament details
Host country France
Dates6–17 February 1968
Teams14
Final positions
Champions  Soviet Union (3rd title)
Runner-up  Czechoslovakia
Third place  Canada
Fourth place Sweden
Tournament statistics
Games played43
Goals scored316 (7.35 per game)
Scoring leader(s)Soviet Union Anatoli Firsov 16 points

For the first (and only) time, not all qualifiers were given the opportunity to play for medals, as the lowest two ranked qualifiers (Japan and Austria), together with host France were placed directly into the Consolation Group. Poland and Italy qualified but declined to participate.[2][3]

Teams edit

Fourteen nations participated:

Highlights edit

In their penultimate match of the tournament, the USSR team lost to the Czechoslovakian team, which gave a tie-breaking advantage to the latter as each team had a record of 5 wins, 1 loss (10 points) with one game remaining. Yet the USSR team was also tied with Canada and would play the Canadians in the final game of the tournament. For teams finishing with identical records, it is games between those against each other that determines the placings.[4][5] To win the championship, Czechoslovakia needed to win its game against Sweden and for Canada to lose or tie its match with USSR. Had Canada won against USSR and Czechoslovakia won its game over Sweden, Canada would have tied Czechoslovakia with 12 points but prevailed in the tie breaker to win the championship.[2][5][6] In their final matches of the tournament, Sweden tied with Czechoslovakia, while the USSR won its game against Canada, and the gold medal.

Firsts edit

East Germany participated for the first and only time in these games and played its final game with rival West Germany. The West prevailed 4-2.[5] Finland pulled off a historic first, defeating Canada in the second day of competition. For the USSR, their loss broke a record tying streak of 39 straight World Championship games without a loss.[5]

Medalists edit

Pos Team
Gold   Soviet Union
Silver   Czechoslovakia
Bronze   Canada

First round edit

  East Germany -   Norway 3:1 (2:1, 1:0, 0:0)

4. February 1968 - Grenoble
Goalscorers: Joachim Ziesche, Lothar Fuchs, Peter Prusa - Odd Syversen.

  Finland -   Yugoslavia 11:2 (3:0, 6:0, 2:2)

4. February 1968 - Grenoble
Goalscorers: Lasse Oksanen 2, Esa Peltonen 2, Matti Reunamaki 2, Juhani Wahlsten, Veli-Pekka Ketola, Matti Keinonen, Matti Harju, Pekka Leimu - Albin Felc, Franc Smolej.

  West Germany -   Romania 7:0 (1:0, 3:0, 3:0)

4. February 1968 - Grenoble
Goalscorers: Gustav Hanig 2, Alois Schloder, Ernst Kopf, Otto Schneitberger, Horst Meindl, Heinz Weisenbach.

Finland, East Germany and West Germany qualify for Group A medal round. Romania, Yugoslavia and Norway participate in Group B for 9th-14th place.

World Championship Group A (France) edit

 
Sweden-USA
 
Finland-USA

Final Round edit

First place team wins gold, second silver and third bronze.

Pos Team Pld W L D GF GA GD Pts
1   Soviet Union 7 6 1 0 48 10 +38 12
2   Czechoslovakia 7 5 1 1 33 17 +16 11
3   Canada 7 5 2 0 28 15 +13 10
4   Sweden 7 4 2 1 23 18 +5 9
5   Finland 7 3 3 1 17 23 −6 7
6   United States 7 2 4 1 23 28 −5 5
7   West Germany 7 1 6 0 13 39 −26 2
8   East Germany 7 0 7 0 13 48 −35 0
Source: [citation needed]


  Czechoslovakia –   USA 5:1 (1:1, 2:0, 2:0)

6. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Suchý, Havel, Jiřík, Hejma, Jiří Holík – Volmar.
Referees: Dahlberg, Wiking (SWE)

  USSR –   Finland 8:0 (3:0, 2:0, 3:0)

6. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Starshinov 2, Mishakov 2, Zimin 2, Firsov, Polupanov.
Referees: Bucala, Kořínek (TCH)

  Canada –   West Germany 6:1 (0:0, 4:1, 2:0)

6. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Bourbonnais 2, Cadieux, Dinnen, Mott, Huck – Kopf.
Referees: Seglin, Snietkov (URS)

  Sweden –   USA 4:3 (0:0, 4:2, 0:1)

7. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Nilsson, Wickberg, Hedlund, Bengsston – Falkman, Lilyholm, Nanne.
Referees: McEvoy, Kubinec (CAN)

  USSR –   East Germany 9:0 (4:0, 2:0, 3:0)

7. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Firsov 3, Vikulov 2, Mishakov, Starshinov, Alexandrov, Zaytsev.
Referees: Wycisk (POL), Johannessen (NOR)

  Czechoslovakia –   West Germany 5:1 (1:0, 2:0, 2:1)

8. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Hrbatý, Golonka, Havel, Hejma, Ševčík – Lax.
Referees: Kubinec, McEvoy (CAN)

  Canada –   Finland 2:5 (1:2, 0:1, 1:2)

8. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: O’Shea, McMillan – Keinonen, Oksanen, J. Peltonen, Koskela, Wahlsten.
Referees: Trumble (USA), Seglin (URS)

  Sweden –   West Germany 5:4 (4:3, 0:0, 1:1)

9. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Svedberg, Lundström, Nordlander, Olsson, Öberg – Kuhn, Hanig, Reif, Kopf.
Referees: Kořínek, Bucala (TCH)

  USSR –   USA 10:2 (6:0, 4:2, 0:0)

9. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Firsov 3, Blinov 2, Polupanov 2, Kuzkin, Starshinov, Moyseyev – Ross, Morrison.
Referees: Dahlberg (SWE), Kubinec (CAN)

  Canada –   East Germany 11:0 (4:0, 4:0, 3:0)

9. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Mott 4, Huck 2, Hargreaves, O’Shea, Bourbonnais, Monteith, H. Pinder.
Referees: Trumble (USA), Sillankorva (FIN)

  Czechoslovakia –   Finland 4:3 (0:1, 3:0, 1:2)

10. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Nedomanský 2, Golonka, Havel – Keinonen, Ketola, Oksanen.
Referees: Wiking (SWE), Snětkov (URS)

  Sweden –   East Germany 5:2 (1:0, 2:1, 2:1)

10. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Hedlund 2, Wickberg, Lundström, Henriksson – Plotka, Fuchs.
Referees: Seglin (URS), Wycisk (POL)

  Canada –   USA 3:2 (1:2, 0:0, 2:0)

11. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Cadieux 2, Johnston – Pleau, Riutta.
Referees: Snietkov, Seglin (URS)

  USSR –   West Germany 9:1 (4:1, 4:0, 1:0)

11. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Polupanov 2, Alexandrov 2, Ionov, Starshinov, Mayorov, Moyseyev, Firsov – Funk.
Referees: Trumble (USA), Valentin (AUT)

  Czechoslovakia –   East Germany 10:3 (5:2, 1:0, 4:1)

12. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Horešovský 4, Nedomanský 2, Jiřík, Suchý, Kochta, Ševčík – Karrenbauer, Novy, Peters.
Referees: Dahlberg (SWE), Sillankorva (FIN)

  Sweden –   Finland 5:1 (1:0, 2:1, 2:0)

12. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Wickberg 2, Granholm, Nillsson, Bengsston – Oksanen.
Referees: Kubinec (CAN), Kořínek (TCH)

  USA –   West Germany 8:1 (2:1, 4:0, 2:0)

12. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Volmar 2, Ross, Morrison, Nanne, Pleau, Cunniff, P. Hurley – Funk.
Referees: McEvoy (CAN), Seglin (URS)

  USSR –   Sweden 3:2 (1:1, 0:0, 2:1)

13. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Firsov 2, Blinov – Öberg, Svedberg.
Referees: Kubinec (CAN), Kořínek (TCH)

  Czechoslovakia –   Canada 2:3 (0:0, 0:3, 2:0)

13. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Havel, Nedomanský – Huck, Bourbonnais, Cadieux.
Referees: Trumble (USA), Sillankorva (FIN)

  East Germany –   Finland 2:3 (1:2, 0:1, 1:0)

14. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: R. Noack, Peters – Harju 2, Keinonen.
Referees: Bucala (TCH), Dahlberg (SWE)

  East Germany –   USA 4:6 (1:3, 1:1, 2:2)

15. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Fuchs 2, Karrenbauer 2 – Stordahl 2, P. Hurley 2, Volmar, Lilyholm.
Referees: Kubinec (CAN), Seglin (URS)

  Sweden –   Canada 0:3 (0:2, 0:0, 0:1)

15. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Johnston, G. Pinder, O‘Shea.
Referees: Sillankorva (FIN), Kořínek (TCH)

  Czechoslovakia –   USSR 5:4 (3:1, 1:1, 1:2)

15. February 1968 - Grenoble
Goal scorers: Ševčík, Hejma, Havel, Golonka, Jiřík – Mayorov 2, Blinov, Polupanov.
Referees: Trumble (USA), Dahlberg (SWE)

  Finland–   West Germany 4:1 (2:1, 1:0, 1:0)

16. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Leimu 2, Ketola, J. Peltonen – Schloder.
Referees: Kořínek, Bucala (TCH)

  East Germany –   West Germany 2:4 (0:1, 1:2, 1:1)

17. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Hiller, Fuchs – Funk, Waitl, Hanig, Lax.
Referees: McEvoy (CAN), Kořínek (TCH)

  USA –   Finland 1:1 (1:1, 0:0, 0:0)

17. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Volmar – Wahlsten.
Referees: Kubinec (CAN), Seglin (URS)

  Czechoslovakia –   Sweden 2:2 (1:1, 1:0, 0:1)

17. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Golonka, Hrbatý – Bengtsson, Henriksson.
Referees: Trumble (USA), Sillankorva (FIN)

  USSR –   Canada 5:0 (1:0, 1:0, 3:0)

17. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Firsov 2, Mishakov, Starshinov, Zimin.
Referees: Trumble (USA), Dahlberg (SWE)

World Championship Group B (France) edit

Consolation round edit

Teams in this group play for 9th-14th places.

Pos Team Pld W L D GF GA GD Pts
9   Yugoslavia 5 5 0 0 33 9 +24 10
10   Japan 5 4 1 0 27 12 +15 8
11   Norway 5 3 2 0 15 15 0 6
12   Romania 5 2 3 0 22 23 −1 4
13   Austria 5 1 4 0 12 27 −15 2
14   France 5 0 5 0 9 32 −23 0
Source: [citation needed]


  Yugoslavia –   Japan 5:1 (2:0, 0:0, 3:1)

7. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goalscorers: Tisler 2, Beravs, Felc, Mlakar – Iwamoto.

  Romania –   Austria 3:2 (2:1, 1:1, 0:0)

7. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goalscorers: Fagarasi, Calamar, Mois – Schupp, Samonig.

  Norway –   France 4:1 (1:1, 2:0, 1:0)

8. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goalscorers: Hagensen, Smefjell, Dalsören, Mikkelsen – Liberman.

  France –   Romania 3:7 (0:2, 0:2, 3:3)

9. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goalscorers: Itzicsohn, Mazza, Lacarriere – Iuliu Szabo 2, Florescu 2, Pana, Geza Szabo, Stefan.

  Yugoslavia –   Austria 6:0 (2:0, 2:0, 2:0)

9. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goalscorers: Ivo Jan 3, Roman Smolej, Tisler, Klinar.

  Japan –   Norway 4:0 (2:0, 2:0, 0:0)

10. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goalscorers: Okajima 2, Ebina, Araki.

  France –   Austria 2:5 (0:1, 2:3, 0:1)

11. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goalscorers: Faucomprez, Caux – Puschnig 2, Kirchbaumer, St. John, Schupp.

  Japan –   Romania 5:4 (3:0, 1:3, 1:1)

12. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goalscorers: Hikigi 2, Araki, Itoh, Kudo – Florescu, Pana, Mois, Ionescu.

  Norway –   Austria 5:4 (3:1, 2:1, 0:2)

12. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goalscorers: Dalsören 2, Bjölbak, Olsen, Hansen – Schupp 2, Weingärtner, St. John.

  France –   Yugoslavia 1:10 (0:6, 0:1, 1:3)

13. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goalscorers: Itzicsohn – Tisler 3, Ivo Jan 2, Felc 2, Beravs, Roman Smolej, Hiti.

  Norway –   Romania 4:3 (2:2, 1:1, 1:0)

14. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goalscorers: Bergeid, Olsen, Syversen, Mikkelsen – Pana, Iuliu Szabo, Czaka.

  Japan –   Austria 11:1 (1:0, 6:0, 4:1)

15. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goalscorers: Itoh 2, Okajima 2, Hikigi 2, Araki, Kudo, Takashima, Toriyabe, Iwamoto – Puschnig.

  Yugoslavia –   Romania 9:5 (5:3, 1:1, 3:1)

16. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goalscorers: Roman Smolej 2, Tisler 2, Felc 2, Ivo Jan, Hiti, Jug – Iuliu Szabo 2, Tekei, Florescu, Geza Szabo.

  France –   Japan 2:6 (0:0, 0:4, 2:2)

17. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goalscorers: Mazza, Faucomprez – Ebina 2, Hikigi, Itoh, Okajima, Araki.

  Yugoslavia –   Norway 3:2 (1:1, 0:0, 2:1)

17. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goalscorers: Hiti, Franz Smolej, Ivo Jan - Dalsören, Bjölbak.

Statistics edit

Average age edit

Gold medalists team USSR was the oldest team in the tournament, averaging 26 years and 9 months. Team France was the youngest team in the tournament, averaging 22 years and 5 months. Tournament average was 24 years and 10 months.1

Leading scorers edit

Rk Team Player GP G A Pts
1   Anatoli Firsov 7 12 4 16
2   Viktor Polupanov 7 6 6 12
2   Viacheslav Starshinov 7 6 6 12
4   Vladimir Vikulov 7 2 10 12
5   Jozef Golonka 7 4 6 10
6   Fran Huck 7 4 5 9
7   Jan Hrbatý 7 2 7 9
8   Marshall Johnston 7 2 6 8
8   Jack Morrison 7 2 6 8
10   Václav Nedomanský 7 5 2 7

Leading scorers–Consolation round edit

Rk Team Player GP G A Pts
1   Albin Felc 5 5 6 11
2   Viktor Tišler 5 8 2 10
2   Ivo Jan 5 6 2 8
4   Takao Hikigi 5 5 3 8
5   Iuliu Szabo 5 4 4 8

Final ranking edit

  1.   Soviet Union
  2.   Czechoslovakia
  3.   Canada
  4.   Sweden
  5.   Finland
  6.   United States
  7.   West Germany
  8.   East Germany
  9.   Yugoslavia
  10.   Japan
  11.   Norway
  12.   Romania
  13.   Austria
  14.   France

European Championship final ranking edit

  1.   Soviet Union
  2.   Czechoslovakia
  3.   Sweden
  4.   Finland
  5.   West Germany
  6.   East Germany
  7.   Yugoslavia
  8.   Norway
  9.   Romania
  10.   Austria
  11.   France

IIHF Awards edit

Best Goaltender   Ken Broderick
Best Defenceman   Josef Horešovský
Best Forward   Anatoli Firsov

Citations edit

  1. ^ "Ice Hockey at the 1968 Grenoble Winter Games". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  2. ^ a b Duplacey p. 505
  3. ^ 1967 summary that notes qualifiers
  4. ^ Podneiks p. 110
  5. ^ a b c d Olympic summary
  6. ^ Wallechinsky p. 614

References edit