1939 Ice Hockey World Championships
Canada won its 11th world title, allowing only one goal.
The 1939 Ice Hockey World Championships took place from February 3 to 12 in Zürich and Basel, Switzerland. Following Austria's annexation by Germany in 1938, four Austrian players competed for Germany. Fourteen teams entered, split into four preliminary groups: two groups of four and two of three. The top two from each group advanced to a second round of two groups of four; the top two from those groups moved to the final round. The six teams eliminated in the first round played a consolation round in two groups of three, with the winners meeting in a single game for ninth place. The four teams that lost in the second round competed for positions five through eight. Canada won its eleventh world title, winning every match while allowing only one goal. The United States lost to Switzerland in the semifinal round but beat them in the final to take silver. Switzerland, the host, earned its third European championship by winning a one-game playoff against Czechoslovakia well after the World Championship ended; both teams had one point in the final round, necessitating the tiebreaker. Games were held at Kunsteisbahn Margarethen in Basel and Dolder Kunsteisbahn in Zürich. The 8-1 victory over the Belgian side would be the last victory for Hungary at the World Championships highest level until 2016.
Quick Facts
- Year
- 1939
- Country
- Switzerland
- Dates
- 3–12 February / 5 March
- Num Teams
- 14
- Venues
- 2
- Winners
- Canada
- Winners-Flagvar
- 1921
- Count
- 11
- Second
- USA
- Fourth
- Czechoslovakia
- Games
- 48
- Goals
- 267
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The 1939 tournament featured fourteen teams initially divided into four preliminary groups: two groups of four and two groups of three. The top two teams from each group advanced to the second round, which consisted of two groups of four. The top two from each second-round group moved to the final round. The six teams eliminated in the first round played a consolation round for places 9 through 14, and the four teams eliminated in the second round played a consolation round for places 5 through 8. Austria had been annexed by Germany in 1938, and four Austrians played in German jerseys. The Executive Board voted to have Italy and Germany replay their first-round game after it ended as a scoreless draw, after which goal differential was used to decide second place in Group A.
Reader's Guide
The 1939 World Championships are significant for Canada's dominant performance: they won all their games while giving up only one goal in the entire tournament. The USA lost to Switzerland in the semi-final round but defeated them in the final to claim silver. Switzerland won its third European championship by winning a one-game playoff against Czechoslovakia well after the World Championship had concluded, after both teams had earned one point in the final round. The tournament also marked the last victory for Hungary at the World Championships highest level until 2016, a 8-1 win over Belgium. The event was held at two venues: Kunsteisbahn Margarethen in Basel and Dolder Kunsteisbahn in Zürich.
Did You Know?
- Canada won its eleventh world championship while giving up only one goal in the entire tournament.
- Four Austrians played in German jerseys after Austria's annexation by Germany in 1938.
More in International and Olympic Ice Hockey, Part 3 1-24
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