Ice hockey at the 1956 Winter Olympics

Lore & Background

The tournament featured a qualification game between East Germany and West Germany, as they could not agree on a combined team; West Germany won 7–3 on November 16, 1955. East Germany then hosted a separate tournament for non-qualified teams in Berlin, often referred to as World Championships Pool B, involving the GDR, Norway, and Belgium. The first round was divided into three groups (A, B, C), with the top two teams from each advancing to the final round for 1st–6th places. The final round saw the Soviet Union, United States, and Canada compete for medals, with the Soviet Union ultimately winning gold by defeating Canada 2–0 in the final game.

Reader's Guide

The 1956 tournament marked the Soviet Union's first Olympic ice hockey gold medal, establishing them as a dominant force. The United States won silver, and Canada, represented by the Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen, earned its eighth consecutive Olympic medal but first bronze. The final round standings were determined by a points system, with the Soviet Union and United States tied at eight points before the final game; Canada had six points. A Canadian win would have created a three-way tie broken by goal ratio, but the Soviet Union's 2–0 victory secured the gold. The tournament also served as the World and European Championships, with the Soviet Union winning both titles. The European Championship final ranking placed the Soviet Union first, followed by Sweden and Czechoslovakia.

Did You Know?

• The Soviet Union was the oldest team in the tournament, averaging 29 years and 11 months.
• Canada was represented by the Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen.
• East Germany and West Germany played a qualification game because they could not agree on a combined team.