Ice hockey at the 1960 Winter Olympics
USA won first Olympic gold; Canada extended medal streak to nine.
The 1960 men's ice hockey tournament at the Squaw Valley Winter Olympics was the ninth Olympic championship, also counting as the 27th World Championships and the 38th European Championships. The United States claimed its first Olympic gold medal and second World Championship title. Canada, represented by the Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen for the second time, took the silver medal, extending its streak of Olympic ice hockey medals to nine consecutive Games—a record not matched until the Soviet Union achieved the same feat in 1988. The Soviet Union, as the highest-finishing European team, earned the bronze medal and its sixth European Championship. All games were played at Blyth Arena, with George Dudley overseeing the tournament for the International Ice Hockey Federation.
Going into the Games, Canada, the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, and Sweden were considered the top four teams. The American team defeated all four, winning every one of its seven games. A documentary titled *Forgotten Miracle*, produced by Northland Films on the 50th anniversary of these Games, referenced the more famous 1980 gold medal known as the Miracle on Ice; these were the only two Olympic gold medals won by the U.S. men's ice hockey team before 2026. Herb Brooks, who coached the 1980 U.S. team, was the last player cut from the 1960 squad by coach Jack Riley. This tournament marked the first and, so far, only time Australia has participated in an Olympic men's ice hockey tournament.
**Medalists**
**Qualification** The two German teams played a qualification round to decide which would compete in the Olympics. West Germany won both games.
**First round** The top two teams from each group (shaded) advanced to the final round to play for 1st through 6th places; the remaining teams entered the consolation round.
**Group A**
**Group B**
**Group C**
**Consolation round** Teams that did not qualify for the final round played here. Sources disagree on which Finland-Japan game took place on the 23rd and which on the 26th.
**Final round** The first-place team won gold, second-place silver, and third-place bronze.
**Statistics**
**Average age** Team Australia was the oldest in the tournament, averaging 28 years and 5 months. Team Finland was the youngest, averaging 23 years and 11 months. Gold medalist Team USA averaged 24 years and 6 months.
Quick Facts
- Year
- 1960
- Country
- United States
- Country-Flagvar
- 1959
- Dates
- 19–28 February 1960
- Num Teams
- 9
- Winners
- USA
- Count
- 1
- Second
- Canada
- Second-Flagvar
- 1957
- Third
- USSR
- Third-Flagvar
- 1955
- Fourth
- Czechoslovakia
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The tournament was held at the Blyth Arena under the supervision of George Dudley on behalf of the International Ice Hockey Federation. Canada, represented for the second time by the Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen, won the silver medal, marking Canada's ninth consecutive Olympic ice hockey medal—a feat not matched until the Soviet Union won its ninth consecutive medal in 1988. The Soviet Union, as the highest finishing European team, won the bronze medal and its sixth European Championship. The top four teams heading into the Games—Canada, the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia and Sweden—were all defeated by the American team, which won all seven games it played. On the 50th anniversary of these Games, a documentary entitled Forgotten Miracle was produced by Northland Films, referencing the more famous 1980 gold medal known as the Miracle on Ice; these were the only two Olympic gold medals won by USA men's ice hockey before 2026. Herb Brooks, the coach of the 1980 US team, was the last player cut from the 1960 team by coach Jack Riley. This was the first and to date, only time Australia participated in an Olympic men's ice hockey tournament.
Reader's Guide
The 1960 tournament is notable as the first Olympic gold medal for the United States in men's ice hockey, a feat not repeated until the 1980 Miracle on Ice. The American team defeated all four pre-tournament favorites—Canada, the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, and Sweden—en route to a perfect 7-0 record. Canada's silver medal extended its streak of Olympic medals to nine consecutive Games, a record later equaled by the Soviet Union in 1988. The Soviet Union earned bronze and its sixth European Championship. The tournament also marked the only Olympic appearance of Australia in men's ice hockey. The documentary Forgotten Miracle, produced on the 50th anniversary, highlights the 1960 team's achievement in the shadow of the more famous 1980 gold. Herb Brooks, later coach of the 1980 team, was the last player cut from the 1960 squad. The event was held at Blyth Arena under IIHF supervision, with West Germany qualifying over East Germany in a two-game playoff. Sources disagree on the exact dates of two Finland-Japan consolation round games.
Did You Know?
- The United States won its first Olympic gold medal in men's ice hockey at the 1960 Games.
- Canada's silver medal was its ninth consecutive Olympic ice hockey medal, a streak later matched by the Soviet Union in 1988.
- Herb Brooks, coach of the 1980 Miracle on Ice team, was the last player cut from the 1960 U.S. team.
- Australia participated in an Olympic men's ice hockey tournament for the first and only time in 1960.
More in International and Olympic Ice Hockey, Part 3 1-24
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