1977 World Ice Hockey Championships
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Host country |
 Austria
|
| Dates | 21 April – 8 May |
| Teams | 8 |
| Final positions | |
Champions 
|
 Czechoslovakia (5th title)
|
Runner-up 
|
 Sweden
|
Third place 
|
 Soviet Union
|
| Fourth place |
 Canada
|
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 40 |
| Goals scored | 338 (8.45 per match) |
| Attendance | 171,900 (4,298 per match) |
| Scoring leader(s) |
Vladimir Petrov 21 points
|
|
← 1976
1978 →
|
|
The 1977 Ice Hockey World Championships took place in Vienna, Austria from 21 April to 8 May. Eight teams took part, first playing each other once, then the four best teams advancing to a new round. The tournament was also the 55th ice hockey European Championship. Czechoslovakia won for the fifth time, and second in a row, claiming their 14th and final European title as well.
Canada returned after an eight-year absence with a team comprised completely of NHL players from teams that had missed the playoffs. While being competitive most games, many people were reportedly upset by their conduct on the ice and after the games. The team refused to listen to the opposing teams' national anthems when they lost, and the coach, Johnny Wilson, explained their multiple misconduct penalties by saying, "we could not compete, and it is natural to attempt to take revenge.".
The tournament itself was very close for the medals, with a spectacular last day. Canada, with a chance still to get a bronze, set a record by defeating the eventual champions eight to two. Never before had a first place team lost a game that badly. But the Swedes, by beating the Soviets for a second time, saved the Czechs, and at the same time pushed themselves into second and Canada into fourth.
Romania was relegated to Group B.
Played in Tokyo 10–21 March. Played with nine countries because Group A had relegated two nations the previous year to make room for Canada.
East Germany was promoted to Group A, both the Netherlands and Austria were relegated to Group C.
Played in Copenhagen and Hørsholm, 12–20 March. The hosts did not lose a game, outscored their opponents by forty-six, but it was not enough to win. Only one team was promoted this year so that Group B could return to having eight clubs, and their tie on the last day against Italy left them in second place. Spain made its debut in the World Championships, not having competed since the European Championships of 1926.
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