1996 IIHF World Championships
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Host country |
 Austria
|
| Dates | 21 April – 5 May |
| Teams | 12 |
| Venue(s) | 1 (in 1 host city) |
| Final positions | |
Champions 
|
 Czech Republic (1st title)
|
Runner-up 
|
 Canada
|
Third place 
|
 United States
|
| Fourth place |
 Russia
|
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 40 |
| Goals scored | 249 (6.23 per match) |
| Attendance | 186,830 (4,671 per match) |
| Scoring leader(s) |
Yanic Perreault 9 points
|
|
← 1995
1997 →
|
|
The 1996 Ice Hockey World Championship took place in Austria 21 April - 5 May. The games were played in Vienna. Thirty-six nations competed at four levels, with Slovakia making their first appearance in Group A.
Twelve teams took part in Group A, with the first round split into two groups of six, with the first four from each group advancing to the quarter-finals. This was the 60th World Championship and the Czech Republic beat Canada in the final to become World Champions for the first time. (Czechoslovakia had won the World Championship six times). The final game was tied at two apiece before Martin Procházka scored with nineteen seconds left, an empty net goal sealed the victory. In the bronze medal game, Brian Rolston scored at 4:48 of overtime to win the first medal in 34 years for team USA. The unfortunate Russians did not lose a game in regulation time in the entire tournament, but finished fourth.
Austria was relegated to Group B.
Played 10–20 April in Eindhoven. Latvia won at this level for the first time. In their final game, superb goaltending by Arturs Irbe kept them in it, and a late tying goal by Olegs Znaroks sealed the tournament victory. The final game had high drama for the host crowd, the Japanese and Danish teams among them. If the Netherlands were to lose to Poland, they would finish last and be relegated, a tie and Japan would be last, a win and Denmark would be last. A third period goal by Poland sealed Japan's fate.
Latvia was promoted to Group A while Japan was relegated to Group C.
Played 22–31 March in Jesenice and Kranj. For the fourth year in row the Kazakhs and Ukrainians met in Group C. For the first time the Kazakhs came out on top, and it was the difference in winning the tournament.
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