1959 Ice Hockey World Championships

The 1959 Ice Hockey World Championships were held between 5 March and 15 March 1959, in Prague, and six other cities in Czechoslovakia. Canada, represented by the Belleville McFarlands, won their eighteenth World championship, winning every game but their last. The Soviet Union finished second, claiming their fifth European title followed by the host Czechoslovaks. In the consolation round, West Germany played against East Germany for the first time in a World Championship, with the west winning easily, 8–0. The Canadian games were broadcast on CJBQ radio by Jack Devine.[1]

1959 Ice Hockey World Championships
Tournament details
Host country Czechoslovakia
Dates5–15 March
Teams12
Arena(s) (in 7 host cities)
Final positions
Champions  Canada (18th title)
Runner-up  Soviet Union
Third place  Czechoslovakia
Fourth place United States
Tournament statistics
Matches played48
Goals scored397 (8.27 per match)
Attendance406,601 (8,471 per match)
Scoring leader(s) Red Berenson (13 points)
← 1958
1960 →
Trophy awarded for the 1959 World Championships

World Championship Group A (Czechoslovakia)

First round

Twelve teams played in three groups where first and second place advanced to the final round, while the 3rd and 4th place teams competed in a consolation round.

Group 1

Played in Bratislava.

Place Team GP W D L GF GA Pts
1 Canada330039–26
2 Czechoslovakia320124–84
3  Switzerland31028–352
4 Poland30034–300
5 MarchCzechoslovakia 9–0  Switzerland
5 MarchCanada 9–0 Poland
6 MarchCanada 23–0  Switzerland
6 MarchCzechoslovakia 13–1 Poland
7 MarchPoland 3–8  Switzerland
7 MarchCanada 7–2 Czechoslovakia

Group 2

Played in Brno.

Place Team GP W D L GF GA Pts
1 Soviet Union330024–56
2 United States320122–104
3 Norway310210–262
4 East Germany30036–210
5 MarchSoviet Union 6–1 East Germany
5 MarchNorway 3–10 United States
6 MarchUnited States 9–2 East Germany
6 MarchNorway 1–13 Soviet Union
7 MarchEast Germany 3–6 Norway
7 MarchSoviet Union 5–3 United States

Group 3

Played in Ostrava.

Place Team GP W D L GF GA Pts
1 Sweden321021–55
2 Finland311113–123
3 West Germany310211–132
4 Italy31027–222
5 MarchSweden 11–0 Italy
5 MarchFinland 5–3 West Germany
6 MarchItaly 2–7 West Germany
6 MarchSweden 4–4 Finland
7 MarchItaly 5–4 Finland
7 MarchWest Germany 1–6 Sweden

Final Round

Played in Prague. Canada finished first by virtue of a better goal differential, 14 to 10. The Czechoslovaks captured bronze in dramatic fashion, they needed to win against the previously undefeated Canadians in the final game and by enough of a margin to beat out the Americans on tie-breakers. By scoring an empty net goal in the dying moments of the final game[2] the Czechs equaled the Americans on points (6 each), and goal differential (8 each). The final tie-breaker was goal average, in which the Czechs had the advantage 1.57 to 1.53.[2]

Place Team GP W D L GF GA Pts
1 Canada540121–78
2 Soviet Union540120–108
3 Czechoslovakia530222–146
4 United States530223–156
5 Sweden51046–212
6 Finland50057–320
9 MarchCanada 6–0 Finland
9 MarchSoviet Union 5–1 United States
9 MarchCzechoslovakia 4–1 Sweden
10 MarchCzechoslovakia 8–2 Finland
10 MarchUnited States 7–1 Sweden
11 MarchUnited States 10–3 Finland
11 MarchSoviet Union 1–3 Canada
12 MarchCanada 5–0 Sweden
12 MarchCzechoslovakia 3–4 Soviet Union
13 MarchSweden 2–1 Finland
13 MarchCzechoslovakia 2–4 United States
14 MarchUnited States 1–4 Canada
14 MarchFinland 1–6 Soviet Union
15 MarchSoviet Union 4–2 Sweden
15 MarchCzechoslovakia 5–3 Canada

Consolation Round

Played in Kladno, Mladá Boleslav and Kolín.

Place Team GP W D L GF GA Pts
7 West Germany541030–99
8 Norway531120–207
9 East Germany530220–216
10 Italy521220–175
11 Poland510411–202
12  Switzerland501408–221
9 MarchPoland 1–5 East Germany
9 MarchNorway 4–4  Switzerland
9 MarchWest Germany 2–2 Italy
10 MarchItaly 3–4 Norway
10 MarchPoland 3–5 West Germany
10 MarchEast Germany 6–2  Switzerland
11 MarchWest Germany 8–0 East Germany
11 MarchSwitzerland  1–4 Italy
11 MarchNorway 4–3 Poland
13 MarchEast Germany 8–6 Italy
13 MarchWest Germany 9–4 Norway
13 MarchSwitzerland  1–2 Poland
14 MarchSwitzerland  0–6 West Germany
14 MarchPoland 2–5 Italy
14 MarchNorway 4–1 East Germany

World Championship Group B (Czechoslovakia)

Three other nations played a secondary tournament in Plzen. A Czechoslovakia 'B' (junior) team also participated in the tournament. Had their games counted, they would've finished first.

Final Round
Place Team GP W D L GF GA Pts
13 Romania220012–44
14 Hungary210105–92
15 Austria200204–80
5 MarchHungary 3–2 Austria
6 MarchCzechoslovakia  B3–0 Romania
7 MarchRomania 5–2 Austria
8 MarchCzechoslovakia  B7–1 Austria
9 MarchCzechoslovakia  B17–2 Hungary
10 MarchRomania 7–2 Hungary

European Championship medal table
 Soviet Union
 Czechoslovakia
 Sweden
4 Finland
5 West Germany
6 Norway
7 East Germany
8 Italy
9 Poland
10  Switzerland
13 Romania
14 Hungary
15 Austria

Tournament awards

Citations
  1. Boyce, Gerry (2008). Belleville: A Popular History. Toronto, Ontario: Natural Heritage Books. pp. 218–219. ISBN 978-1-55002-863-8.
  2. Ottawa Citizen March 16, 1959, page 13.
  3. https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/112436/bill-cleary

References
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