1981 World Ice Hockey Championships
Encyclopedia
The 1981 Ice Hockey World Championships
took place at the Scandinavium
arena in Gothenburg
, Sweden
from 12 April to the 26 April. Eight teams took part, firstly splitting into two groups of two, with the best two from each group advancing to the final group. These teams then play each other in the final round. This was the 47th World Championships, and also the 58th ice hockey
European Championships. The Soviet Union became World Champions for the 17th time, and also won their twentieth European title. Considered the advent of the "KLM" line (Krutov
, Larionov
, Makarov
), Don Cherry
commented, "This is the best Russian team I've ever seen."
The Dutch team had won Group C and Group B in successive years to play in this tournament, but did not fair well. Their best game was a narrow one goal loss to the Americans, a goal scored on a penalty shot by Dave Christian
with eleven seconds left. It was their first appearance at the top level since 1950 and they have not returned since.
The Netherlands
were relegated to Group B.
and Edmonton Oiler
Wayne Bianchin
.
Italy
was promoted to Group B, both Yugoslavia
and Japan
were relegated to Group C.
March 6-15.
Both Austria
and China
were promoted to Group B.
Ice Hockey World Championships
The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European...
took place at the Scandinavium
Scandinavium
Scandinavium is the primary indoor sports and event arena in Gothenburg, Sweden. Construction on Scandinavium began in 1969 after decades of setbacks, the arena was built in time for the 350th year anniversary celebration of the City of Gothenburg and was inaugurated on May 18, 1971.Scandinavium...
arena in Gothenburg
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
from 12 April to the 26 April. Eight teams took part, firstly splitting into two groups of two, with the best two from each group advancing to the final group. These teams then play each other in the final round. This was the 47th World Championships, and also the 58th ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
European Championships. The Soviet Union became World Champions for the 17th time, and also won their twentieth European title. Considered the advent of the "KLM" line (Krutov
Vladimir Krutov
Vladimir Yevgenyevich Krutov born June 1, 1960) is a former Soviet hockey forward. Together with Igor Larionov and Sergei Makarov, he was part of the famed KLM Line...
, Larionov
Igor Larionov
Igor Nikolayevich Larionov is a Russian retired professional ice hockey player, known as The Professor. Along with Viacheslav Fetisov, he was instrumental in breaking the barrier that stopped Soviet players from joining the National Hockey League . He primarily played the centre position, and is...
, Makarov
Sergei Makarov
Sergei Mikhailovich Makarov is a Russian former ice hockey right wing and two-time Olympic gold medalist, regarded as one of the greatest players to play the sport...
), Don Cherry
Don Cherry
Don Cherry may refer to:* Don Cherry hockey player, coach, and commentator* Don Cherry , trumpeter* Don Cherry...
commented, "This is the best Russian team I've ever seen."
The Dutch team had won Group C and Group B in successive years to play in this tournament, but did not fair well. Their best game was a narrow one goal loss to the Americans, a goal scored on a penalty shot by Dave Christian
Dave Christian
David William Christian is a retired American professional ice hockey forward, who comes from a family of hockey players. His father Bill and uncle Roger were members of the 1960 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team that won the gold medal. Another uncle, Gordon, was a member of the 1956 U.S. Olympic Hockey...
with eleven seconds left. It was their first appearance at the top level since 1950 and they have not returned since.
Group 1
| Team | Games | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points difference | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 25 - 04 | 6 | |
| 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 14 - 12 | 4 | |
| 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 16 - 14 | 2 | |
| 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 05 - 30 | 0 |
Group 2
| Team | Games | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points difference | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 20 - 07 | 5 | |
| 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 11 - 07 | 5 | |
| 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 14 - 21 | 2 | |
| 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 - 20 | 0 |
Final Round
| Team | Games | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points difference | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 38 - 12 | 10 | |
| 2 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 16 - 26 | 7 | |
| 3 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 20 - 22 | 6 | |
| 4 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 16 - 30 | 1 |
Consolation Round
| Team | Games | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points difference | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 35 - 28 | 9 | |
| 6 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 33 - 21 | 8 | |
| 7 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 40 - 30 | 7 | |
| 8 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 22 - 51 | 0 |
The Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
were relegated to Group B.
World Championship Group B (Italy)
Played in Selva di Val Gardena March 20-9. The hosts went undefeated to win, led by former Pittsburgh PenguinPittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
and Edmonton Oiler
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
Wayne Bianchin
Wayne Bianchin
Wayne Richard Bianchin is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey Left Winger.-Career:...
.
| Team | Games | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points difference | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 38 - 18 | 13 | |
| 10 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 49 - 25 | 11 | |
| 11 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 28 - 20 | 10 | |
| 12 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 37 - 25 | 9 | |
| 13 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 25 - 30 | 4 | |
| 14 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 21 - 39 | 4 | |
| 15 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 23 - 44 | 3 | |
| 16 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 18 - 38 | 2 | |
Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
was promoted to Group B, both Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
were relegated to Group C.
World Championship Group C (China PR)
Played in BeijingBeijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
March 6-15.
| Team | Games | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points difference | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 43 - 05 | 14 | |
| 18 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 46 - 14 | 12 | |
| 19 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 38 - 22 | 9 | |
| 20 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 36 - 27 | 7 | |
| 21 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 48 - 36 | 6 | |
| 22 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 22 - 32 | 6 | |
| 23 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 18 - 66 | 2 | |
| 24 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 11 - 60 | 0 | |
Both Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
were promoted to Group B.
World Championship medal table
| 1981 World Championships | Country |
|---|---|
| Gold | |
| Silver | |
| Bronze | |
| 4 | |
| 5 | |
| 6 | |
| 7 | |
| 8 |
European Championships medal table
| 1981 European Championships | Country |
|---|---|
| Gold | |
| Silver | |
| Bronze | |
| 4 | |
| 5 | |
| 6 |