Ice hockey at the 1968 Winter Olympics

Ice hockey at the 1968 Winter Olympics

Tournament details
Host country	France
Dates	6–17 February
Teams	14
Final positions
Champions	Soviet Union (3rd title)
Runner-up	Czechoslovakia
Third place	Canada
Fourth place	Sweden
Tournament statistics
Matches played	43
Goals scored	316 (7.35 per match)
Scoring leader(s)	Anatoli Firsov 16 points
← 1967 or 1964 Olympics 1969 or 1972 Olympics →

The men's ice hockey tournament (women's was added in 1998) at the 1968 Winter Olympics held in Grenoble, France, was the 11th Olympic Championship, also serving as the 35th World Championships and the 46th European Championships. This was the last Olympic tournament to include the World and European titles. Games were held at the Palais des Sports. The Soviet Union won their third Olympic gold medal, eighth World Championship and twelfth European Championship. Czechoslovakia won the silver, followed by Canada taking the bronze. This was Canada's tenth Olympic ice hockey medal, a feat not matched by any other nation as of the 2014 Winter Olympics (Canada's men's team has 15 medals as of 2014).

For the first (and only) time, not all qualifiers were given the opportunity to play for medals, as the lowest two ranked qualifiers (Japan and Austria), together with host France were placed directly into the Consolation Group. Poland and Italy qualified but declined to participate.^[1][2]

Highlights

East Germany participated for the first and only time in these games and played its final game with rival West Germany. The West prevailed 4-2.^[3] Finland pulled off an historic first, defeating Canada in the second day of competition.^[3]

In their penultimate match of the tournament, the USSR team lost to the Czechoslovakian team, which gave a tie-breaking advantage to the latter as each team had a record of 5 wins, 1 loss (10 points) with one game remaining. Yet the USSR team was also tied with Canada and would play the Canadians for the final game of the tournament. For teams finishing with identical records, it is games between the tied teams that determines placings.^[4][3] In their final matches of the tournament, Sweden tied with Czechoslovakia, while the USSR won its game that day against Canada, and the triple championship.

To win the championship, Czechoslovakia needed to win its game against Sweden and for Canada to lose or tie its match with USSR. Had Canada won against USSR and Czechoslovakia won its game over Sweden, Canada would have tied Czechoslovakia with 12 points but prevailed in the tie breaker to win the championship. For the USSR, their loss broke a record tying streak of 39 straight World Championship games without a loss.^[1][3][5]

Medalists

Pos	Team
Gold	Soviet Union
Silver	Czechoslovakia
Bronze	Canada

First round

East Germany - Norway 3:1 (2:1, 1:0, 0:0)

4. February 1968 - Grenoble
Goalscorers: Joachim Ziesche, Lothar Fuchs, Peter Prusa - Odd Syversen.

Finland - Yugoslavia 11:2 (3:0, 6:0, 2:2)

4. February 1968 - Grenoble
Goalscorers: Lasse Oksanen 2, Esa Peltonen 2, Matti Reunamаki 2, Juhani Wahlsten, Veli-Pekka Ketola, Matti Keinonen, Matti Harju, Pekka Leimu - Albin Felc, Franc Smolej.

West Germany - Romania 7:0 (1:0, 3:0, 3:0)

4. February 1968 - Grenoble
Goalscorers: Gustav Hanig 2, Alois Schloder, Ernst Kopf, Otto Schneitberger, Horst Meindl, Heinz Weisenbach.

Finland, East Germany and West Germany qualify for Group A medal round. Romania, Yugoslavia and Norway participate in Group B for 9th-14th place.

World Championship Group A (France)

Final Round

First place team wins gold, second silver and third bronze.

Rank	Team	Pld	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
1	Soviet Union	7	6	1	0	48	10	12
2	Czechoslovakia	7	5	1	1	33	17	11
3	Canada	7	5	2	0	28	15	10
4	Sweden	7	4	2	1	23	18	9
5	Finland	7	3	3	1	17	23	7
6	United States	7	2	4	1	23	28	5
7	West Germany	7	1	6	0	13	39	2
8	East Germany	7	0	7	0	13	48	0

Czechoslovakia – USA 5:1 (1:1, 2:0, 2:0)

6. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Suchý, Havel, Jiřík, Hejma, Jiří Holík – Volmar.
Referees: Dahlberg, Wiking (SWE)

USSR – Finland 8:0 (3:0, 2:0, 3:0)

6. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Starshinov 2, Mishakov 2, Zimin 2, Firsov, Polupanov.
Referees: Bucala, Kořínek (TCH)

Canada – West Germany 6:1 (0:0, 4:1, 2:0)

6. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Bourbonnais 2, Cadieux, Dinnen, Mott, Huck – Kopf.
Referees: Seglin, Snietkov (URS)

Sweden – USA 4:3 (0:0, 4:2, 0:1)

7. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Nilsson, Wickberg, Hedlund, Bengsston – Falkman, Lilyholm, Nanne.
Referees: McEvoy, Kubinec (CAN)

USSR – East Germany 9:0 (4:0, 2:0, 3:0)

7. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Firsov 3, Vikulov 2, Mishakov, Starshinov, Alexandrov, Zaytsev.
Referees: Wycisk (POL), Johannessen (NOR)

Czechoslovakia – West Germany 5:1 (1:0, 2:0, 2:1)

8. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Hrbatý, Golonka, Havel, Hejma, Ševčík – Lax.
Referees: Kubinec, McEvoy (CAN)

Canada – Finland 2:5 (1:2, 0:1, 1:2)

8. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: O’Shea, McMillan – Keinonen, Oksanen, J. Peltonen, Koskela, Wahlsten.
Referees: Trumble (USA), Seglin (URS)

Sweden – West Germany 5:4 (4:3, 0:0, 1:1)

9. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Svedberg, Lundström, Nordlander, Olsson, Öberg – Kuhn, Hanig, Reif, Kopf.
Referees: Kořínek, Bucala (TCH)

USSR – USA 10:2 (6:0, 4:2, 0:0)

9. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Firsov 3, Blinov 2, Polupanov 2, Kuzkin, Starshinov, Moyseyev – Ross, Morrison.
Referees: Dahlberg (SWE), Kubinec (CAN)

Canada – East Germany 11:0 (4:0, 4:0, 3:0)

9. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Mott 4, Huck 2, Hargreaves, O’Shea, Bourbonnais, Monteith, H. Pinder.
Referees: Trumble (USA), Sillankorva (FIN)

Czechoslovakia – Finland 4:3 (0:1, 3:0, 1:2)

10. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Nedomanský 2, Golonka, Havel – Keinonen, Ketola, Oksanen.
Referees: Wiking (SWE), Snětkov (URS)

Sweden – East Germany 5:2 (1:0, 2:1, 2:1)

10. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Hedlund 2, Wickberg, Lundström, Henriksson – Plotka, Fuchs.
Referees: Seglin (URS), Wycisk (POL)

Canada – USA 3:2 (1:2, 0:0, 2:0)

11. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Cadieux 2, Johnston – Pleau, Riutta.
Referees: Snietkov, Seglin (URS)

USSR – West Germany 9:1 (4:1, 4:0, 1:0)

11. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Polupanov 2, Alexandrov 2, Ionov, Starshinov, Mayorov, Moyseyev, Firsov – Funk.
Referees: Trumble (USA), Valentin (AUT)

Czechoslovakia – East Germany 10:3 (5:2, 1:0, 4:1)

12. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Horešovský 4, Nedomanský 2, Jiřík, Suchý, Kochta, Ševčík – Karrenbauer, Novy, Peters.
Referees: Dahlberg (SWE), Sillankorva (FIN)

Sweden – Finland 5:1 (1:0, 2:1, 2:0)

12. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Wickberg 2, Granholm, Nillsson, Bengsston – Oksanen.
Referees: Kubinec (CAN), Kořínek (TCH)

USA – West Germany 8:1 (2:1, 4:0, 2:0)

12. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Volmar 2, Ross, Morrison, Nanne, Pleau, Cunnoff, P. Hurley – Funk.
Referees: McEvoy (CAN), Seglin (URS)

USSR – Sweden 3:2 (1:1, 0:0, 2:1)

13. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Firsov 2, Blinov – Öberg, Svedberg.
Referees: Kubinec (CAN), Kořínek (TCH)

Czechoslovakia – Canada 2:3 (0:0, 0:3, 2:0)

13. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Havel, Nedomanský – Huck, Bourbonnais, Cadieux.
Referees: Trumble (USA), Sillankorva (FIN)

East Germany – Finland 2:3 (1:2, 0:1, 1:0)

14. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: R. Noack, Peters – Harju 2, Keinonen.
Referees: Bucala (TCH), Dahlberg (SWE)

East Germany – USA 4:6 (1:3, 1:1, 2:2)

15. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Fuchs 2, Karrenbauer 2 – Stordahl 2, P. Hurley 2, Volmar, Lilyholm.
Referees: Kubinec (CAN), Seglin (URS)

Sweden – Canada 0:3 (0:2, 0:0, 0:1)

15. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Johnston, G. Pinder, O‘Shea.
Referees: Sillankorva (FIN), Kořínek (TCH)

Czechoslovakia – USSR 5:4 (3:1, 1:1, 1:2)

15. February 1968 - Grenoble
Goal scorers: Ševčík, Hejma, Havel, Golonka, Jiřík – Mayorov 2, Blinov, Polupanov.
Referees: Trumble (USA), Dahlberg (SWE)

Finland– West Germany 4:1 (2:1, 1:0, 1:0)

16. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Leimu 2, Ketola, J. Peltonen – Schloder.
Referees: Kořínek, Bucala (TCH)

East Germany – West Germany 2:4 (0:1, 1:2, 1:1)

17. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Hiller, Fuchs – Funk, Waitl, Hanig, Lax.
Referees: McEvoy (CAN), Kořínek (TCH)

USA – Finland 1:1 (1:1, 0:0, 0:0)

17. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Volmar – Wahlsten.
Referees: Kubinec (CAN), Seglin (URS)

Czechoslovakia – Sweden 2:2 (1:1, 1:0, 0:1)

17. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Golonka, Hrbatý – Bengtsson, Henriksson.
Referees: Trumble (USA), Sillankorva (FIN)

USSR – Canada 5:0 (1:0, 1:0, 3:0)

17. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goal scorers: Firsov 2, Mishakov, Starshinov, Zimin.
Referees: Trumble (USA), Dahlberg (SWE)

World Championship Group B (France)

Consolation Round

Teams in this group play for 9th-14th places.

Rank	Team	Pld	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
9	Yugoslavia	5	5	0	0	33	9	10
10	Japan	5	4	1	0	27	12	8
11	Norway	5	3	2	0	15	15	6
12	Romania	5	2	3	0	22	23	4
13	Austria	5	1	4	0	12	27	2
14	France	5	0	5	0	9	32	0

Yugoslavia – Japan 5:1 (2:0, 0:0, 3:1)

7. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goalscorers: Tisler 2, Beravs, Felc, Mlakar – Iwamoto.

Romania – Austria 3:2 (2:1, 1:1, 0:0)

7. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goalscorers: Fagarasi, Calamar, Mois – Schupp, Samonig.

Norway – France 4:1 (1:1, 2:0, 1:0)

8. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goalscorers: Hagensen, Smefjell, Dalsören, Mikkelsen – Liberman.

France – Romania 3:7 (0:2, 0:2, 3:3)

9. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goalscorers: Itzicsohn, Mazza, Lacarriere – Iuliu Szabo 2, Florescu 2, Pana, Geza Szabo, Stefan.

Yugoslavia – Austria 6:0 (2:0, 2:0, 2:0)

9. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goalscorers: Ivo Jan 3, Roman Smolej, Tisler, Klinar.

Japan – Norway 4:0 (2:0, 2:0, 0:0)

10. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goalscorers: Okajima 2, Ebina, Araki.

France – Austria 2:5 (0:1, 2:3, 0:1)

11. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goalscorers: Faucomprez, Caux – Puschnig 2, Kirchbaumer, St. John, Schupp.

Japan – Romania 5:4 (3:0, 1:3, 1:1)

12. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goalscorers: Hikigi 2, Araki, Itoh, Kudo – Florescu, Pana, Mois, Ionescu.

Norway – Austria 5:4 (3:1, 2:1, 0:2)

12. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goalscorers: Dalsören 2, Bjölbak, Olsen, Hansen – Schupp 2, Weingärtner, St. John.

France – Yugoslavia 1:10 (0:6, 0:1, 1:3)

13. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goalscorers: Itzicsohn – Tisler 3, Ivo Jan 2, Felc 2, Beravs, Roman Smolej, Hiti.

Norway – Romania 4:3 (2:2, 1:1, 1:0)

14. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goalscorers: Bergeid, Olsen, Syversen, Mikkelsen – Pana, Iuliu Szabo, Czaka.

Japan – Austria 11:1 (1:0, 6:0, 4:1)

15. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goalscorers: Itoh 2, Okajima 2, Hikigi 2, Araki, Kudo, Takashima, Toriyabe, Iwamoto – Puschnig.

Yugoslavia – Romania 9:5 (5:3, 1:1, 3:1)

16. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goalscorers: Roman Smolej 2, Tisler 2, Felc 2, Ivo Jan, Hiti, Jug – Iuliu Szabo 2, Tekei, Florescu, Geza Szabo.

France – Japan 2:6 (0:0, 0:4, 2:2)

17. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goalscorers: Mazza, Faucomprez – Ebina 2, Hikigi, Itoh, Okajima, Araki.

Yugoslavia – Norway 3:2 (1:1, 0:0, 2:1)

17. February 1968 – Grenoble
Goalscorers: Hiti, Franz Smolej, Ivo Jan - Dalsören, Bjölbak.

Leading scorers

Rk	Team	GP	G	A	Pts
1	Anatoli Firsov	7	12	4	16
2	Viktor Polupanov	7	6	6	12
2	Viacheslav Starshinov	7	6	6	12
4	Vladimir Vikulov	7	2	10	12
5	Jozef Golonka	7	4	6	10
6	Fran Huck	7	4	5	9
7	Jan Hrbatý	7	2	7	9
8	Marshall Johnston	7	2	6	8
8	Jack Morrison	7	2	6	8
10	Václav Nedomanský	7	5	2	7

Leading scorers–Consolation Round

Rk	Team	GP	G	A	Pts
1	Albin Felc	5	5	6	11
2	Viktor Tišler	5	8	2	10
2	Ivo Jan	5	6	2	8
4	Takao Hikigi	5	5	3	8
5	Gyula Szabó	5	4	4	8

Final ranking

1.  Soviet Union
2.  Czechoslovakia
3.  Canada
4.  Sweden
5.  Finland
6.  United States
7.  West Germany
8.  East Germany
9.  Yugoslavia
10.  Japan
11.  Norway
12.  Romania
13.  Austria
14.  France

European Championship final ranking

1.  Soviet Union
2.  Czechoslovakia
3.  Sweden
4.  Finland
5.  West Germany
6.  East Germany
7.  Yugoslavia
8.  Norway
9.  Romania
10.  Austria
11.  France

Team Rosters

1. USSR
Goaltenders: Viktor Konovalenko, Viktor Zinger.
Defence: Viktor Blinov, Vitaly Davydov, Viktor Kuzkin, Alexander Ragulin, Oleg Zaytsev, Igor Romishevsky.
Forwards: Anatoly Firsov, Viacheslav Starshinov, Viktor Polupanov, Vladimir Vikulov, Veniamin Alexandrov, Yuri Moiseyev, Yevgeni Mishakov, Yevgeni Zimin, Anatoly Ionov, Boris Mayorov.
Coaches: Arkady Chernyshev, Anatoly Tarasov.

2. CZECHOSLOVAKIA
Goaltenders: Vladimír Nadrchal, Vladimír Dzurilla.
Defence: Josef Horešovský, Jan Suchý, Karel Masopust, František Pospíšil, Oldřich Machač.
Forwards: Jozef Golonka, Jan Hrbatý, Václav Nedomanský, Jan Havel, Jaroslav Jiřík, Josef Černý, František Ševčík, Petr Hejma, Jiří Holík, Jiří Kochta, Jan Klapáč.
Coaches: Jaroslav Pitner, Vladimír Kostka.

3. CANADA
Goaltenders: Ken Broderick, Wayne Stephenson.
Defence: Marshall Johnston, Terry O'Malley, Barry MacKenzie, Brian Glennie, Paul Conlin.
Forwards: Fran Huck, Morris Mott, Ray Cadieux, Roger Bourbonnais, Danny O'Shea, Bill MacMillan, Gary Dineen, Ted Hargreaves, Herb Pinder, Steve Monteith, Gerry Pinder.
Coach: Jackie McLeod.

4. SWEDEN
Goaltenders: Leif Holmqvist, Hans Dahllöf.
Defence: Arne Carlsson, Nils Johansson, Bert-Olov Nordlander, Lars-Erik Sjöberg, Roland Stoltz, Lennart Svedberg.
Forwards: Folke Bengtsson, Svante Granholm, Henric Hedlund, Leif Henriksson, Tord Lundström, Lars-Göran Nilsson, Roger Olsson, Björn Palmqvist, Håkan Wickberg, Carl-Göran Öberg.
Coach: Arne Strömberg.

5. FINLAND
Goaltenders: Urpo Ylönen, Pentti Koskela.
Defence: Paavo Tirkkonen, Pekka Kuusisto, Ilpo Koskela, Seppo Lindström, Lalli Partinen, Juha Rantasila.
Forwards: Lasse Oksanen, Jorma Peltonen, Veli-Pekka Ketola, Matti Keinonen, Matti Harju, Pekka Leimu, Juhani Wahlsten, Matti Reunamäki, Esa Peltonen.
Coach: Augustin Bubník.

6. USA
Goaltenders: Pat Rupp, James Logue.
Defence: Lou Nanne, Bob Paradise, Paul Hurley, Donald Ross, Bruce Riutta, Robert Gaudreau.
Forwards: Herb Brooks, Larry Pleau, John Cunniff, Doug Volmar, Leonard Lilyholm, Craig Falkman, Jack Morrison, Tom Hurley, Larry Stordahl, Jack Dale.
Coach: Murray Williamson.

7. WEST GERMANY
Goaltenders: Josef Schramm, Günther Knauss.
Defence: Leonhard Eaitl, Johannes Schichtl, Rudolf Thanner, Otto Schneitberger, Josef Völk, Heinz Bader.
Forwards: Josef Reif, Ernst Köpf, Bernd Kuhn, Lorenz Funk, Alois Schloder, Gustav Hanig, Horst Meindl, Heinz Weisenbach, Manfred Gmeiner, Peter Lax.
Coach: Ed Riegle.

8. EAST GERMANY
Goaltenders: Dieter Pürschel, Klaus Hirche.
Defence: Dieter Voigt, Manfred Buder, Helmut Novy, Dieter Kratzch, Wolfgang Plotka, Wilfried, Sock, Ulrich Noack.
Forwards: Bernd Karenbauer, Hartmut Nickel, Lothar Fuchs, Peter Prusa, Joachim Ziesche, Bernd Poindl, Dietmar Peters, Bernd Hiler, Rüdiger Noack.
Coach: Rudi Schmieder.

9. YUGOSLAVIA
Goaltenders: Anton Jože Gale, Rudolf Knez.
Defence: Franc-Rado Razinger, Ivo Jan, Ivan Rataj, Viktor Ravnik, Lado Jug.
Forwards: Franc Smolej, Bogomir Jan, Boris Renaud, Albin Felc, Viktor Tišler, Rudi Hiti, Slavko Beravs, Miroslav Gojanović, Roman Smolej, Janez Mlakar, Ciril Klinar.

10. JAPAN
Goaltenders: Kazudji Morishima, Toshimitsu Otsubo
Defence: Isao Asai, Michihiro Sato, Hisashi Kasai, Toru Itabashi, Takaaki Kaneiri, Kendji Toriyanbe.
Forwards: Mamoru Takashima, Kimihisa Kudo, Kodji Iwamoto, Takao Hikigi, Toru Okadjima, Minoru Ito, Takeshi Akiba, Yutaka Ebina, Kazuo Matsuda, Nobuhiro Araki.

11. NORWAY
Goaltenders: Kare Östensen, Morten Brathen
Defence: Svein Hansen, Thor Martinsen, Terje Steen, Odd Syversen
Forwards: Tor Gundersen, Christian Petersen, Per Skjaerwen Olsen, Georg Smefjell, Olav Dalsören, Arne Mikkelsen, Steinar Bjölbakk, Svein Haagensen, Terje Thoen, Björn Johansen, Rodney Riise, Trygve Bergeid

12. ROMANIA
Goaltenders: Constantin Dumitras, Mihai Stoiculescu
Defence: Ion Stefan Ionescu, Zoltan Czaka, Dezideriu Varga, Zoltan Fogaras, Razvan Schiau
Forwards: Geza Szabo, Iulian Florescu, Alexandru Kalamar, Gyula Szabo, Eduard Pana, Ion Gheorghiu, Stefan Texe, Ion Basa, Aurel Mois, Valentin Stefanov

13. AUSTRIA
Goaltenders: Franz Schilcher, Karl Pregl
Defence: Gerd Schager, Gerhard Felfernig, Josef Mössmer, Hermann Erhard, Gerhard Hausner
Forwards: Dieter Kalt, Adelbert St. John, Josef Puschnig, Josef Schwitzer, Heinz Schupp, Walter König, Heinz Knoflach, Klaus Weingartner, Klaus Kirchbaumer, Günter Burkhart, Paul Samonig

14. FRANCE
Goaltenders: Jean-Claude Sozzi, Bernard Deschamps
Defence: Joel Godeau, Claude Blanchard, Philippe Lacarriere, René Blanchard, Joel Gauvin
Forwards: Bernard Cabanis, Gerard Faucomprez, Alain Mazza, Olivier Prechac, Gilbert Lepre, Patrick Pourtanel, Michel Caux, Gilbert Itzicsohn, Daniel Grando, Patrick Francheterre, Charles Liberman.

IIHF Awards

Best Goaltender	Ken Broderick
Best Defenceman	Josef Horešovský
Best Forward	Anatoli Firsov

Citations

References

• Duplacey, James (1998). Total Hockey: The official encyclopedia of the National Hockey League. Total Sports. pp. 498–528. ISBN 0-8362-7114-9. 
• Podnieks, Andrew (2010). IIHF Media Guide & Record Book 2011. Moydart Press. pp. 25–6, 30, 110–1. 
• Hockey Hall Of Fame page on the 1968 Olympics
• Wallechinsky, David (1988). The Complete Book of the Olympics. Penguin Books. p. 614. ISBN 0-14-010771-1. 
• Jeux Olympiques 1968