The IIHF did not run a championship in Olympic years at this time. Nations that did not participate in the Calgary Olympics were invited to compete in thefinalThayer Tutt Trophy.
The Canadian team had defeated the favoured Soviets twice in the run-up to the Olympics and was considered a gold medal contender for the first time since 1968. The first win over the Soviet squad was particularly significant as it happened in the annualIzvestia tournament which was held in 1987 inMoscow and was considered a final shot before the Olympics. Unfortunately for the Canadians, these victories backfired as the Soviets prepared better for the Olympic tournament and won in a head-to-head match 5–0.[2]
As this is the first time in history that the Winter Olympic Games have been played in an NHL market,Calgary Organizing Committee (OCO'88)The Calgary Organizing Committee (OCO'88) sought to revamp the ice hockey tournament for the Games, one that would include more games played between better placed teams.[3] In previous Olympic tournaments the top four teams advanced from the firstround robin stage, Calgary Games organizers wanted to increase that number to six, which had the effect of increasing the total number of ice hockey games in the Olympics from 36 to 42.[3] While the International Olympic Committee (IOC) convinced the IIHF to accept this new competition format, allowing to OCO'88 to set up the tournament tables after the draw, allocating the main games for each round at the Olympic Saddledome , which resulted in greater interest in selling tickets there.But,even so,IIHF remained reluctant to increase the number of games noting it would extend the break for European leagues with players participating.[3] Eventually,OCO'88, IIHF and IOC agreed to the increased number of games with some changes to financial payments to the IIHF.[3]
Polish ice-hockey playerJarosław Morawiecki tested positive for the banned substanceTestosterone during the Games.[4] The 23 year old centre, who was considered Poland's best player,[4] exceeded the allowable limit of testosterone in random testing after a match which saw Poland defeat France 6–2.[4] Polish coach Leszek Lejczyk claimed Morawiecki was deliberately drugged for political reasons.[5]
TheInternational Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) banned Morawiecki from competition for 18 months and invalidated Poland's victory in the France match.[4][6] Poland finished 5th of 6th in the tournament Group A standings.[6]
The top eleven nations from the1987 World Championships (eight from pool A, top three from pool B) qualified directly, while the twelfth ranked nation had to play off against the winner of that year's pool C. France beat Japan 8 goals to 6.[10]
* The Polish team was stripped of its victory afterJarosław Morawiecki tested positive for testosterone. France was recorded as having a 2-nil win, but received no points in the standings.
The top three teams from each group play the top three teams from the other group once. Points from previous games against their own group carry over, excluding teams who failed to make the medal round. First place team wins gold, second silver and third bronze.
Team Germany was the oldest team in the tournament, averaging 28 years and 1 months. Team USA was the youngest team in the tournament, averaging 22 years and 4 months. Gold medalists team USSR averaged 26 years. Tournament average was 26 years and 1 months.[11]
Canada
Soviet Union(7th title)
Finland
Sweden.jpg)
Switzerland
Poland
France
West Germany
Czechoslovakia
United States
Austria
Norway
