The1962 Ice Hockey World Championships was the 29th edition of theIce Hockey World Championships. The tournament was held inColorado Springs andDenver,United States from 8 to 18 March 1962. This was the first World Championship hosted in North America that was not part ofice hockey at the Olympic Games.[1] It also remains the only IIHF World Championship ever held in the United States that was not also part of the Olympics.
The World Championships were in jeopardy of being cancelled to the political situation in Europe and theBerlin Wall.Sweden won their third World, and their ninthEuropean title. Canada, represented by theGalt Terriers, lost only to the Swedes finishing second, followed by the host Americans. In the 'B' pool, the Australian team defeated Denmark for their first victory ever.[1]
The World Championships were scheduled to be hosted inColorado Springs, Colorado, but the event was placed in jeopardy due to the political situation in Europe. When theBerlin Wall was constructed in 1961 by East Germany to prevent its citizens from fleeing to the West,NATO responded with travel restrictions which prevented theEast Germany national ice hockey team from attending the World Championships.[2]Canadian Amateur Hockey Association presidentJack Roxburgh felt that politics should not affect sports, and that the decision went against the goodwill and relations established by teams traveling behind theIron Curtain. He called for theInternational Ice Hockey Federation to unite in opposition to the NATO decision.[3] Teams from the Soviet Union and other communist countries ultimately chose to withdraw in protest of the NATO decision.[4]
With the absences of the USSR, Czechoslovakia, and East Germany, the top two nations from the 1961 'B' pool were elevated (Norway and Great Britain). The third and final spot was filled by a qualifying game between the only remaining 'B' pool nations.
Podnieks, Andrew (2010).IIHF Media Guide & Record Book 2011. Moydart Press. p. 138.
Szemberg, Szymon; Podnieks, Andrew, eds. (2007),World of Hockey: Celebrating a Century of the IIHF, Bolton, Ontario: Fenn Publishing,ISBN978-1-55168-307-2
United States
Sweden(3rd title)
Canada
Finland
Austria
Norway
West Germany
Great Britain
Japan
France
Netherlands
Australia
Denmark
