3 years ago•updated 3 years ago

1964 Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament Recap

By Zane Miller

On Sunday, February 9th, 1964, the Soviet Union defeated Sweden by four points in the standings to win the 10th gold medal in Olympic men’s ice hockey history. It was the second gold medal for the Soviet Union in Olympic men’s ice hockey. Sweden took the silver medal with 10 points in the standings, claiming their second silver medal in Olympic men’s ice hockey. Czechoslovakia defeated Canada by 0 points in the standings, grabbing their second bronze medal in Olympic men’s ice hockey.

However, the tiebreaker between the two teams was controversial, as Canada initially believed that the tiebreaking procedure would be the goal differential between Canada, Czechoslovakia and Sweden, all of whom were tied in the standings with 10 points apiece, thereby giving them the bronze medal. However, the official tiebreaker would be the goal differential for the tournament as a whole, which saw Czechoslovakia take the bronze with a differential of +19 to Canada’s +15. Sweden took the silver medal in any case with a +31. In 2005, the International Ice Hockey Federation held a vote for Canada to be recognized as the bronze medal winners, however the IIHF council voted against it, leaving Czechoslovakia as the official bronze medalists for 1964.

The tournament was held in Austria, with Innsbruck as the host city. Masahiro Sato of Japan scored the most goals during the tournament with 13. Seth Martin of Canada led goaltenders in save percentage at .962.

1964 Final Standings (W-L-T format)

1. Soviet Union (7-0, 1.000) (Gold)

2. Sweden (5-2, .714) (Silver)

3. Czechoslovakia (5-2, .714) (Bronze)

4. Canada (5-2, .714)

5. United States (2-5, .286)

6. Finland (2-5, .286)

7. Germany (2-5, .286)

8. Switzerland (0-7, .000)

9. Poland (6-1, .857)

10. Norway (5-2, .714)

11. Japan (4-2-1, .667)