 Soviet stamp sheet dedicated to the 1979 World Ice Hockey Championships | |
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Host country |  Soviet Union |
| Venue(s) | 2 (in 1 host city) |
| Dates | 14–27 April |
| Teams | 8 |
| Final positions | |
Champions  | Soviet Union (16th title) |
Runner-up  |  Czechoslovakia |
Third place  |  Sweden |
| Fourth place |  Canada |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Games played | 32 |
| Goals scored | 263 (8.22 per game) |
| Attendance | 354,500 (11,078 per game) |
| Scoring leader(s) | Vladimir Petrov 15 points |
The 1979 Ice Hockey World Championships took place at the Palace of Sports of the Central Lenin Stadium in Moscow, Soviet Union from 14 to 27 April. Eight teams took part, with the first round split into two groups of four, and the best two from each group advancing to the final group. The four best teams then played each other twice in the final round. This was the 46th World Championship and at the same time, the 57th European Championship. In the May 1978 congress many rules were aligned with NHL practices and archaic rules (like changing ends half way the third period) were finally officially abandoned.[1] The games were very well attended, setting a record by averaging over eleven thousand spectators per game.
The Soviets wished the tournament to be finished before the May Day celebrations began, so the schedule was moved up one week allowing for less NHL players being eligible.[1] The hosts won all seven games they played capturing their 16th title, the only game that was even close was their early match with West Germany, which they won three to two. The competition for the bronze (at least) was tight with Sweden edging out the Canadians. After the tournament NHL star Marcel Dionne praised the level of play and offered the following criticism of North American play, "only the media can change things here. Tell them how the European teams play with so much talent. Tell them that they play without a fight. Let them realize that if a kid does not know how to skate and shoot, but just to fight, he should not be allowed to be a hockey player. There are so many idiots who run hockey, so stupid, so stupid. Tell them."[2]
Promotion and relegation was effective for 1981 as the IIHF ceased running a championship in Olympic years. Nations that did not participate in the Lake Placid Olympics were invited to compete in the inaugural Thayer Tutt Trophy.
