The 1939 Ice Hockey World Championships were held between February 3 and February 12, 1939, in Zürich and Basel, Switzerland. Austria had been annexed by Germany in 1938, and four Austrians played this tournament in German jerseys. The fourteen teams participating in the 1939 World Championship were initially divided into four preliminary groups: two groups of four and two groups of three. The top two teams in each group advanced to the second round. The eight teams in the second round played in two groups of four, with the top two from each group advancing to the third (final) round. The six teams not advancing to the second round played a consolation round in two groups of 3 teams with the winners of each group playing a one-game play-off for 9th place. The four teams not advancing from the second round played a consolation round for placed 5 through 8.

Canada won its eleventh world championship winning all their games while only giving up one goal in the entire tournament. The USA had lost to the Swiss in the semi-final round, but defeated them in the final to claim silver. The host, Switzerland, won its third European championship by winning a one-game playoff against Czechoslovakia well after the World Championship had concluded. Both teams had earned one point in the final round and decided to play tie-breaking game.

The games were held at Kunsteisbahn Margarethen in Basel and Dolder Kunsteisbahn in Zürich.

The 8-1 victory over the Belgian side would be the last victory for Hungary at the World Championships highest level until 2016

World Ice Hockey Championship (in Basel and Zurich, Switzerland)

First round

Group A

3. February 1939 Basel Germany – Finland 12:1 (2:0,7:1,3:0) 3. February 1939 Basel USA – Italy 5:0 (3:0,1:0,1:0) 4. February 1939 Basel Italy – Finland 5:2 (1:0,1:0,3:2) 4. February 1939 Basel USA – Germany 4:0 (2:0,0:0,2:0) 5. February 1939 Basel USA – Finland 4:0 (0:0,1:0,3:0) 5. February 1939 Basel Germany – Italy 4:4 ET (0:1,2:3,2:0,0:0,0:0,0:0)Austrian Nationallibrary, Vienna Newest News: 6. February 1939, Seite 11

Standings Pos. Team G.P. Wins Ties Losses Goals Goal Diff Pts.1 USA330013: 0+136:02 Germany311116: 9+ 73:33 Italy3111 9:11- 23:34 Finland3003 3:21-180:6 The Executive Board voted to have Italy and Germany replay their game (February 6 at Zurich), which ended as a scoreless draw, after which goal differential was used to decide second place.SummaryAustrian Nationallibrary, Vienna Newest News: 7. February 1939, Seite 10

Group B 3. February 1939 Basel Czechoslovakia – Yugoslavia 24:0 (10:0,7:0,7:0) 3. February 1939 Zürich Switzerland – Latvia 12:0 (5:0,3:0,4:0) 4. February 1939 Zürich Switzerland – Yugoslavia 23:0 (7:0,7:0,9:0) 4. February 1939 Zürich Czechoslovakia – Latvia 9:0 (3:0,3:0,3:0) 5. February 1939 Zürich Latvia – Yugoslavia 6:0 (0:0,3:0,3:0) 5. February 1939 Zürich Switzerland – Czechoslovakia 1:0 (0:0,1:0,0:0)

Standings Pos. Team G.P. Wins Ties Losses Goals Goal Diff Pts.1 Switzerland330036: 0+366:02 Czechoslovakia320133: 1+324:23 Latvia3102 6:21-152:44 Yugoslavia3003 0:53-530:6

Group C 3. February 1939 Basel Canada – Netherlands 8:0 (1:0,4:0,3:0) 4. February 1939 Basel Poland – Netherlands 9:0 (3:0,2:0,4:0) 5. February 1939 Basel Canada – Poland 4:0 (2:0,1:0,1:0)

Standings Pos. Team G.P. Wins Ties Losses Goals Goal Diff Pts.1 Canada220012: 0+124:02 Poland2101 9: 4+ 52:23 Netherlands2002 0:17-170:4

Group D 3. February 1939 Zürich Hungary – Belgium 8:1 (2:0,4:1,2:0) 4. February 1939 Zürich Great Britain – Belgium 3:1 (0:0,0:1,3:0) 5. February 1939 Zürich Great Britain – Hungary 1:0 (1:0,0:0,0:0)

Standings Pos. Team G.P. Wins Ties Losses Goals Goal Diff Pts.1 Great Britain22004: 1+34:02 Hungary21018: 2+62:23 Belgium20022:11-90:4

Consolation Round – Places 9 to 14

Group A 6. February 1939 Basel Netherlands – Finland 2:1 (1:1,1:0,0:0) 7. February 1939 Basel Italy – Netherlands 2:1 (0:0,0:0,2:1) 8. February 1939 Basel Italy – Finland 2:1 (0:0,1:1,1:0)

Standings Pos. Team G.P. Wins Ties Losses Goals Goal Diff Pts.1 Italy22004:2+24:02 Netherlands21013:3 02:23 Finland20022:4-20:4

Group B 6. February 1939 Zürich Latvia – Belgium 5:1 (2:0,1:1,2:0) 7. February 1939 Zürich Belgium – Yugoslavia 3:3 (2:1,1:0,0:2) 8. February 1939 Zürich Latvia – Yugoslavia 4:0 (2:0,0:0,2:0)

Standings Pos. Team G.P. Wins Ties Losses Goals Goal Diff Pts.1 Latvia22009:1+84:02 Belgium20114:8-41:33 Yugoslavia20113:7-41:3

Consolation round 9–10 Place 9. February 1939 Basel Italy – Latvia 2:1 (1:1,1:0,0:0)

Second round

Group A 7. February 1939 Zürich Czechoslovakia – Germany 1:1 ET (0:0,1:0,0:1,0:0,0:0,0:0) 7. February 1939 Zürich Canada – Great Britain 4:0 (0:0,0:0,4:0) 8. February 1939 Zürich Great Britain – Germany 0:1 (0:0,0:0,0:1) 8. February 1939 Basel Canada – Czechoslovakia 2:1 (0:1,0:0,2:0) 9. February 1939 Basel Great Britain – Czechoslovakia 0:2 (0:1,0:1,0:0) 9. February 1939 Zürich Canada – Germany 9:0 (2:0,5:0,2:0)

Standings Pos. Team G.P. Wins Ties Losses Goals Goal Diff Pts.1 Canada330015: 1+146:02 Czechoslovakia3111 4: 3+13:33 Germany3111 2:10- 83:34 Great Britain3003 0: 7- 70:6

Group B 7. February 1939 Basel USA – Hungary 3:0 (1:0,1:0,1:0) 7. February 1939 Basel Switzerland – Poland 4:0 (0:0,4:0,0:0) 8. February 1939 Basel Poland – Hungary 5:3 (1:1,2:0,2:2) 8. February 1939 Basel Switzerland – USA 3:2 (0:0,2:2,1:0) 9. February 1939 Basel USA – Poland 4:0 (0:0,2:0,2:0) 9. February 1939 Basel Switzerland – Hungary 5:2 (2:1,2:0,1:1)

Standings Pos. Team G.P. Wins Ties Losses Goals Goal Diff Pts.1 Switzerland330012: 4+86:02 USA3201 9: 3+ 44:23 Poland3102 5:11- 62:44 Hungary3003 5:13- 80:6

Consolation Round -- Places 5 to 8 10. February 1939 Basel Poland – Hungary 3:0 (1:0,1:0,1:0) 11. February 1939 Zürich Germany – Hungary 6:2 (0:2,3:0,3:0) 12. February 1939 Basel Germany – Poland 4:0 (1:0,3:0,0:0)

Standings Pos. Team G.P. Wins Ties Losses Goals Goal Diff Pts.5 Germany220010: 2+84:06 Poland2101 3: 4-12:27 Hungary2002 2: 9-70:48 Great Britain0000 0: 000:0

Final Round – Places 1 to 4 10. February 1939 Zürich USA – Czechoslovakia 1:0 ET (0:0,0:0,0:0,0:0,1:0)Austrian Nationallibrary, Vienna Newest News:11. February 1939 Seite 10 10. February 1939 Basel Switzerland – Canada 0:7 (0:2,0:4,0:1) 11. February 1939 Basel Switzerland – USA 1:2 (0:1,0:0,1:1) 11. February 1939 Basel Canada – Czechoslovakia 4:0 (0:0,1:0,3:0) 12. February 1939 Basel Canada – USA 4:0 (3:0,1:0,0:0) 12. February 1939 Zürich Switzerland – Czechoslovakia 0:0 ET (0:0,0:0,0:0,0:0,0:0,0:0)

Standings Pos. Team G.P. Wins Ties Losses Goals Goal Diff Pts.1 Canada330015: 0+156:02 USA3201 3: 5- 24:23 Switzerland3012 1: 9- 81:54 Czechoslovakia3012 0: 5- 51:5

Playoff for 3rd place (and European Championship) 5. March 1939 Basel Switzerland – Czechoslovakia 2:0 (0:0,1:0,1:0)

Final Rankings – 1939 World Championships 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 11 13 13 Yugoslavia

World Champion 1939 Canada

Team Members Trail Smoke Eaters Pos. Country Members 1 CAN Bunny Dame, Benny Hayes, Joe Benoit, Tom Johnston, Jim Haight, Mel Snowdon, Duke Scodellaro, Mickey Brennen, Dick Kowcinak, Ab Cronie, Jim Morris, John McCreedy, Buck Buchanan; Trainer: Elmer Piper

Final Rankings – 1939 European Championships 4 5 6 7 8 9 9 11 11 Yugoslavia

European Champion 1939 Switzerland

Citations

References Complete results