1997 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships — 1997 edition of the IIHF Men's World Ice Hockey Championship
Canada won its 21st Ice Hockey World Championship, defeating Sweden in the 1997 final held across three Finnish cities.
Key Facts
- Edition number
- 61st IIHF World Championship
- Participating countries
- 36 countries (plus 3 in exhibition)
- Championship Group dates
- 26 April – 14 May 1997
- Teams in top group
- 12
- Final result
- Canada defeated Sweden 2–1 in games
- Canada's world title count
- 21st world championship title
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The IIHF sanctioned its 61st Men's World Ice Hockey Championship, bringing together 36 national teams across multiple competition levels. The event also functioned as a qualifier to determine group placements for the 1998 championships, adding extra competitive stakes for all participating nations.
The top Championship Group tournament was held in Helsinki, Tampere, and Turku, Finland, from 26 April to 14 May 1997. Twelve teams competed in an initial two-group round, with the six best advancing to a further group stage. Canada and Sweden met in a best-of-three final, which Canada won two games to one.
Canada claimed its 21st IIHF World Championship title by defeating Sweden in the final. Group placements established during the tournament carried forward to structure the 1998 competition, while three additional nations gained exhibition experience in preparation for official participation the following year.
Result
at Helsinki, Tampere and Turku, Finland