Sweden won gold in 2013, the last time the World Championship was played in Stockholm.
photo: Andre Ringuette/IIHF
The first time Stockholm hosted the IIHF World Championship was back in 1949, and, boy, were things different then. All games except one (in Ostermalms) were played outdoors at Stockholms Stadion, which was built in 1910-12 as the main venue for the 1912 Summer Olympics. The ten teams were divided into three groups of 3, 3, and 4 teams, and after a round robin within each group the bottom four were put in a placement group while the top six went on to a medal round robin. Sweden finished fourth, narrowly missing a medal because on the final day they lost to Czechoslovakia while Canada (silver) and the United States (bronze) won their games.
For the next 40 years, however, any World Championship held in Stockholm produced a medal for Tre Kronor.
In 1954, for instance, Sweden won a bronze medal in dramatic fashion, beating Czechoslovakia 4-2 on the final day to leap over the Czechs to win a medal. And they did so after falling behind, 2-0, in the first period. But the legend, Sven “Tumba” Johansson, replied with two goals and Hans Oberg and Holger Nurmela chipped in with goals to seal the victory.
Games were played both at the Stadion (17 games) and at Ostermalms (11 games), which was another venue for the 1912 Olympics.
The next hosting came in 1963, by which time all games were played inside at Johannesovs Stadion (often called Hovet for short). Sweden won a silver, behind the Soviet Union, but it was a frustrating result all the same. Early in the round robin, Tre Kronor beat CCCP, 2-1, and on the final day they were in a position to win gold. They needed only a tie against the Czechs but instead lost, 4-2, and had to settle for second place. Hovet is scheduled for demolition later this decade, but for now it remains an important part of the city’s hockey history.
Stockholm became the first city to host consecutive World Championships, in 1969 and 1970. The first one was a planned tournament, but the second was somewhat last minute. Canada was supposed to host, but they withdrew from IIHF competition to protest the Soviet Union’s professional players and their own inability to use some semi-pros in the tournament. As a result, Stockholm stepped in. All games in both years were played at Johanneshovs again, and Sweden won silver medals both times.
In 1969, they did the opposite of 1963. On the final day, they defeated the Czechs, 1-0, jumping up a spot and relegating the Czechs to the bronze medal. In 1970, it all came down to the final day once again. The Soviets were in first place with 16 points and Sweden right behind with 15. Tre Kronor needed a win for gold, whereas the Soviets needed but a tie because they had a better goal differential in case of a tie in the standings. As it turned out, the Soviets won, 3-1, and Sweden took the silver again.
It wasn’t until 1981 that the tournament returned to Stockholm, where the home side produced another silver medal. However, the city shared the spotlight with Gothenburg, and Stockholm hosted one group in the preliminary round as well as the relegation round, while Gothenburg had the top four teams for the medals playdowns.
Most of the 1989 World Championship was held at the new Globen Arena. Spherically shaped, it has been the grand arena for the city ever since. But that first year was a letdown for Tre Kronor fans. The team lost all three games of the medal round and finished fourth.
By the time the World Championship returned to Stockholm in 1995, Gavle was the co-host and the IIHF had introduced a playoff format. Tre Kronor qualified for the gold-medal game after a Daniel Alfredsson overtime goal against Canada in the semi-finals, but in the ultimate contest they fell short to arch-rivals Finland, who won their first ever WM gold.
After a huge gap of 16 years, the WM returned to Stockholm in 2012 and 2013 in an historic arrangement with Finland. This marked the first time two nations both would share the hosting for back-to-back events. In 2012, the final games were played in Helsinki, and in 2013 in the Globen. In the former, the Swedes disappointed, losing in Stockholm in the quarter-finals, 4-3, to the Czech Republic. A year later, however, they produced celebrations around the country when they won their first ever gold medal on home ice, defeating Switzerland, 5-1.
And now, after another lengthy respite, we are back in Stockholm, back in the Globen. Except, after significant refurbishments and a new partnership, the arena has a new name—Avicii. Same great venue, but now a new and modern look.
And if history is any indication, the hometown heroes of Tre Kronor will be playing for a medal in two weeks’ time. Let’s see!
For the next 40 years, however, any World Championship held in Stockholm produced a medal for Tre Kronor.
In 1954, for instance, Sweden won a bronze medal in dramatic fashion, beating Czechoslovakia 4-2 on the final day to leap over the Czechs to win a medal. And they did so after falling behind, 2-0, in the first period. But the legend, Sven “Tumba” Johansson, replied with two goals and Hans Oberg and Holger Nurmela chipped in with goals to seal the victory.
Games were played both at the Stadion (17 games) and at Ostermalms (11 games), which was another venue for the 1912 Olympics.
The next hosting came in 1963, by which time all games were played inside at Johannesovs Stadion (often called Hovet for short). Sweden won a silver, behind the Soviet Union, but it was a frustrating result all the same. Early in the round robin, Tre Kronor beat CCCP, 2-1, and on the final day they were in a position to win gold. They needed only a tie against the Czechs but instead lost, 4-2, and had to settle for second place. Hovet is scheduled for demolition later this decade, but for now it remains an important part of the city’s hockey history.
Stockholm became the first city to host consecutive World Championships, in 1969 and 1970. The first one was a planned tournament, but the second was somewhat last minute. Canada was supposed to host, but they withdrew from IIHF competition to protest the Soviet Union’s professional players and their own inability to use some semi-pros in the tournament. As a result, Stockholm stepped in. All games in both years were played at Johanneshovs again, and Sweden won silver medals both times.
In 1969, they did the opposite of 1963. On the final day, they defeated the Czechs, 1-0, jumping up a spot and relegating the Czechs to the bronze medal. In 1970, it all came down to the final day once again. The Soviets were in first place with 16 points and Sweden right behind with 15. Tre Kronor needed a win for gold, whereas the Soviets needed but a tie because they had a better goal differential in case of a tie in the standings. As it turned out, the Soviets won, 3-1, and Sweden took the silver again.
It wasn’t until 1981 that the tournament returned to Stockholm, where the home side produced another silver medal. However, the city shared the spotlight with Gothenburg, and Stockholm hosted one group in the preliminary round as well as the relegation round, while Gothenburg had the top four teams for the medals playdowns.
Most of the 1989 World Championship was held at the new Globen Arena. Spherically shaped, it has been the grand arena for the city ever since. But that first year was a letdown for Tre Kronor fans. The team lost all three games of the medal round and finished fourth.
By the time the World Championship returned to Stockholm in 1995, Gavle was the co-host and the IIHF had introduced a playoff format. Tre Kronor qualified for the gold-medal game after a Daniel Alfredsson overtime goal against Canada in the semi-finals, but in the ultimate contest they fell short to arch-rivals Finland, who won their first ever WM gold.
After a huge gap of 16 years, the WM returned to Stockholm in 2012 and 2013 in an historic arrangement with Finland. This marked the first time two nations both would share the hosting for back-to-back events. In 2012, the final games were played in Helsinki, and in 2013 in the Globen. In the former, the Swedes disappointed, losing in Stockholm in the quarter-finals, 4-3, to the Czech Republic. A year later, however, they produced celebrations around the country when they won their first ever gold medal on home ice, defeating Switzerland, 5-1.
And now, after another lengthy respite, we are back in Stockholm, back in the Globen. Except, after significant refurbishments and a new partnership, the arena has a new name—Avicii. Same great venue, but now a new and modern look.
And if history is any indication, the hometown heroes of Tre Kronor will be playing for a medal in two weeks’ time. Let’s see!