Milan Nový of Czechoslovakia celebrates a goal scored on Soviet goalie Vladislav Tretiak during opening round play at the 1977 IIHF World Ice Hockey Championships. The Soviet Union won the game vs Czechoslovakia 6-1 on April 28, 1977.

Probably one of the strangest World Ice Hockey Championships, as the Czech team won the Gold Medal, with a record of 7 wins, 2 losses and 1 tie. The Czechs were also the 1977 European Champions.

On the last day. Canada, with a chance still to get a bronze medal, set a record by defeating the eventual champions 8-2. Never before had a first place team lost a game that badly. But the Swedes, by beating the Soviets for a second time, saved the Czechoslovaks, and at the same time pushed themselves into second place, Soviets third and Canada into fourth.