The 1998 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships (1998 WJHC) were held in Helsinki and Hämeenlinna, Finland. The championships began on December 25, 1997, and finished on January 3, 1998. Home team Finland was the winner, defeating Russia 2–1 in the gold medal game, thanks to the goaltending of Mika Noronen and the overtime heroics of Niklas Hagman. Switzerland defeated the Czech Republic 4–3 to capture the bronze medal, their first and only medal in the Ice Hockey World Junior Championship.

Canada had its five-year title streak broken with its worst placing to date (8th). Canada would miss out on gold seven years in a row before beginning their 2005–2009 streak of five straight championships. It was the only tournament from 1993 to 2012 in which Canada failed to medal.

This tournament attracted 139,680 fans to 34 games for an average of 4,108 per game. This set a record for the highest-attended World Junior tournament in Europe until the 2016 tournament, which was also held in Finland, attracted 215,225 spectators.

The playoff round was expanded to eight teams, with group leaders not getting a bye to the semifinals.

Championship results

All times are local. (Eastern European Time – UTC+2)

Pool A

Group A

TeamPldWLDGFGAGDPts
Finland43011710+77
Czech Republic42111612+45
Sweden4220166+104
Canada422097+24
Germany4040124−230
December 25, 1997 18:30Finland3–2 (0–0, 1–1, 2–1)CanadaHartwall Arena, Helsinki Attendance: 9,000 (approx.)
Mika NoronenGoaliesMathieu GaronReferee: Sweden Ulf Radbjer Linesmen: United States Allen Stensland Sweden Kent Thuden
0–130:02 - WardKauppinen (Vallin, Kalto) - 33:011–1Somervuori (Jokinen) (PP) - 47:272–12–251:39 - Dumont (Tkaczuk)Hagman (Somervuori, Jokinen) - 56:203–2
0–130:02 - Ward
Kauppinen (Vallin, Kalto) - 33:011–1
Somervuori (Jokinen) (PP) - 47:272–1
2–251:39 - Dumont (Tkaczuk)
Hagman (Somervuori, Jokinen) - 56:203–2
10 minPenalties21 min
38Shots18
December 25, 1997 15:00Czech Republic2–1SwedenHämeenlinna
December 26, 1997 18:30Sweden4–0 (2–0, 1–0, 1–0)CanadaHartwall Arena, Helsinki Attendance: 2,523
Johan HolmqvistGoaliesRoberto LuongoReferee: Finland Rami Savolainen Linesmen: United States Allen Stensland United States Dino Casgrande
Nilson (Forsander) (PP) - 6:561–0Hedin - 17:322–0D. Sedin (H. Sedin) - 22:553–0Cannerheim (Nilson) - 46:454–0
Nilson (Forsander) (PP) - 6:561–0
Hedin - 17:322–0
D. Sedin (H. Sedin) - 22:553–0
Cannerheim (Nilson) - 46:454–0
14 minPenalties20 min
December 26, 1997 18:30Finland5–0GermanyHämeenlinna
December 27, 1997 15:00Germany1–9Czech RepublicHartwall Arena, Helsinki
December 28, 1997 15:00Canada5–0 (2–0, 3–0, 0–0)Czech RepublicHartwall Arena, Helsinki Attendance: 7,500 (approx.)
Mathieu GaronGoaliesAdam Svoboda, Vlastimil Lakosil (15:46 second)Referee: United States Scott Hansen Linesmen: Germany Alfred Hascher Sweden Kent Thuden
Holden (Corso) - 10:101–0Cooke (Sarich) (PP) - 11:102–0Tanguay (McLean) - 26:453–0McLean (Tanguay, Brewer) (SH) - 30:404–0Holden (Corso) - 38:055–0
Holden (Corso) - 10:101–0
Cooke (Sarich) (PP) - 11:102–0
Tanguay (McLean) - 26:453–0
McLean (Tanguay, Brewer) (SH) - 30:404–0
Holden (Corso) - 38:055–0
12 minPenalties14 min
December 28, 1997 18:30Sweden3–4FinlandHartwall Arena, Helsinki
December 29, 1997 18:30Germany0–8SwedenHartwall Arena, Helsinki
December 30, 1997 15:00Canada2–0 (0–0, 1–0, 1–0)GermanyHartwall Arena, Helsinki Attendance: 8,933
Mathieu GaronGoaliesBjörn LeonhardtReferee: Sweden Ulf Radbjer Linesmen: United States Dino Casagrande Switzerland Nadir Mandioni
Bradley (Cooke, Lecavalier) -28:051–0Lecavalier (Bradley) - 54:592–0
Bradley (Cooke, Lecavalier) -28:051–0
Lecavalier (Bradley) - 54:592–0
26Shots17
December 30, 1997 18:30Czech Republic5–5FinlandHartwall Arena, Helsinki

Group B

TeamPldWLDGFGAGDPts
Russia4301226+167
Switzerland4211148+65
United States42201712+54
Kazakhstan4130829−212
Slovakia4130915−62
December 25, 1997 15:00Russia12–1KazakhstanHämeenlinna
December 25, 1997 15:00Slovakia6–3United StatesHartwall Arena, Helsinki
December 26, 1997 15:00Kazakhstan2–8United StatesHartwall Arena, Helsinki
December 26, 1997 15:00Slovakia1–3SwitzerlandHämeenlinna
December 27, 1997 18:30Switzerland3–3RussiaHartwall Arena, Helsinki
December 28, 1997 15:00Kazakhstan5–2SlovakiaHämeenlinna
December 28, 1997 18:30United States2–3RussiaHämeenlinna
December 29, 1997 18:30Switzerland7–0KazakhstanHämeenlinna
December 30, 1997 15:00Russia4–0SlovakiaHämeenlinna
December 30, 1997 18:30United States4–1SwitzerlandHämeenlinna

Final round

QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinals
B1Russia2
A4Canada1
QF1Russia5
QF2Czech Republic1
A2Czech Republic4
B3United States1
SF1Russia1
SF2Finland2
A1Finland14
B4Kazakhstan1
QF3Finland2Bronze medal game
QF4Switzerland1
B2Switzerland2SF1Switzerland4
A3Sweden1SF2Czech Republic3

Quarterfinals

December 31, 1997 15:00Russia2–1 (OT) (1–0, 0–0, 0–1, 1–0)CanadaHämeenlinna Attendance: 2,877
Denis KhlopotnovGoaliesMathieu GaronReferee: Finland Rami Savolainen Linesmen: Finland Riku Peltonen Sweden Kent Thuden
Vlasenkov (Lyashenko) - 18:011-01-142:31 - Tkaczuk (Willsie, Blanchard)Afinogenov (Balmochnykh) - 69:212-1
Vlasenkov (Lyashenko) - 18:011-0
1-142:31 - Tkaczuk (Willsie, Blanchard)
Afinogenov (Balmochnykh) - 69:212-1
21Shots18
December 31, 1997 15:00Finland14–1 (6–1, 5–0, 3–0)KazakhstanHartwall Arena, Helsinki
December 31, 1997 18:30Switzerland2 – 1 GWS (0–0, 0–0, 1–1, 0–0, 5–4)SwedenHartwall Arena, Helsinki
December 31, 1997 18:30Czech Republic4–1 (0–0, 3–0, 1–1)United StatesHämeenlinna

Semifinals

January 1, 1998 16:00Russia5–1 (0–0, 3–1, 2–0)Czech RepublicHartwall Arena, Helsinki
January 1, 1998 20:00Switzerland1–2 (0–1, 0–0, 1–1)FinlandHartwall Arena, Helsinki
David AebischerGoaliesMika Noronen

Placement games

January 2, 1998 15:00Canada0–3 (0–1, 0–1, 0–1)United StatesHämeenlinna
Mathieu GaronGoaliesJean-Marc PelletierReferee: Czech Republic Petr Bolina Linesmen: Finland Riku Peltonen Switzerland Nadir Mandioni
0-15:59 - York (Mottau) (PP)0-239:31 - Dusbabek (Mara)0-359:25 - Farkas (EN)
0-15:59 - York (Mottau) (PP)
0-239:31 - Dusbabek (Mara)
0-359:25 - Farkas (EN)
12 minPenalties8 min
15Shots40
January 2, 1998 18:30Sweden5–1 (1–0, 2–0, 2–1)KazakhstanHämeenlinna

7th place game

January 3, 1998 12:00Canada3–6 (0–2, 0–2, 3–2)KazakhstanHämeenlinna Attendance: 169
Mathieu Garon, Roberto Luongo (14:00 second)GoaliesRoman KrivomazovReferee: Czech Republic Petr Bolina Linesmen: Russia Vyacheslav Bulanov Dariusz Sudol
0-13:45 - Troshchinsky (Antropov)0-213:14 - Alexandrov (Troshchinsky, Antropov) (PP)0-331:47 - Troshchinsky (Alexandrov, Novopashin) (SH)0-434:00 - Troshchinsky (Antropov)Holden (Blanchard) (PP) - 47:251-4Holden (Ference, Corso) (PP) - 50:102-42-558:21 - Komissarov (Ksandopulo)2-659:20 - Rifel (EN)Tkaczuk (Willsie, Brewer) - 59:573-6
0-13:45 - Troshchinsky (Antropov)
0-213:14 - Alexandrov (Troshchinsky, Antropov) (PP)
0-331:47 - Troshchinsky (Alexandrov, Novopashin) (SH)
0-434:00 - Troshchinsky (Antropov)
Holden (Blanchard) (PP) - 47:251-4
Holden (Ference, Corso) (PP) - 50:102-4
2-558:21 - Komissarov (Ksandopulo)
2-659:20 - Rifel (EN)
Tkaczuk (Willsie, Brewer) - 59:573-6
19 minPenalties20 min
43Shots17

5th place game

January 3, 1998 16:00United States4–3 (1–2, 2–0, 1–1)SwedenHämeenlinna

Bronze medal game

January 3, 1998 15:00Switzerland4 – 3 GWS (2–0, 0–2, 1–1, 0–0, 2–0)Czech RepublicHartwall Arena, Helsinki

Gold medal game

January 3, 1998 18:30Finland2–1 (OT) (0–0, 0–1, 1–0, 1–0)RussiaHartwall Arena, Helsinki Attendance: 13,655
Mika NoronenGoaliesDenis Khlopotnov
0–137:10 − VlassenkovPuistola (PP) - 43:251–1Hagman (Jokinen, Petriläinen) - 73:412–1
0–137:10 − Vlassenkov
Puistola (PP) - 43:251–1
Hagman (Jokinen, Petriläinen) - 73:412–1
45Shots26

Relegation round

January 1, 1998Germany0–9 (0–1, 0–4, 0–4)SlovakiaHartwall Arena, Helsinki
January 3, 1998Slovakia8–3 (0–1, 3–2, 5–0)GermanyHartwall Arena, Helsinki

Germany lost the two game total goal series 17–3 and was relegated for the 1999 World Juniors

Final ranking

RankCountry
Finland
Russia
Switzerland
4Czech Republic
5United States
6Sweden
7Kazakhstan
8Canada
9Slovakia
10Germany

Scoring leaders

PlayerCountryGPGAPts
Jeff FarkasUnited States76410
Olli JokinenFinland74610
Eero SomervuoriFinland7369
Ladislav NagySlovakia6628
Brian GiontaUnited States7538
Marián HossaSlovakia6448
Timo VertalaFinland7448
Andrej PodkonickýSlovakia6358
Marcus NilsonSweden7358
Maxim BalmochnykhRussia7268
Kamil PirošSlovakia7268

Tournament awards

IIHF Directorate AwardsMedia All-Star Team
GoaltenderSwitzerland David AebischerSwitzerland David Aebischer
DefencemenCzech Republic Pavel SkrbekSweden Pierre Hedin Russia Andrei Markov
ForwardsFinland Olli JokinenRussia Maxim Balmochnykh Finland Olli Jokinen Finland Eero Somervuori

Pool B

The second tier was held in Sosnowiec and Tychy Poland, from December 28 to January 4. Two groups of four played round robins, and then the top three played each of the top three teams from the other group. All scores carried forward except the results against the lone eliminated team from each group.

Preliminary round

Group A

TeamPldWLDGFGAGDPtsHungary men's national junior ice hockey teamLatvia men's national junior ice hockey teamFrance men's national junior ice hockey teamJapan men's national junior ice hockey team
Hungary3102109+143–22–25–5
Latvia32101510+542–35–28–5
France3111129+332–22–58–2
Japan30211221−915–55–82–8

Group B

TeamPldWLDGFGAGDPtsPoland men's national junior ice hockey teamUkraine men's national junior ice hockey teamBelarus men's national junior ice hockey teamNorway men's national junior ice hockey team
Poland32101311+247–31–45–4
Ukraine31111310+333–72–28–1
Belarus311166034–12–20–3
Norway3120813−524–51–83–0

Final round

PosTeamPldWLDGFGAGDPtsBelarus men's national junior ice hockey teamUkraine men's national junior ice hockey teamPoland men's national junior ice hockey teamLatvia men's national junior ice hockey teamHungary men's national junior ice hockey teamFrance men's national junior ice hockey team
1Belarus5401228+1492–24–13–18–05–4
2Ukraine53112312+1172–23–75–14–19–1
3Poland53202413+1161–47–32–38–06–3
4Latvia52301215−341–31–53–22–35–2
5Hungary5131624−1830–81–40–83–22–2
6France50411227−1514–51–93–62–52–2

Belarus was promoted to Pool A for 1999.

Relegation round

Norway6–4Japan
Norway3 – 4 otJapan
Norway4–1Japan

Japan lost two games to one and was relegated to Pool C for 1999.

Pool C

Played in Tallinn and Kohtla-Järve Estonia from December 28 to January 1.

Preliminary round

Group A

TeamPldWLDGFGAGDPtsItaly men's national junior ice hockey teamAustria men's national junior ice hockey teamEstonia men's national junior ice hockey teamGreat Britain men's national junior ice hockey team
Italy3201206+1454–411–15–1
Austria3201186+1254–48–16–1
Estonia3120520−1521–111–83–1
Great Britain3030314−1101–51–61–3

Group B

TeamPldWLDGFGAGDPtsDenmark men's national junior ice hockey teamSlovenia men's national junior ice hockey teamCroatia men's national junior ice hockey teamRomania men's national junior ice hockey team
Denmark3300268+1865–48–113–3
Slovenia3210158+744–54–17–2
Croatia3120614−821–81–44–2
Romania3030724−1703–132–72–4

Placement games

Denmark was promoted to Pool B, and Romania was relegated to Pool D for 1999.

Pool D

Played in Kaunas and Elektrenai Lithuania from December 30 to January 3.

Preliminary round

Group A

TeamPldWLDGFGAGDPtsNetherlands men's national junior ice hockey teamSpain men's national junior ice hockey teamBulgaria men's national junior ice hockey teamTurkey men's national junior ice hockey team
Netherlands3300584+5467–119–232–1
Spain3210189+941–76–211–0
Bulgaria31201729−1222–192–613–4
Turkey3030556−5101–320–114–13

Group B

TeamPldWLDGFGAGDPtsLithuania men's national junior ice hockey teamSerbia and Montenegro men's national junior ice hockey teamMexico men's national junior ice hockey teamSouth Africa men's national junior ice hockey team
Lithuania3300332+3165–114–014–1
Yugoslavia3210237+1641–513–09–2
Mexico3120328−2520–140–133–1
South Africa3030426−2201–142–91–3

Placement games

Lithuania was promoted to Pool C for 1999.

External links

  • Podnieks, Andrew (2010). IIHF Media Guide & Record Book 2011. Moydart Press.