Ice hockey at the 1928 Winter Olympics
Canada won gold; Sweden took silver and European title.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
The third Olympic ice hockey tournament, held at the 1928 Winter Games in St. Moritz, Switzerland, also doubled as the third World Championships and the 12th European Championships. Canada, represented by the University of Toronto Graduates, claimed its third straight gold medal. Switzerland, the top European finisher, earned the silver medal and its first European Championship title.
The Graduates had won the 1927 Allan Cup under coach Conn Smythe, but Smythe refused to travel to the Olympics after clashing with the Canadian Olympic Committee over roster additions. The team competed without him, captained by Red Porter. Canadian Olympic Committee member W. A. Hewitt objected to the tournament format, which gave Canada a bye into the second round; he wanted more games for the team rather than a week of inactivity. Despite the layoff, the Graduates won all three of their matches, scoring 38 goals without allowing any, to secure the gold.
A total of 128 players from eleven nations participated in at least one game: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czechoslovakia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Poland, Sweden, and Switzerland. Defending champion Canada, which had outscored opponents 132–3 in the 1924 Olympics, received a bye to the medal round after officials recognized their overwhelming superiority. The other ten teams were split into three groups for the first round. The group winners joined Canada in a three-game round-robin final round to decide the medals. The match between Canada and Sweden was refereed by Paul Loicq, president of the International Ice Hockey Federation.
Switzerland was the oldest squad, averaging about 31 years and 2 months, while Belgium was the youngest at 21 years and 6 months. Canada’s average age was 24 years and 10 months, and the tournament average was 26 years and 9 months. The IIHF Guide and Record Book lists two different final rankings, though the IOC does not rank teams below fourth place.
- event
- Men's ice hockey at the 1928 Winter Olympics
- location
- St. Moritz, Switzerland
- gold_medalist
- Canada (University of Toronto Graduates)
- silver_medalist
- Sweden
- bronze_medalist
- Not specified in source
- participating_nations
- 11
- total_players
- 128
Lore & Background
Conn Smythe coached the Graduates to the 1927 Allan Cup championship during the Ontario Hockey Association season, but refused to go to the Olympics due to disagreements on which players were added to the team by the Canadian Olympic Committee. The Graduates went without Smythe, led by team captain Red Porter. Canadian Olympic Committee member W. A. Hewitt was opposed to the format of the hockey tournament, which saw the Canadian team receive a bye into the second round. He wanted the team to have more games, rather than be idle for a week. Despite the wait to play, the Graduates won all three games by scoring 38 goals and conceding none, to win the gold medal.
Defending champion Canada, which outscored its opponents 132–3 in the 1924 Olympics, was granted a bye to the medal round, after officials realised how superior they were to all of the other teams. The other 10 teams were placed in three groups for the first round. The top teams from each of the three groups were joined by defending champion Canada in the medal round, playing a 3-game round-robin to determine the medal winners. The match between Canada and Sweden was refereed by Paul Loicq, president of the International Ice Hockey Federation.
Reader's Guide
The 1928 tournament marked the third Olympic ice hockey championship and the third World Championship, with Canada continuing its dominance by winning gold for the third consecutive time. The University of Toronto Graduates, representing Canada, outscored opponents 38–0 in three games, underscoring the gap between Canadian and European teams at the time. Sweden's silver medal also earned them their third European Championship, highlighting the dual significance of the tournament. The event featured 11 nations and 128 players, with the oldest team being Hungary (average age 31 years, 6 months) and the youngest Belgium (21 years, 6 months). The IIHF Guide and Record Book lists two different rankings for this tournament, though the IOC does not rank teams below 4th. The controversy over Canada's bye and Conn Smythe's absence due to roster disagreements reflect organizational tensions within the Canadian delegation. The tournament's legacy includes its role in solidifying Canada's early Olympic hockey supremacy and the integration of European championships into the Olympic framework.
Did You Know?
- Conn Smythe refused to coach at the 1928 Olympics due to disagreements over player additions by the Canadian Olympic Committee.
- Canada scored 38 goals and conceded none in three games to win gold.
- The match between Canada and Sweden was refereed by Paul Loicq, president of the International Ice Hockey Federation.
- Team Hungary was the oldest team in the tournament, averaging 31 years and 6 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 1928 Winter Olympics ice hockey gold medal?
Canada, represented by the University of Toronto Graduates, took the gold, marking their third consecutive Olympic hockey title.
Where was the 1928 Olympic ice hockey tournament held?
The competition took place in St. Moritz, Switzerland, as part of the third Winter Olympic Games.
Why wasn't Conn Smythe coaching Canada at the 1928 Olympics?
Smythe, who had guided the Graduates to the 1927 Allan Cup, refused to make the trip after a falling-out with the Canadian Olympic Committee over roster additions, leaving the team to compete without him.
How many nations competed in the 1928 Olympic ice hockey tournament?
Eleven countries took the ice, with Canada claiming gold and Sweden earning silver as the top European finisher.
What dual titles did Sweden earn at the 1928 Winter Olympics hockey event?
Sweden's silver-medal finish also locked up the European Championship for the third time, since the tournament simultaneously counted as the 13th European Championships.
More in Ice hockey at the Winter Olympics 1-24
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