1957 FIB WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MEN

Helsinki, Finland, 28 February-3 March

BUT ALREADY IN 1954 THERE WAS AN INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT

The prominent figures of Sune Almqvist and Torsten Tegnér in Sweden made attempts at creating bandy contacts with Russia. But Gunnar Galin and Börje Tegfors followed up with more success. The result was a four-nation tournament in Moscow 1954.

Gunnar Galin, FIB first President

The leaders of these four nations spoke of forming a Federation and a preparatory meeting was held in Helsinki 4-5 September 1954. This led to the establishment of the International Bandy Federation (IBF, since 2001 FIB) in Stockholm on 12 February, 1955. Signatories to the founding document were L.I. Suurla, Finland, Jens Raanaas, Norway, Michail Kanunnikov, USSR and Gunnar Galin, Sweden, who was elected as the first President. On the initial Congress, common rules were accepted and already at the Moscow Tournament, the Russians insured that the Nordic countries gave approval to the boards on the sides of the ice. At the same time the Russians accepted the somewhat more flexible Swedish sticks. Also on the agenda stood a proposal to institute a championship competition. 

THE FIRST WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 1957

The historic first World Championship in Bandy was played in Helsinki, Finland, 28 February-3 March, 1957. The tournament was held as part of the 50th anniversary of the Finnish Ball Association who organized Finnish football. Only three nations participated in this first World Championship; Finland, Sweden and USSR as Norway decided not to participate due to the USSR invasion in Hungary on 4th of November 1956. Soviet crushed the national uprising for democracy in the country. There was resistanse but the Soviet troups ensured victory. 

A FIRST EXCITING GAME

On Thursday, February 28, 1957, the first ever World Championship game was played at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium. The event was opened by Finland’s President Urho Kekkonen. Finland met it’s antagonist Sweden in the first game. It was a dramatic and in the end uncertain battle. In the third minute, Finnish center Tauno Timoska scored 1-0. Shortly thereafter, Swedish defender Tore Wikner scored 1-1 on a long shot past Finnish goalkeeper Kalevi Muurinen. Nisse Wikman gave Sweden the lead in the 28th minute, followed by an equalizer by Alpo Aho before Leif Fredblad put Sweden ahead 3-2 on a successful solo rush up the ice, despite persistent defensive attention. The referee had blown the whistle just before the goal but still approved it.

Sweden held the half-time lead, but after only one minute of second half Alpo Aho scored after a serious mistake by the Swedish defense. In the 14th minute Finland scored the match-winning goal, an unbelievable direct shot by Tauno Timoska. He was so overjoyed that he threw his stick nearly 50 meters up in the sky. The Russian referee hastened over and warned the Finn for his outbreak of emotion. But Timoska hugged the referee and shared his happiness. 

In the last game in the tournament USSR won 6-1 against Finland in front of 14,369 spectators at Helsinki Olympic Stadium and became first World Champion.

Finland on the second place in the table and Sweden third.

1 USSR    

Anatoly Melnikov, Yuri Shardakov, Anatoly Panin, Alexander Zaitsev, Mikhail Turkkin, Nikolai Fools, Alexander Izmodenov, Mikhail Osintsev, Yevgeny Papugin, Leo Shunin, Gennady Vodyanov, Valentin Atamanichev, Nikolai Durakov  

2 FINLAND 

Alpo Aho, Seppo Alatalo, Veikko Allinen, Pauli Heiskanen, Pentti Jokinen, Pekka Kettunen, Martti Kinnunen, Kauko Korpela, Lauri Martti, Kullervo Muurinen, Stig-Göran Myntti, Risto Ovaska, Jonni Pajukari, Veikko Partanen, Arvo Raitavuo, Matti Serenius, Tauno Timoska, Juhani Turpeenniemi

3 SWEDEN

Yngve Palmqvist, Orvar Bergmark, Thorvald Åkerlöf, Tore Wikner, Inge Cahlman, Sven-Åke Erixon, Roy Berglöf, Nils Wikman, Leif Fredblad, Olle Sääw, Gösta Kihlgård, Ove Eidhagen, Kjell Jakobsson, Sune Edling, Jörgen Forslund, Gunnar Jansson, Ivar Kruse, Gunnar Ring

The historic first World Champions from USSR
(Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)

Photo: The USSR Bandy Federation

GOAL SCORERS

3 goals
Valentin Atamanychev and Eugene Papugin, USSR and Аlpo Аhо, Finland
2 goals
Tauno Timoska, Finland
1 goal
Tore Wikner, Nils Wikman, Leif Fredblad, Gunnar Jansson and Olle Sääw, Sweden and Leo Shunin and Gennady Vodyanov, USSR

BEST PLAYERS

Goalkeeper
Anatoly Melnikov, USSR

Defender
Tore Wikner, Sweden

Midfielder
Nikolai Durakov, USSR

Forward
Tauno Timoska, Finland