AUTHENTIC 1947 Ice Hockey WORLD CUP TROPHY Cut Crystal Glass Czechoslovakia

AUTHENTIC 1947 Ice Hockey World Cup Cut Bohemian Crystal Glass Trophy. For your consideration is the original and authentic trophy from the 1947 Ice Hockey World Championship, which took place between 15-23 February. It was the first World Cup after the end of World War II and German occupation and was won by the home team of Czechoslovakia, which was their first ever win. Notably, the championship was missing the reigning World Champions of Canada. Invitations were sent out to many of the country's best club teams, but due to fears of the World Cup affecting their domestic league, as well as financing and travel problems, Canada did not end up sending a team to compete at the event. Vase form, thick sides and quite heavy. A laurel branch on the back, symbolizing victory. Inscribed under the Coat-of-Arms: MISTROVSTVI SVETA V LEDNIM HOCKEYI (Ice Hockey World Championships) PRAHA UNOR, 1947 (Prague, February of 1947) MINISTR VNITRNIHO OBCHODU (Minister of Internal Trade). The winter of 1947 was the first winter in which Klement Gottwald was Prime Minister, who would later become the first Communist president of Czechoslovakia. In December of 1947, Zmrhal resigned his position for health reasons, to be replaced by Gottwald's son-in-law Alexej Cepicka.

The team at the time was headed by legendary Slovak-Canadian coach Mike Buckna, who moved in 1946 from his birth country of Canada to his parents homeland. Buckna was given total authority over Czechoslovakia's hockey system and laid the groundwork for decades to follow. He established a minor league hockey system, organized hockey clinics and coached junior and senior teams throughout the country. He became head coach of the national team, leading them to this first World Championship title in 1947. The team was captained by Frantisek Pácalt and kept the trophy home with a record of 6 wins and 1 loss, and a goal difference of 85:10 in the Round-Robin competition, two points ahead of second-placed Sweden.

Czechoslovakia also achieved one of the biggest victories in the team's history during this Championship - a 24:0 pummeling of Belgium on the 21 of February. The Czechoslovak Golden Team of the period would go on to win a Silver Medal at the 1948 Olympic Games, and retain the title of World Champion in 1949. However, just before boarding the airplane to Britain for the 1950 World Cup, the players were jailed by the KNB - the Czechoslovak Communist State Security Police (akin to the KGB in Soviet Russia).

The players were accused of treason and attempting to defect, and tried in a kangaroo court headed by the Stalinist regime at the time. Each player received a different sentencing, ranging from 8 months to 15 years. Even though most were released within five years, many died or became sick from complications caused by the horrendous prison conditions. Czechoslovakia would have to wait until 1972 to assemble another World Cup winning team. This is the original trophy, handed by Minister Zmrhal to the Czechoslovak National Team upon winning the World Cup Title.

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Our items are described with the best of our knowledge and ability. We will be glad to answer all of your questions and provide additional photos and/or information. This item is in the category "Sports Mem, Cards & Fan Shop\Vintage Sports Memorabilia\Other Vintage Sports Mem". The seller is "imeon" and is located in this country: US. This item can be shipped worldwide.

Modified Item: No
Country/Region of Manufacture: Czech Republic
Original/Reproduction: Original
Year: 1947
Vintage: Yes
Team-Hockey: Czechoslovakia
Sport: Hockey
Team: Czechoslovakia