The 1996 Men's Ice Hockey World Championships was the 60th such event sanctioned by the International Ice Hockey Federation. Teams representing 36 countries participated in several levels of competition, with Slovakia making their first appearance in the top Champions Group A, in their fourth tournament since the dissolution of Czechoslovakia and the formation of the separate Czech Republic and Slovakia men's national ice hockey teams. The competition also served as qualifications for group placements in the 1997 competition. The top Championship Group A tournament took place in Austria from 21 April to 5 May 1996, with all games played in Vienna. Twelve teams took part, with the first round split into two groups of six, with the first four from each group advancing to the quarter-finals. The Czech Republic beat Canada in the final to become World Champions for the first time. The final game was tied at two apiece before Martin Procházka scored with nineteen seconds left, followed by an empty net goal to seal the victory. In the bronze medal game, Brian Rolston scored at 4:48 of overtime to win the first medal in 34 years for team USA. The unfortunate Russians, competing in their fifth tournament since being created after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, did not lose a game in regulation time in the entire tournament, but finished fourth.
Played 10–20 April in Eindhoven. Latvia won at this level for the first time. In their final game, superb goaltending by Artūrs Irbe kept them in it, and a late tying goal by Oļegs Znaroks sealed the tournament victory. The final game had high drama for the host crowd, the Japanese and Danish teams among them. If the Netherlands were to lose to Poland, they would finish last and be relegated, a tie and Japan would be last, a win and Denmark would be last. A third period goal by Poland sealed Japan's fate.
Team
Games
Won
Drawn
Lost
Goal difference
Points
Tie breaker H2H Points
13
7
6
1
0
41 - 16
13
-
14
7
5
1
1
37 - 13
11
-
15
7
5
0
2
29 - 18
10
-
16
7
4
1
2
29 - 23
9
-
17
7
1
2
4
18 - 27
4
-
18
7
1
1
5
14 - 32
3
3
19
7
1
1
5
12 - 35
3
2
20
7
0
3
4
14 - 30
3
1
Latvia was promoted to Group A while Japan was relegated to Group C.
Played 27–29 January 1996 in Metulla. The Greek team originally won both their games, but it was later found that they had used ineligible players. Both games were declared 5–0 forfeits in favour of the opposing team.
Team
Games
Won
Drawn
Lost
Points difference
Points
1
2
2
0
0
24 - 00
4
2
2
1
0
1
05 - 19
2
3
2
0
0
2
00 - 10
0
First Round
Group 1
Group 2
The Israeli team, that had qualified for the tournament after the Greek forfeits, had to forfeit its first two games because they used two Russian players who did not have the proper clearance to play.
Team
Games
Won
Drawn
Lost
Goal difference
Points
1
3
3
0
0
19 - 02
6
2
3
2
0
1
10 - 13
4
3
3
1
0
2
07 - 06
2
4
3
0
0
3
00 - 15
0
Final Round 29–32 Place
Host Lithuania won all five games to earn promotion to Group C.
Yanic Perreault
Robert Lang
Sergei Berezin
Teemu Selänne
Bruno Zarrillo
Rob Schistad
Boo Ahl
Klaus Merk