Following the retirement of Soviet goaltender Vladislav Tretiak, Czechoslovakia's Jiri Kralik continued the tradition of fine netminding at theWorld Championships by leading the hosts to the gold medal. Kralik surrendered only six goals in three medal round victories over the United States, the Soviet Union and Canada. Centre Jiri Lala led a talented offensive team with eight goals and 13 points in 10 games. The world champions' biggest goals came from unexpected sources. Centre Dusan Pasek scored the winning goal in a 2-1 conquest of the Soviet Union and winger Jiri Seijba registered a hat trick in a 5-3 win over Canada, which clinched the gold medal on the final day.
|