The 1997 Men's Ice Hockey World Championships was the 61st such event sanctioned by the International Ice Hockey Federation. Teams representing 36 countries participated in several levels of competition, while three other teams competed in an exhibition tournament to gain experience before joining on an official basis in the 1998 competition. The competition also served as qualifications for group placements in the 1998 competition. The top Championship Group tournament took place in Finland from 26 April to 14 May 1997, with matches played in Helsinki, Tampere and Turku. Twelve teams took part, with the first round being split into two teams of six, and the six best teams going to a further group stage. Canada beat Sweden in the final game, best of three, where they won 2–1 in games, and became world champions for the 21st time.
Teams that had played each other in the first round carried those results forward. First and second place played off for gold, third and fourth for bronze.
Team
Games
Won
Drawn
Lost
Points difference
Points
1
5
4
0
1
17 - 09
8
2
5
3
0
2
13 - 14
6
3
5
2
1
2
13 - 13
5
4
5
2
0
3
12 - 12
4
5
5
2
0
3
12 - 12
4
6
5
1
1
3
07 - 14
3
Consolation Round 7–12 Place
Teams that had played each other in the first round carried those results forward. Last place was not relegated to Group B, instead they had to play against three qualifiers from Group B for the last two openings in the 1998 Group A tournament. This was Germany's lowest finish since 1965.
Played 12–21 April in Katowice and Sosnowiec. With the announcement that Group A would be expanding from twelve to sixteen nations, Group B would also undergo significant changes. The winner and next year's host were promoted. In addition, the remaining three best teams would win the opportunity to play in a qualifying tournament against the last place team from Group A, where the top two would be included in the Group A tournament.
Played 22–28 March in Tallinn and Kohtla-Järve. Along with the expansion of Group A, a provision was made to allow the best "Far East" team to qualify directly. Beginning in 1999 there would be a tournament to decide who that would be. But for now, the top placing "Far East" hockey nation was able to proceed directly from Group C to Group A. For this year, as well, promotion to Group B was available to the top three European teams, and there was no relegation.
First Round
Group 1
Group 2
Final Round 21–24 Place
Japan was promoted to Group A as the "Far East Qualifier", Ukraine, Slovenia, and Estonia were all promoted to Group B.
Consolation Round 25–28 Place
World Championship Group D (Andorra)
Played 7–14 April in Canillo. With Group A expansion, four nations were promoted to Group C.
Martin Procházka
Michael Nylander
Roger Dubé
Oleg Znaroks
Gates Orlando
Travis Green
Jarmo Myllys
Maxim Mikhailovsky