The reigning world champions from Czechoslovakia finished fifth, and the Soviet Union became world champions for the sixteenth time, and also won their 21st European Championship. In the European Championship, only mutual games between European teams in the first round were counted. In the final the Soviets defeated Sweden 3–2. Canada defeated Finland 4–3 in the bronze medal game. For the disappointing Czechoslovaks, this was the second time since 1967 that they had finished out of the medals (as in 1983), and their worst result outside the Olympics since 1937. Sergei Makarov was the leading scorer and goaltender Peter Lindmark was named the most valuable player of the tournament.
Attracting little notice at the time, Brett Hull made his debut in international hockey for the United States. It would appear that if Canadian coach Dave King had invited him to play in Moscow, the College student with dual citizenship, would have happily chosen a different path. Instead he chose to accept coach Dave Peterson's offer to compete for the Americans.
Soviet Union
Soviet Union (16th title) 
Sweden
Canada
Finland
