Ice hockey at the 1972 Olympics

 This was held in Sapporo, Japan from February 3-13. 11 teams at this tournament. 5 pre tournament games decided would play with the Soviet Union in the final round znd who would play in the consolation round. Canada did not play at this tournament due to the iihf allowing "professionals" playing with the Soviet Union. Eventually that got figured out, with Canada returning to international competition in 1977 and the Olympics in 1980. United States was nicknamed yhe overlooked team. They upset Czechoslovakia, then Finland to eventually win a silver. Soviet Union won gold. United States the silver and Czechoslovakia the bronze. The USA znd Czechoslovakia each had identical records. The first tie break was head to head, which, as noted, yhe USA won. Soon, the 1976 games in Innsbruck Austria.