Authentic 1947 Ice Hockey World Cup Cut Crystal Glass Trophy, Czechoslovakia

Description

The original and authentic trophy from the 1947 Ice Hockey World Championship, which took place between 15–23 February
It was … more The original and authentic trophy from the 1947 Ice Hockey World Championship, which took place between 15–23 February
It was the first World Cup after the end of World War II and German occupation and was won by the home team of Czechoslovakia, which was their first ever win
Notably, the championship was missing the reigning World Champions of Canada. Invitations were sent out to many of the country's best club teams, but due to fears of the World Cup affecting their domestic league, as well as financing and travel problems, Canada did not end up sending a team to compete at the event

The trophy is made of the finest Bohemian Cut Crystal Glass - all hand cut up front with the Greater Coat-of-Arms of Czechoslovakia (used in the period 1945-1960) in supreme detail and with exceptional mastery!
Vase form, thick sides and quite heavy
A laurel branch on the back, symbolizing victory
Inscribed under the Coat-of-Arms:
MISTROVSTVI SVETA V LEDNIM HOCKEYI (Ice Hockey World Championships)
PRAHA UNOR, 1947 (Prague, February of 1947)
MINISTR VNITRNIHO OBCHODU (Minister of Internal Trade)
It was presented to the winning Czechoslovak team by the Minister of Internal Trade of The Third Republic (1945-1948) Antonín Zmrhal, during the years which set the groundwork for the fall of the country to Communism. The winter of 1947 was the first winter in which Klement Gottwald was Prime Minister, who would later become the first Communist president of Czechoslovakia. In December of 1947, Zmrhal resigned his position for health reasons, to be replaced by Gottwald's son-in-law Alexej Čepička

The team at the time was headed by legendary Slovak-Canadian coach Mike Buckna, who moved in 1946 from his birth country of Canada to his parents homeland. Buckna was given total authority over Czechoslovakia's hockey system and laid the groundwork for decades to follow. He established a minor league hockey system, organized hockey clinics and coached junior and senior teams throughout the country. He became head coach of the national team, leading them to this first World Championship title in 1947. The team was captained by František Pácalt and kept the trophy home with a record of 6 wins and 1 loss, and a goal difference of 85:10 in the Round-Robin competition, two points ahead of second-placed Sweden. Czechoslovakia also achieved one of the biggest victories in the team's history during this Championship - a 24:0 pummeling of Belgium on the 21 of February
The Czechoslovak Golden Team of the period would go on to win a Silver Medal at the 1948 Olympic Games, and retain the title of World Champion in 1949. However, just before boarding the airplane to Britain for the 1950 World Cup, the players were jailed by the KNB - the Czechoslovak Communist State Security Police (akin to the KGB in Soviet Russia). The players were accused of treason and attempting to defect, and tried in a kangaroo court headed by the Stalinist regime at the time. Each player received a different sentencing, ranging from 8 months to 15 years. Even though most were released within five years, many died or became sick from complications caused by the horrendous prison conditions. Czechoslovakia would have to wait until 1972 to assemble another World Cup winning team

This is the original trophy, handed by Minister Zmrhal to the Czechoslovak National Team upon winning the World Cup Title.
Measurements: Approx. 11" (28 cm) tall, 7" diameter (across) at top
Weighs about 6 lbs. (2.75 kg)

Condition: Excellent condition! Please see photos below. All original. Supreme display! less