1976 saw the concept of the WJC at a crossroads - lacking sponsorship and official IIHF recognition the tournament appeared to be nearing its end. In fact, the United States did not send a team to Finland and Canada sent the Sherbrooke Castors, runners up in the QMJHL in 1976, rather than a true national squad.
The Soviet Union again took the gold, running their overall WJC record to 14-0 in the process. Canada, in spite of a 17-1 loss to Sweden (!!!) won silver while Czechoslovakia placed third.
Future NHLers were few and far between, highlighted by Peter Stastny and Viacheslav Fetisov, a trio of Swedes in Kent Nilsson, Bengt-Ake Gustafsson and Thomas Gradin and an underwhelming pair of Canadians, Jere Gillis and Peter Marsh.
1976 WJC - Finland.bin