The 1950 Ice Hockey World Championships were played in London. The reigning champion Czechoslovakia, did not participate in protest of two radio broadcasters who were denied travel visas. Czechoslovakia also feared losing players, due to recent defection of Jaroslav Drobný. Despite the politics, Hardy stressed that the event was "to promote international amity". Canada won the gold medal at the 1950 championships, and Hardy credited the Sweden men's national ice hockey team for great improvements reflecting the growth of the game in Sweden.