1996 World Cup of Hockey

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1996 World Cup of Hockey
Tournament details
Host countriesFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Venue(s)9 (in 9 host cities)
DatesAugust 26 – September 14, 1996
Teams8
Final positions
Champions  Gold medal blank.svg Flag of the United States.svg  United States (1st title)
Tournament statistics
Games played19
Goals scored140 (7.37 per game)
Scoring leader(s) Flag of the United States.svg Brett Hull (11 pts)
MVP Flag of the United States.svg Mike Richter

The first World Cup of Hockey (WCH), or 1996 World Cup of Hockey, replaced the Canada Cup as one of the premier championships for professional ice hockey.

Contents

Inaugural World Cup of Hockey

The first edition of the Cup featured eight teams divided into two groups. The European Group, whose games were all played in Europe, included the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, and Sweden. The North American Group played in North American cities and included Canada, Russia, Slovakia, and the United States. Some of the best players in the world were missing in the tournament, some either declined invitation, such as Dominik Hašek stating "I would love to play in (the competition), but the timing is bad", [1] or because of injuries, as Pavel Bure was injured during a Russia-USA exhibition game in Detroit.

After the teams played a three-game group stage, the top team in each group advanced to the semi-finals, while the second and third place teams played cross-over quarter-finals. The quarter-finals and semi-finals were single elimination games. The championship final was a best-of-three. All playoff games were played in North America.

In the biggest surprise of the tournament, Germany defeated Czech Republic 7–1 in the European Group, which eliminated the Czechs and sent the Germans into the quarter-finals. In the biggest game of the North American Group, USA defeated Canada 5–3 to finish first and get a bye to the semi-finals. In the semis, they defeated Russia 5–2, while Canada beat Sweden 3–2 on Theoren Fleury's goal at 19:47 of the second overtime period, ending the longest game in international hockey history.

The tournament did see some controversy after the Canada-Russia game in Vancouver was played when Sweden's coach Kent Forsberg said he believed "Canada cheated its way to victory" through help of Canadian NHL referees that saw two goals disallowed and several controversial penalties for Russia. [2] [3] The Russian's coach Boris Mikhailov echoed a similar sentiment after the game saying "It was the referees' victory", as Russia felt there was "biased officiating". [3] [4] [5]

In the best-of-three final, Canada won the first game, in Philadelphia, 4–3 in overtime. Then the USA recorded a memorable pair of 5–2 victories in Montreal to win the series. In the third and decisive game, the USA received spectacular goaltending from tournament MVP Mike Richter [6] and rallied from a 2–1 deficit in the third period by scoring four goals in the final 3:18 of the game. Tony Amonte scored the game-winning goal.

Rosters

Venues

North American pool and playoffs
European pool

Results

Exhibition Games (incomplete list)

North American pool

TeamPldWLDGFGAGDPtsQualification
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 3300198+116Advanced to semifinals
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 32101110+14Advanced to quarterfinals
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 31201214−22
Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 3030919−100
Source: [ citation needed ]

Scores

  • August 29, Vancouver: Russia 3–5 Canada
  • August 31, Montreal: Slovakia 4–7 Russia
  • August 31, Philadelphia: Canada 3–5 United States
  • September 1, Ottawa: Canada 3–2 Slovakia
  • September 2, New York City: Russia 2–5 United States
  • September 3, New York City: United States 9–3 Slovakia

European pool

TeamPldWLDGFGAGDPtsQualification
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 3300143+116Advanced to semifinals
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 32101711+64Advanced to quarterfinals
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 31201115−42
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 3030417−130
Source: [ citation needed ]

Scores

  • August 26, Stockholm: Germany 1–6 Sweden
  • August 27, Helsinki: Finland 7–3 Czech Republic
  • August 28, Helsinki: Germany 3–8 Finland
  • August 29, Prague: Sweden 3–0 Czech Republic
  • August 31, Garmisch: Czech Republic 1–7 Germany
  • September 1, Stockholm: Finland 2–5 Sweden

Knockout stage

QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal
September 8
September 6Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 2
E2Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 0Flag of the United States.svg  United States 5September 10–14
NA3Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 5Flag of the United States.svg  United States 355
September 7Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 422
September 5Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 3
E3Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 1Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 2
NA2Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 4

Quarterfinals

  • September 5, Montreal: Germany 1–4 Canada
  • September 6, Ottawa: Russia 5–0 Finland

Semifinals

  • September 7, Philadelphia: Canada 3–2 Sweden (2OT)
  • September 8, Ottawa: Russia 2–5 United States

Finals

  • September 10, Philadelphia: Canada 4–3 United States (OT)
  • September 12, Montreal: United States 5-2 Canada
  • September 14, Montreal: United States 5-2 Canada

Statistics and awards

 1996 World Cup of Hockey winners 
Flag of the United States.svg
United States
1st title

Tournament MVP

All-star team

[14]

Final standings

1Flag of the United States.svg  United States
2Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
3Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
4Flag of Russia.svg  Russia
5Flag of Finland.svg  Finland
6Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
7Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia
8Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic

Top scorers

RkPlayerGPGAPtsPIM
1 Flag of the United States.svg Brett Hull 774114
2 Flag of the United States.svg John LeClair 764106
3 Flag of Sweden.svg Mats Sundin 44374
4 Flag of the United States.svg Doug Weight 734712
5 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Wayne Gretzky 83472
6 Flag of the United States.svg Brian Leetch 70774
7 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Paul Coffey 707712
8 Flag of Russia.svg Sergei Fedorov 53362
9 Flag of Russia.svg Alexander Mogilny 52460
10 Flag of the United States.svg Keith Tkachuk 751644
11 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Theoren Fleury 84268

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "CNN/SI - Nagano Olympics - Athlete profile: Dominik Hasek - February 3, 1998". Sports Illustrated. February 3, 1998. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Swedish Coach Accuses Canada Of Winning Unfairly". Apnewsarchive.com. August 31, 1996. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  3. 1 2 "15th Anniversary Memories: 1996 World Cup of Hockey - Philadelphia Flyers - News". Flyers.nhl.com. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Cup Runneth Over For Canada Disallowed Goals Wreck Russians" NY Daily News by Frank Brown, August 30, 1996
  5. ↑ "Swedish Coach Accuses Canada of Winning Unfairly". www.apnewsarchive.com. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  6. ↑ Fleury, Theo; Kirstie McLellan Day (2009). Playing With Fire . HarperCollins. pp.  133–139. ISBN   978-1-55468-239-3.
  7. 1 2 "Ľ189/14/Sports". Friends-partners.org. Archived from the original on October 28, 2018. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  8. ↑ Joe Lapointe (August 18, 1996). "Superpowers Lace Up To Take On the World". New York Times. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  9. ↑ Joe Lapointe (August 29, 1996). "Matchup of Power Players". New York Times. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  10. ↑ Joe Lapointe (August 25, 1996). "Russians Mix and Match for World Cup". New York Times. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Canada beats U.S. in World Cup of Hockey competition". Deseret News . August 21, 1996. p. D5. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Spirited Victory for U.S. High Intensity: The Hits Just Keep on Coming in World Cup of Hockey Exhibition". San Jose Mercury News . August 22, 1996. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  13. 1 2 "Team USA routs Slovakia in last tuneup for new tournament". The Washington Times . August 26, 1996. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  14. ↑ Canadian Press (September 18, 1996). "No Canadian all-stars chosen". Archived from the original on April 12, 1997. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
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