1976 Canada Cup
Tournament details | |
---|---|
Host country | Canada |
Venue(s) | 6 (in 6 host cities) |
Dates | September 2–15, 1976 |
Teams | 6 |
Final positions | |
Champions | Canada (1st title) |
Tournament statistics | |
Games played | 17 |
Goals scored | 125 (7.35 per game) |
Attendance | 244,970 (14,410 per game) |
Scoring leader(s) | Viktor Zhluktov (9 pts) |
MVP | Bobby Orr |
The 1976 Canada Cup was an international ice hockey tournament held September 2 to 15, 1976, in Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg and Quebec City in Canada as well as in Philadelphia, in the United States. It was the first of five Canada Cup tournaments held between 1976 and 1991, organized by Alan Eagleson, and sanctioned by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), Hockey Canada and the National Hockey League (NHL).
The six-team,
The Canada Cup was the first true best-on-best world championship in hockey history as it allowed any player to represent their team regardless of amateur or professional status. The hockey was both exciting and entertaining, with one of the games being declared "best game of all time" by fans. Bobby Orr and Lanny MacDonald both claimed that winning the Canada Cup was more important to them than their Stanley Cup wins. Consequently, it marked the end of Canada's six-year boycott of the IIHF. The success of the event paved the way for greater use of professional players in the World Championship and Winter Olympics.
Background
The Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) had complained for years that Team Canada faced a competitive disadvantage in international tournaments as it was restricted from using its best players, who were professionals in the National Hockey League (NHL), while European teams masked the status of their best players.[1] The issue came to a head in 1970 when International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) president Bunny Ahearne reneged on a promise to allow each team to use up to nine professional players at the 1970 World Championship.[2] In response, the CAHA withdrew Canada from all international competition until the IIHF gave it the right to use its best players as the European teams could.[3]
Around the same time, talks were begun to hold a friendly tournament between Canada's top players and the
Having gained international approval, Eagleson then convinced the NHLPA's players to support the tournament with promises of increased pension contributions resulting from their participation. The NHL's owners supported the concept after agreeing that half of the proceeds from the games would go to them. Some teams remained uneasy, however. The Philadelphia Flyers were afraid their players might suffer injuries in the tournament and vowed that no player from their roster would be permitted to play. They were convinced to back down on their threats after being promised two games would be played in Philadelphia with the Flyers receiving their share of the revenue.[7] Though the tournament was held in September so as not to interfere with the NHL season, league president Clarence Campbell remained skeptical of the tournament's viability, calling it "wasteful".[8]
Teams
Six teams competed in the 1976 Canada Cup. Canada was favoured to win as they had brought what was argued to be the strongest team in the nation's history to the tournament – 18 of the 25 players on the roster would later be elected into the
While the fans hoped for a Canada-Soviet Union final, analysts ranked the Soviets as only the fourth best team entering the tournament.
The Soviets downplayed the importance of the tournament, stating their true focus was the World Championships and the Winter Olympics.[12] As a result, they sent a much younger, "experimental" team to Canada.[5] Valeri Kharlamov, considered by many to be their best forward, also did not play in the series, as he was recovering from serious injuries suffered in a car accident.
The Czechoslovak team was predicted to face Canada in the final by most experts as they brought the same team that won the 1976 World Championship a few months prior. Their goaltender, Jiří Holeček, was considered the best in the world outside the NHL.[13] Czechoslovak coach Karel Gut anticipated his team would emerge to show the world that there was "more to international hockey than Canada and the Soviet Union".[14] Sweden was ranked third entering the tournament and had a large mixture of amateurs and professionals who were playing in the NHL and WHA.[15] The United States and Finland rounded out the tournament and were not expected to be competitive.[16]
Round robin games
The tournament opened in
The third game featured the world champion Czechoslovaks against the Olympic champion Soviets. Czechoslovakia justified pre-tournament expectations by winning 5–3 while the Soviets complained about the scheduling, claiming organizers deliberately matched them up against the Czechoslovaks in their opening game to set them at an early disadvantage in the tournament.[20] The Soviet complaints grew louder following a 3–3 tie against Sweden. While the Swedish press was hailing Salming as the greatest player in their nation's history after his second consecutive dominant effort,[21] the Soviets threatened to quit the tournament as they were upset about the officiating of Canadian referee Andre Legace. Organizers did not take the Soviet threats to quit the tournament seriously.[22]
The Czechoslovaks remained dominant, defeating the Finns 8–0 in a game where they out-shot their opponent 49–15. Czechoslovak goaltender Holeček recorded the first shutout in the tournament's history.[23] The Finns were similarly decimated by the Soviets, who did not withdraw from the tournament, by an 11–3 score.[24] Meanwhile, the Americans, criticized in the media as being "team useless" over their perceived lack of talent, earned a measure of respect when they lost to Canada 4–2 in a game where the outcome was not certain until the final minute of play,[25] then earned a 4–4 tie against the Czechoslovaks, and the respect of their coach, in a game played at Philadelphia.[26]
A 4–0 loss to Canada followed by a shocking 8–6 defeat at the hands of their Scandinavian rival Finland eliminated Sweden from contention. The Finns, who overcame a 4–1 deficit, felt the result vindicated their placement in the tournament while the Swedes considered the result an embarrassment.
Three games marked the final day of the round robin on September 11. The United States overcame a 2–0 deficit to defeat Finland 6–3 to finish fifth in the tournament. American co-general manager Tommy Ivan expressed his pride in his team's tournament, and predicted that this tournament had set the stage for the United States to grow into a contender in hockey.[31] The Swedes, meanwhile, earned a 2–1 victory over Czechoslovakia in a game that had no impact on the standings.[32]
While fans expected Canada and the Soviet Union would meet in the final, ultimately, they squared off in an unofficial semi-final. The two teams played the game at a furious pace, trading goals in a first period from which Canada emerged with a 2–1 lead. Canada extended their lead in the second period then relied on defenceman Bobby Orr's stellar play to hold off the Soviets and advance to the final.[33] As they had earlier in the tournament, the Soviets complained of biased officiating playing a role in the outcome of the game.[34]
Final
The 1976 Canada Cup final was a best-of-three series. The first game was played September 13 at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. The Czechoslovaks started Dzurilla in goal after his brilliant display against Canada in the round robin.[35] Dzurilla was unable to duplicate his success as Gilbert Perreault opened the scoring one minute into the game en route to a four-goal onslaught by the Canadians in the first period.[35][36] The Czechoslovaks were stronger in the final 40 minutes, but were unable to beat Canada's Vachon, who recorded his second shutout of the tournament in a 6–0 victory for Canada.[35] During the game, the Czechoslovaks were angered when Canada's Steve Shutt crosschecked Jiří Novák from behind. Novak suffered a concussion and was unable to play the remainder of the series. Shutt, a skill player of smaller stature, was apologetic after the game, claiming he had not intended to hit his opponent in the fashion he did.[37]
Game two was played in the Montreal Forum on September 15. Jiri Holeček, who replaced Dzurilla in goal after the first period of the first game, started game two for Czechoslovakia, while Vachon remained in the Canadian net.[38] As they had in the first game, Canada jumped out to an early lead, scoring two goals in the first three minutes of play. Holeček was quickly pulled and replaced with Dzurilla, who completed the game.[38] The Czechoslovaks replied with a second period goal and another early in the third to tie the game. Bobby Clarke re-established the Canadian lead midway through the period before Josef Augusta and Marián Šťastný scored goals one minute apart to give Czechoslovakia its first lead, 4–3, with four minutes remaining in the third period.[39] Dzurilla was strong in net as the Canadians put 39 shots on goal in regulation time, but made a critical mistake with less than three minutes remaining. His attempt to clear a puck from his zone went instead to Canada's Bill Barber, who scored into an open net to tie the game and send it to overtime.[40]
The teams played an intense overtime period filled with end-to-end rushes and brilliant saves by the goaltenders. At one point, Canada's
Less than two minutes into the second half of the overtime period, Darryl Sittler received a pass from Marcel Dionne as he skated into the Czechoslovak zone close to the side boards. As Dzurilla came out to challenge, Sittler faked a shot that froze the goaltender, took two more strides then fired the puck into an open net.[36] The goal touched off a wild celebration amongst the Canadian players on the ice and the fans in the stands. Sittler's championship winning goal remains one of the most famous in hockey history.[40] During the celebrations, the players of both teams traded uniforms; Bobby Orr was presented with the Most Valuable Player award while wearing a Czechoslovak jersey.[42] Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau presented Canadian captain Bobby Clarke with the Canada Cup.[40]
Legacy
The tournament finale was the most watched television event in Canadian history at the time. 10,700,000 people were estimated to have watched the game, representing nearly half of all Canadians in 1976.[43] The team that represented Canada is still considered one of the greatest national teams ever to represent the nation in a hockey tournament.[44] For many players, winning the Canada Cup was the highlight of their careers. Bobby Orr and Lanny McDonald both rated winning this tournament ahead of winning the Stanley Cup.[44]
The Canada Cup established a new era in international hockey. It marked Canada's formal return to the international stage after a six-year boycott,[36] and was the first true best-on-best world championship in the sport's history.[45] For North American audiences, the tournament established that Czechoslovakia and Sweden could compete with Canada and the Soviet Union, while the Finns and Americans proved they were capable of playing with the sport's elite teams.[46]
Standings
Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Canada | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 22 | 6 | +16 | 8 | Advanced to final |
Czechoslovakia | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 9 | +10 | 7 | |
Soviet Union | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 23 | 14 | +9 | 5 | Eliminated |
Sweden | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 18 | −2 | 5 | |
United States | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 21 | −7 | 3 | |
Finland | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 16 | 42 | −26 | 2 |
Results
Round-robin
September 2, 1976 | Mahovlich, Savard) – 48:25 | 8–2 | |
Martin, (Perreault, Lafleur) – 51:12 | 9–2 | ||
Perreault, (Lafleur, Martin) – 51:38 | 10–2 | ||
Sittler – (SH) 55:52 | 11–2 |
September 3, 1976 | United States | 2–5 (0–5, 0–0, 2–0) | Sweden | Maple Leaf Gardens Attendance: 12,211 |
Mike Curran | Goalies | Hardy Åström | |||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
34 min | Penalties | 12 min | |||||||||||||||||||||
29 | Shots | 37 |
September 3, 1976 | Gusev ) – 53:59 | 3–5 |
September 5, 1976 | ||
2–3 | 51:24 – Kapustin (Maltsev, Repnev) | |
Hedberg (B. Salming) – 57:28 | 3–3 |
September 5, 1976 | Finland | 0–8 (0–1, 0–3, 0–4) | Czechoslovakia | Maple Leaf Gardens Attendance: 16,309 |
Antti Leppänen | Goalies | Jiří Holeček | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
14 min | Penalties | 12 min | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
15 | Shots | 49 |
September 5, 1976 | Rogatien Vachon | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
12 min | Penalties | 8 min | ||||||||||||||||||
16 | Shots | 35 |
September 7, 1976 | Skvortsov, Belousov ) – 57:12 | 11–3 |
September 7, 1976 | Bennett) | |
Bubla (Hlinka) – 30:13 | 2–3 | |
2–4 | 31:02 – Ftorek (Milbury, Talafous) | |
Hlinka (M. Šťastný) – 45:30 | 3–4 | |
Augusta (Nový) – 54:06 | 4–4 |
September 7, 1976 | Rogatien Vachon | |||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
8 min | Penalties | 18 min | ||||||||||||
28 | Shots | 33 |
September 9, 1976 | Sweden | 6–8 (3–1, 2–4, 1–3) | Finland | Winnipeg Arena Attendance: 8,037 |
Hardy Åström | Goalies | Antti Leppänen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
8 min | Penalties | 8 min | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
36 | Shots | 31 |
September 9, 1976 | Alexandrov, Vikulov) – 13:54 | 3–0 | |
Vikulov (Kulikov) – 22:41 | 4–0 | ||
Repnev (Golikov) – 57:46 | 5–0 |
September 9, 1976 | Rogatien Vachon | ||||
| |||||
4 min | Penalties | 4 min | |||
23 | Shots | 29 |
September 11, 1976 | Finland | 3–6 (2–0, 0–4, 1–2) | United States | Montreal Forum Attendance: 12,427 |
Antti Leppänen | Goalies | Pete LoPresti | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
8 min | Penalties | 18 min | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
23 | Shots | 24 |
September 11, 1976 | Goran Hogosta | Goalies | Vladimír Dzurilla | ||||||||
| |||||||||||
6 min | Penalties | 20 min | |||||||||
25 | Shots | 28 |
September 11, 1976 | Alexanrov, Lutchenko) | |
Hull (Perreault, Potvin – 17:02 | 2–1 | |
Barber (Clarke, Lapointe) – 37:33 | 3–1 |
Final (best of three)
September 13, 1976 | Rogatien Vachon | Goalies | Vladimír Dzurilla (20:00) Jiří Holeček (40:00) | |||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
10 min | Penalties | 10 min | ||||||||||||||||||
34 | Shots | 24 |
September 15, 1976 | Rogatien Vachon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
14 min | Penalties | 10 min | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
25 | Shots | 39 |
Statistical leaders
Scoring
Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Viktor Zhluktov | Soviet Union | 5 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 0 |
Bobby Orr | Canada | 7 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 8 |
Denis Potvin | Canada | 7 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 16 |
Bobby Hull | Canada | 7 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 2 |
Milan Nový | Czechoslovakia | 7 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 2 |
Gilbert Perreault | Canada | 7 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 2 |
Vladimir Vikulov | Soviet Union | 4 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
Börje Salming | Sweden | 5 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 2 |
Phil Esposito | Canada | 7 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
Alexander Maltsev | Soviet Union | 5 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 2 |
Vladimír Martinec | Czechoslovakia | 7 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 2 |
Goaltending
Player | Team | GP | Min | W | L | T | SO | SV% | GAA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rogatien Vachon |
Canada | 7 | 432 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .940 | 1.39 |
Vladimír Dzurilla | Czechoslovakia | 5 | 228 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | .920 | 2.36 |
Vladislav Tretiak | Soviet Union | 5 | 300 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | .912 | 2.80 |
Pete LoPresti | United States | 2 | 120 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .895 | 3.00 |
Jiří Holeček | Czechoslovakia | 5 | 203 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .861 | 3.25 |
- Minimum 120 minutes played[47]
Awards
Recipient | Team |
---|---|
Most Valuable Player | |
Bobby Orr | Canada |
All-Star team | |
Rogatien Vachon |
Canada |
D – Bobby Orr |
Canada |
D – Börje Salming |
Sweden |
Aleksandr Maltsev |
Soviet Union |
F – Milan Nový | Czechoslovakia |
F – Darryl Sittler | Canada |
Team MVPs | |
Rogatien Vachon |
Canada |
Milan Nový | Czechoslovakia |
Matti Hagman | Finland |
Aleksandr Maltsev |
Soviet Union |
Börje Salming | Sweden |
Robbie Ftorek | United States |
References
- Notes
- ^ a b Carroll, Dick (May 19, 1970). "Brundage may help Canada by banning Olympic hockey". Montreal Gazette. p. 18. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ McKinley, 2006, p. 184
- ^ "Canada pulls out of international hockey play". Montreal Gazette. January 5, 1970. p. 13. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ McKinley, 2006, p. 224
- ^ a b c "1976 Canada Cup". Hockey Canada. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ Pelletier, 2003, p. 8
- ^ a b Pelletier, 2003, p. 9
- ^ Morrissey, Bob (October 27, 1976). "Canada Cup 'wasteful' says Clarence Campbell". Montreal Gazette. p. 35. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2010.
- ^ Pelletier, 2003, p. 10
- ^ Pelletier, 2003, p. 11
- ^ a b Pelletier, 2003, p. 13
- ^ Pelletier, 2003, p. 14
- ^ Pelletier, 2003, p. 15
- ^ Gilbert, Doug (August 18, 1976). "Czechs, Swedes gang up for assault on Canada Cup". Montreal Gazette. p. 23. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ Pelletier, 2003, p. 16
- ^ Pelletier, 2003, pp. 14, 16
- ^ "Canada opens Cup tourney". Sarasota Journal. September 2, 1976. p. 6D. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ Pelletier, 2003, p. 17
- ^ Pelletier, 2003, p. 19
- ^ Pelletier, 2003, p. 21
- ^ Pelletier, 2003, p. 23
- ^ "Soviets may quit Canada Cup". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. September 7, 1976. p. 3C. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ Pelletier, 2003, p. 25
- ^ Pelletier, 2003, p. 27
- ^ Pelletier, 2003, p. 26
- ^ "Americans surprise in Canada Cup play". Toledo Blade. September 8, 1976. p. 35. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ Pelletier, 2003, p. 33
- ^ Pelletier, 2003, p. 35
- ^ Juliano, Joe (September 10, 1976). "Reds thump U.S.; Canada surprised". Schenectady Gazette. p. 20. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2010.
- ^ "Team Canada faces elimination". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. September 11, 1976. p. 3C. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ Pelletier, 2003, p. 37
- ^ Pelletier, 2003, p. 38
- ^ Pelletier, 2003, p. 40
- ^ "Ousted Soviets rap officials". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. September 13, 1976. p. 3C. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ a b c Pelletier, 2003, p. 41
- ^ a b c "Canada Cup 1976 summary". Hockey Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on May 24, 2011. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
- ^ "Canada ready to claim Cup". Sarasota Journal. September 15, 1976. p. 4C. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
- ^ a b Pelletier, 2003, p. 43
- ^ Pelletier, 2003, p. 46
- ^ a b c d Pelletier, 2003, p. 45
- ^ Morrissey, Bob (September 16, 1976). "We're No. 1 – in all the whole wide world". Montreal Gazette. p. 15. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
- ^ "Sitter goal wins Canada Cup in overtime". Montreal Gazette. September 16, 1976. p. 1. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
- ^ "Record audience for last Canada Cup game". Val D'or Star. September 22, 1976. p. 15.
- ^ a b "1976 Canada Cup champions honoured in Halifax". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. May 6, 2008. Archived from the original on August 9, 2009. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
- ^ "First Canada Cup opens up the hockey world". International Ice Hockey Federation. Archived from the original on August 7, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
- ^ Pelletier, 2003, p. 47
- ^ "1976 Canada Cup goaltending statistics" (PDF). Hockey Canada. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- General
- McKinley, Michael (2006). Hockey: A People's History. McClelland & Stewart. ISBN 0-7710-5769-5.
- Pelletier, Joe; Houda, Patrick (2003). The World Cup of Hockey. Toronto: Warwick Publishing. ISBN 1-894622-17-0.
- Game statistics: Pelletier, 2003, pp. 18–46
- Scoring statistics: "1976 Canada Cup". Hockey Canada. Retrieved July 24, 2010.