The Panther
Registered User
I recall it used to be a thing that when NHL stars' teams failed to make the playoffs, or sometimes even when they were eliminated in round one, those stars would join the international World Championships in Europe.
Examples/stats:
1981: After the Habs fell to Minnesota, Guy Lafleur joined team Canada in Sweden. Guy scored only 1 point (a goal) in 7 games... which might partly explain why Canada failed to get a medal!
1982 -- After the Oilers were upset by L.A., Gretzky (after the 92-goal season) joined the Canadian team, which won Bronze, in Finland. Wayne put up 6 goals and 8 assists, for 14 points, in 10 games.
1982 / 1989 / 1991 / 1994 -- Jari Kurri played for Finland (in Finland, Sweden, Finland again, and Italy, respectively). Finland took the Silver in 1994. Kurri seems to have produced rather well at these tournaments, scoring 19 goals and 38 points in 32 games total.
1985 -- With the Pens still a doormat, Mario Lemieux joined Team Canada in Prague. They took Silver, with Mario scoring 4 goals and 6 assists, for 10 points, in 9 games.
1982 / 1986 / 1989 -- Dale Hawerchuk joined these three years, playing with Gretzky in Finland in '82, and then in Moscow (USSR) in '86, and Sweden in '89. Canada took Bronze and Silver the latter two years. In 28 total games, Hawerchuk scored 22 points (1989 was his best tournament, statistically).
1990 -- This somehow surprises me: Paul Coffey joined Team Canada in 1990 in Switzerland (after the Pens missed the playoffs), scoring 7 points in 10 games, though Canada failed to get a medal.
1994 -- Luc Robitaille journeyed to Northern Italy (after the Kings crapped out that season), winning the Gold with Canada, and scoring 4 goals and 4 assists in 8 games.
These are just some random examples -- lots of NHLers played at the World Championships, I guess.
Anyone remember these tournaments? I don't think I ever saw one on TV. Memories? Thoughts?
Examples/stats:
1981: After the Habs fell to Minnesota, Guy Lafleur joined team Canada in Sweden. Guy scored only 1 point (a goal) in 7 games... which might partly explain why Canada failed to get a medal!
1982 -- After the Oilers were upset by L.A., Gretzky (after the 92-goal season) joined the Canadian team, which won Bronze, in Finland. Wayne put up 6 goals and 8 assists, for 14 points, in 10 games.
1982 / 1989 / 1991 / 1994 -- Jari Kurri played for Finland (in Finland, Sweden, Finland again, and Italy, respectively). Finland took the Silver in 1994. Kurri seems to have produced rather well at these tournaments, scoring 19 goals and 38 points in 32 games total.
1985 -- With the Pens still a doormat, Mario Lemieux joined Team Canada in Prague. They took Silver, with Mario scoring 4 goals and 6 assists, for 10 points, in 9 games.
1982 / 1986 / 1989 -- Dale Hawerchuk joined these three years, playing with Gretzky in Finland in '82, and then in Moscow (USSR) in '86, and Sweden in '89. Canada took Bronze and Silver the latter two years. In 28 total games, Hawerchuk scored 22 points (1989 was his best tournament, statistically).
1990 -- This somehow surprises me: Paul Coffey joined Team Canada in 1990 in Switzerland (after the Pens missed the playoffs), scoring 7 points in 10 games, though Canada failed to get a medal.
1994 -- Luc Robitaille journeyed to Northern Italy (after the Kings crapped out that season), winning the Gold with Canada, and scoring 4 goals and 4 assists in 8 games.
These are just some random examples -- lots of NHLers played at the World Championships, I guess.
Anyone remember these tournaments? I don't think I ever saw one on TV. Memories? Thoughts?