Canuckistani
Registered User
We all have our favorite tournaments - usually when our team wins in dramatic fashion. But here I'm trying to be as unbiased as I can by looking at the overall quality of games, the entertainment value, memorable performances, amazing upsets/stories, etc.
2010 Olympics
I don’t rate this #1 just because I’m a homer. This gets top rank for two reasons.
1) The games were simply amazing. Hiller taking Canada to a shootout. Slovakia upsetting Russia. Miller’s 42 saves and Kessler’s diving empty netter to beat Canada. Ovechkin leveling Jagr leading to the game winner against the Czechs. Latvia tying the Czechs late only to lose in OT. Parise finally sinking the Swiss in the third period. Canada erupting against Russia in one the greatest performances ever by a Canadian team. Finland scoring late to eliminate the Czechs. Slovakia upsetting the Swedes. Canada hanging on for dear life against the Slovaks in the semis. Finland scoring four in the third to take bronze over Slovakia. And of course Parise tying the gold medal game late, only for Crosby to win it for Canada in OT. Can’t beat that.
2) It was a best-on-best event in which few big names were absent. Injuries took out Komisarek and Martin on the US blueline (replaced by Whitney and Gleason), Holmstrom was lost for the Swedes (replaced by Franzen) and Richard Lintner was out for the Slovaks. Aside from that everyone was pretty much at 100% – a rarity for such events.
1996 World Cup
Plenty of exciting games, cultimating in a three-game North American battle for the title.
Highlights included...Yzerman scoring late to beat Slovakia. America dominating Russia twice, 5-2. Sundin and Forsberg scoring highlight-reel goals to beat Finland in Stockholm. Germany stunning the Czechs 7-1. Fleury scoring in the last minute of double OT to beat Sweden in the semis. In another best-of-three final, Canada took the opener 4-3 in OT (on an offside goal) after LeClair tied it at 19:56. USA won game two 5-2 (two empty netters), setting up an epic final in which Richter’s 35 saves kept the US in it until Hull, Amonte, Hatcher (ENG) and Deadmarsh scored in the final 3:18 to win 5-2.
1980 Olympics
The Miracle on Ice, definately one of the all-time great hockey stories. Team USA’s college kids trailed the USSR three times and rallied for a 4-3 win thanks to Mike Eruzione’s goal at 10:00 of the third, capped off by a memorable countdown at the end. Even so, the US needed to beat Finland in the final game to secure gold and trailed 2-1 after two. Phil Verchota and Rob McClanahan tallied early to put the US in front and Mark Johnson’s shorthanded goal at 16:25 sealed the win.
Less well known were the following highlights…Bill Baker scoring at 19:33 to tie the USA’s opener against Sweden (a huge momentum shift that set the tone for what followed), Poland upsetting Finland 5-4, Soviets scoring three goals late to beat Finland 4-2; Canada’s amateurs taking a 3-1 lead on the Soviets only to fall 6-4, narrowly missing out on the medal round.
2002 Olympics
Again, plenty of memorable games. Canada’s stunning loss to Sweden. Two amazing games between Russia-USA. Nieuwendyk’s late equalizer against the Czechs turning Canada’s fortunes around. Kopat’s shocking winner for Belarus off the head of Salo in the QFs (biggest upset in 22 years). Khabibulin’s 41 saves giving Russia a 1-0 revenge win over the Czechs. Sakic and Iginla scoring late to seal gold in the final, 5-2.
1987 Canada Cup
This one is best known for perhaps the greatest hockey series ever played between Canada and USSR; an offensive show featuring Lemieux and Greztky vs. Makarov and Krutov.
The Cold War battle opened with a 3-3 in the round robin on a late goal from Gretzky; Game 1 of the final went to the Soviets 6-5 in OT after the teams traded late goals. Canada levelled, 6-5 in double OT on a hat trick from Lemieux after an amazing tying goal from Kamensky at 18:56. And finally, Lemieux winning the final at 18:34 after Canada rallied from an early 3-0 defecit. Even Victor Tikonov called it the best hockey he’d ever seen.
There were some other great contests as well, especially the Canada-Czech semifinal, Lemieux’s hat-trick to beat the US, and Sweden’s early upset of the USSR.
1985 World Championships
A huge win for the Czechs on home ice. Soviets dominated the opening round (shelling USA 11-1, Canada 9-1, Czechs 5-1), but the Czechs open the medal round with a 2-1 win over their arch rivals; Dusak Pasek getting the winner. Canada then knocked out the Soviets 3-1 thanks to a pair from Mario Lemieux (his only WHC), setting up a gold medal game in which Jiri Sejba’s hat trick and Jiri Lala’s empty netter gave the Czechs a 5-3 win.
The event is also memorable for the USA’s first strong performance at the WHC in years. Led by John Vanbiesbrouck, they upset Sweden, Canada and the Czechs before running out of gas in the medal around.
2010 World Championship
Some pretty weak rosters at this event (it being an Olympic year), with the exception of Russia who were out for redemption and a three-peat. This left the door open for upsets and a strong showing by the host Germans – beating USA and Slovakia, and losing close games to Finland and Russia. Denmark beat Finland 4-1, USA 2-1, and Slovakia 6-0. Norway and Switzerland beat the Czechs, and Switzerland beat Canada. Germany eventually lost the semis to Russia 2-1 on a late Datsyuk goal and ended up fourth.
The Czechs, with one of their weakest rosters in years, were led to gold by Tomas Vokoun, beating Finland and Sweden in shootouts (Rachunek tying Sweden with eight seconds left), and then making 35 saves in a 2-1 win over Russia in the final.
What tournaments stand out to you for whatever reason?
2010 Olympics
I don’t rate this #1 just because I’m a homer. This gets top rank for two reasons.
1) The games were simply amazing. Hiller taking Canada to a shootout. Slovakia upsetting Russia. Miller’s 42 saves and Kessler’s diving empty netter to beat Canada. Ovechkin leveling Jagr leading to the game winner against the Czechs. Latvia tying the Czechs late only to lose in OT. Parise finally sinking the Swiss in the third period. Canada erupting against Russia in one the greatest performances ever by a Canadian team. Finland scoring late to eliminate the Czechs. Slovakia upsetting the Swedes. Canada hanging on for dear life against the Slovaks in the semis. Finland scoring four in the third to take bronze over Slovakia. And of course Parise tying the gold medal game late, only for Crosby to win it for Canada in OT. Can’t beat that.
2) It was a best-on-best event in which few big names were absent. Injuries took out Komisarek and Martin on the US blueline (replaced by Whitney and Gleason), Holmstrom was lost for the Swedes (replaced by Franzen) and Richard Lintner was out for the Slovaks. Aside from that everyone was pretty much at 100% – a rarity for such events.
1996 World Cup
Plenty of exciting games, cultimating in a three-game North American battle for the title.
Highlights included...Yzerman scoring late to beat Slovakia. America dominating Russia twice, 5-2. Sundin and Forsberg scoring highlight-reel goals to beat Finland in Stockholm. Germany stunning the Czechs 7-1. Fleury scoring in the last minute of double OT to beat Sweden in the semis. In another best-of-three final, Canada took the opener 4-3 in OT (on an offside goal) after LeClair tied it at 19:56. USA won game two 5-2 (two empty netters), setting up an epic final in which Richter’s 35 saves kept the US in it until Hull, Amonte, Hatcher (ENG) and Deadmarsh scored in the final 3:18 to win 5-2.
1980 Olympics
The Miracle on Ice, definately one of the all-time great hockey stories. Team USA’s college kids trailed the USSR three times and rallied for a 4-3 win thanks to Mike Eruzione’s goal at 10:00 of the third, capped off by a memorable countdown at the end. Even so, the US needed to beat Finland in the final game to secure gold and trailed 2-1 after two. Phil Verchota and Rob McClanahan tallied early to put the US in front and Mark Johnson’s shorthanded goal at 16:25 sealed the win.
Less well known were the following highlights…Bill Baker scoring at 19:33 to tie the USA’s opener against Sweden (a huge momentum shift that set the tone for what followed), Poland upsetting Finland 5-4, Soviets scoring three goals late to beat Finland 4-2; Canada’s amateurs taking a 3-1 lead on the Soviets only to fall 6-4, narrowly missing out on the medal round.
2002 Olympics
Again, plenty of memorable games. Canada’s stunning loss to Sweden. Two amazing games between Russia-USA. Nieuwendyk’s late equalizer against the Czechs turning Canada’s fortunes around. Kopat’s shocking winner for Belarus off the head of Salo in the QFs (biggest upset in 22 years). Khabibulin’s 41 saves giving Russia a 1-0 revenge win over the Czechs. Sakic and Iginla scoring late to seal gold in the final, 5-2.
1987 Canada Cup
This one is best known for perhaps the greatest hockey series ever played between Canada and USSR; an offensive show featuring Lemieux and Greztky vs. Makarov and Krutov.
The Cold War battle opened with a 3-3 in the round robin on a late goal from Gretzky; Game 1 of the final went to the Soviets 6-5 in OT after the teams traded late goals. Canada levelled, 6-5 in double OT on a hat trick from Lemieux after an amazing tying goal from Kamensky at 18:56. And finally, Lemieux winning the final at 18:34 after Canada rallied from an early 3-0 defecit. Even Victor Tikonov called it the best hockey he’d ever seen.
There were some other great contests as well, especially the Canada-Czech semifinal, Lemieux’s hat-trick to beat the US, and Sweden’s early upset of the USSR.
1985 World Championships
A huge win for the Czechs on home ice. Soviets dominated the opening round (shelling USA 11-1, Canada 9-1, Czechs 5-1), but the Czechs open the medal round with a 2-1 win over their arch rivals; Dusak Pasek getting the winner. Canada then knocked out the Soviets 3-1 thanks to a pair from Mario Lemieux (his only WHC), setting up a gold medal game in which Jiri Sejba’s hat trick and Jiri Lala’s empty netter gave the Czechs a 5-3 win.
The event is also memorable for the USA’s first strong performance at the WHC in years. Led by John Vanbiesbrouck, they upset Sweden, Canada and the Czechs before running out of gas in the medal around.
2010 World Championship
Some pretty weak rosters at this event (it being an Olympic year), with the exception of Russia who were out for redemption and a three-peat. This left the door open for upsets and a strong showing by the host Germans – beating USA and Slovakia, and losing close games to Finland and Russia. Denmark beat Finland 4-1, USA 2-1, and Slovakia 6-0. Norway and Switzerland beat the Czechs, and Switzerland beat Canada. Germany eventually lost the semis to Russia 2-1 on a late Datsyuk goal and ended up fourth.
The Czechs, with one of their weakest rosters in years, were led to gold by Tomas Vokoun, beating Finland and Sweden in shootouts (Rachunek tying Sweden with eight seconds left), and then making 35 saves in a 2-1 win over Russia in the final.
What tournaments stand out to you for whatever reason?
) from the jaws of victory!
Damm, there were also Slovaks. The famous line Rusnak - Liba - Lukac. That time one of the best line in the world. 
