1996 World Cup of Hockey
{{Short description|1996 edition of the World Cup of Hockey}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Lead too short|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox international ice hockey competition
| tourney_name = World Cup of Hockey
| year = 1996
| other_titles =
| image =
| size =
| caption =
| country = Canada
| country2 = Czech Republic
| country3 = Finland
| country4 = Germany
| country5 = Sweden
| country6 = United States
| dates = August 26 – September 14, 1996
| num_teams = 8
| venues = 9
| cities = 9
| type = ih
| winners = USA
| count = 1
| games = 19
| goals = 140
| attendance =
| scoring_leader = {{flagicon|USA}} Brett Hull (11 pts)
| mvp = {{flagicon|USA}} Mike Richter
| prevseason = 1991 (Canada Cup)
| nextseason = 2004
}}
The first World Cup of Hockey (WCH), or the 1996 World Cup of Hockey,{{efn|{{langx|de|Eishockey-Weltmeisterschaft 1996}}, {{langx|fr|Coupe du monde hockey sur glace 1996}}, {{langx|cs|Světový pohár v ledním hokeji 1996}}, {{langx|sv|World Cup i ishockey 1996}}, {{langx|fi|Jääkiekon maailmancup 1996}}}} was the inaugural edition of the event, replacing the Canada Cup as one of the world championships of ice hockey.
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 European cities, 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",{{cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/olympics/events/1998/nagano/athletes/110.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100224152217/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/olympics/events/1998/nagano/athletes/110.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 24, 2010 |title=CNN/SI - Nagano Olympics - Athlete profile: Dominik Hasek - February 3, 1998 |magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=1998-02-03 |access-date=2013-08-15}} 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 the 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, the 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.{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/0109d5017b2f601e44d5d4ae750c1d7d |title=Swedish Coach Accuses Canada Of Winning Unfairly |publisher=Apnewsarchive.com |date=1996-08-31 |access-date=2013-08-15}}{{cite web|url=http://flyers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=540479 |title=15th Anniversary Memories: 1996 World Cup of Hockey - Philadelphia Flyers - News |publisher=Flyers.nhl.com |access-date=2013-08-15}} The Russian team's coach Boris Mikhailov echoed a similar sentiment after the game saying "It was the referees' victory", as Russia felt there was "biased officiating"."Cup Runneth Over For Canada Disallowed Goals Wreck Russians" NY Daily News by Frank Brown, August 30, 1996{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/e20c3bb239f779d7f855e60d4f388075|title=Swedish Coach Accuses Canada of Winning Unfairly|website=www.apnewsarchive.com|access-date=13 April 2018}}
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{{cite book |last= Fleury |first= Theo |author-link= Theoren Fleury |author2= Kirstie McLellan Day |author2-link= Kirstie McLellan Day |title= Playing With Fire |publisher= HarperCollins |year= 2009 |pages= [https://archive.org/details/playingwithfireh00theo/page/133 133–139] |isbn= 978-1-55468-239-3 }} 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
{{further|1996 World Cup of Hockey rosters}}
Venues
;North American pool and playoffs
- Corel Centre – Ottawa, Canada
- CoreStates Center – Philadelphia, U.S.
- General Motors Place – Vancouver, Canada
- Madison Square Garden – New York City, U.S.
- Molson Centre – Montreal, Canada
;European pool
- Garmisch Olympia Stadium – Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
- Globen – Stockholm, Sweden
- Helsinki Ice Hall – Helsinki, Finland
- Sportovní hala – Prague, Czech Republic
Results
=Exhibition Games (incomplete list)=
- Russia 5–4 Finland (Moscow){{cite web |url=http://www.friends-partners.org/oldfriends/spbweb/times/189-190/dream.html |title=Ľ189/14/Sports |publisher=Friends-partners.org |access-date=2013-08-15 |archive-date=2018-10-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028181622/http://www.friends-partners.org/oldfriends/spbweb/times/189-190/dream.html |url-status=dead }}
- Sweden 2–3 Russia (Stockholm)
- Germany 2–4 Russia (Landshut){{cite news|author=Joe Lapointe |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/08/18/sports/superpowers-lace-up-to-take-on-the-world.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm |title=Superpowers Lace Up To Take On the World |work=New York Times |date=1996-08-18 |access-date=2013-08-15}}
- Canada 4–4 Russia (Calgary){{cite news|author=Joe Lapointe |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/08/29/sports/matchup-of-power-players.html |title=Matchup of Power Players |work=New York Times |date=1996-08-29 |access-date=2013-08-15}}
- United States 4–6 Russia (Detroit) {{cite news|author=Joe Lapointe |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/08/25/sports/russians-mix-and-match-for-world-cup.html |title=Russians Mix and Match for World Cup |work=New York Times |date=1996-08-25 |access-date=2013-08-15}}
- United States 1–3 Canada (Vancouver){{cite web |url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Z_dLAAAAIBAJ&pg=6807,3800782&dq=en |title=Canada beats U.S. in World Cup of Hockey competition |work=Deseret News |date=August 21, 1996 |page=D5 |access-date=June 13, 2014}}
- Canada 5–7 United States (San Jose){{cite web |url= http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SJ&s_site=mercurynews&p_multi=SJ&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB71FF011C79A0A&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=Spirited Victory for U.S. High Intensity: The Hits Just Keep on Coming in World Cup of Hockey Exhibition |work=San Jose Mercury News |date=August 22, 1996 |access-date=13 June 2014}}
- Slovakia 4–7 Canada (Edmonton){{cite web |url= http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=WT&p_theme=wt&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB0F20E3209EE2A&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=Team USA routs Slovakia in last tuneup for new tournament |work=The Washington Times |date=August 26, 1996 |access-date=June 13, 2014}}
- Slovakia 2–9 United States (Providence)
=North American pool=
{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL
|res_col_header=Q
|show_positions=n
|loss_before_tie=y|winpoints=2
|team1=USA|name_USA={{ih|USA}}
|team2=CAN|name_CAN={{ih|CAN}}
|team3=RUS|name_RUS={{ih|RUS}}
|team4=SVK|name_SVK={{ih|SVK}}
|win_USA=3|draw_USA=0|loss_USA=0|gf_USA=19|ga_USA=8
|win_CAN=2|draw_CAN=0|loss_CAN=1|gf_CAN=11|ga_CAN=10
|win_RUS=1|draw_RUS=0|loss_RUS=2|gf_RUS=12|ga_RUS=14
|win_SVK=0|draw_SVK=0|loss_SVK=3|gf_SVK=9|ga_SVK=19
|col_A=#9f9|text_A=Advanced to semifinals
|result1=A
|col_Q=#cfc|text_Q=Advanced to quarterfinals
|result2=Q|result3=Q
|update=complete|source=
}}
==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=
{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL
|res_col_header=Q
|show_positions=n
|loss_before_tie=y|winpoints=2
|team1=SWE|name_SWE={{ih|SWE}}
|team2=FIN|name_FIN={{ih|FIN}}
|team3=GER|name_GER={{ih|GER}}
|team4=CZE|name_CZE={{ih|CZE}}
|win_SWE=3|draw_SWE=0|loss_SWE=0|gf_SWE=14|ga_SWE=3
|win_FIN=2|draw_FIN=0|loss_FIN=1|gf_FIN=17|ga_FIN=11
|win_GER=1|draw_GER=0|loss_GER=2|gf_GER=11|ga_GER=15
|win_CZE=0|draw_CZE=0|loss_CZE=3|gf_CZE=4|ga_CZE=17
|col_A=#9f9|text_A=Advanced to semifinals
|result1=A
|col_Q=#cfc|text_Q=Advanced to quarterfinals
|result2=Q|result3=Q
|update=complete|source=
}}
==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=
{{6TeamBracket-info
| RD1 = Quarterfinals
| RD3-legs = 3
| RD1-text1 = September 6
| RD1-team1={{ih|FIN}}
| RD1-seed1 = E2
| RD1-score1=0
| RD1-team2={{ih|RUS}}
| RD1-seed2 = NA3
| RD1-score2=5
| RD1-text2 = September 5
| RD1-team3={{ih|GER}}
| RD1-seed3 = E3
| RD1-score3=1
| RD1-team4={{ih|CAN}}
| RD1-seed4 = NA2
| RD1-score4=4
| RD2-text1 = September 8
| RD2-seed1 =
| RD2-team1 = {{ih|RUS}}
| RD2-score1 = 2
| RD2-seed2 =
| RD2-team2 = {{ih|USA}}
| RD2-score2 = 5
| RD2-text2 = September 7
| RD2-seed3 =
| RD2-team3 = {{ih|CAN}}
| RD2-score3 = 3
| RD2-seed4 =
| RD2-team4 = {{ih|SWE}}
| RD2-score4 = 2
| RD3-text1 = September 10–14
| RD3-seed1 =
| RD3-team1 = {{ih|USA}}
| RD3-score1-1 = 3
| RD3-score1-2 = 5
| RD3-score1-3 = 5
| RD3-seed2 =
| RD3-team2 = {{ih|CAN}}
| RD3-score2-1 = 4
| RD3-score2-2 = 2
| RD3-score2-3 = 2
}}
==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
{{winners|ih|1996 World Cup of Hockey winners|USA|1st}}
=Tournament MVP=
- {{flagicon|USA}} Mike Richter
=All-star team =
- Goaltender: {{flagicon|USA}} Mike Richter
- Defence: {{flagicon|SWE}} Calle Johansson; {{flagicon|USA}} Chris Chelios
- Forwards: {{flagicon|USA}} Brett Hull; {{flagicon|SWE}} Mats Sundin; {{flagicon|USA}} John LeClair
=Final standings=
| class="wikitable" style="width:200px;" | |
| align=center|1 | {{ih|USA}} |
| align=center|2 | {{ih|CAN}} |
| align=center|3 | {{ih|SWE}} |
| align=center|4 | {{ih|RUS}} |
| align=center|5 | {{ih|FIN}} |
| align=center|6 | {{ih|GER}} |
| align=center|7 | {{ih|SVK}} |
| align=center|8 | {{ih|CZE}} |
=Top scorers=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | ||||
| Rk
!Player !GP !G !A !Pts !PIM | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States}} Brett Hull |7 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 4 |
| 2
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States}} John LeClair |7 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 6 |
| 3
|align=left|{{flagicon|Sweden}} Mats Sundin |4 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 4 |
| 4
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States}} Doug Weight |7 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 12 |
| 5
|align=left|{{flagicon|Canada}} Wayne Gretzky |8 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 2 |
| 6
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States}} Brian Leetch |7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 4 |
| 7
|align=left|{{flagicon|Canada}} Paul Coffey |7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 12 |
| 8
|align=left|{{flagicon|Russia}} Sergei Fedorov |5 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 |
| 9
|align=left|{{flagicon|Russia}} Alexander Mogilny |5 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0 |
| 10
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States}} Keith Tkachuk |7 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 44 |
| 11
|align=left|{{flagicon|Canada}} Theoren Fleury |8 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 8 |
- Leading Goaltender: {{flagicon|Canada}} Curtis Joseph (2.31 GAA)
See also
Notes
{{Notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/19970412135954/http://www.southam.com/nmc/sports/shockeywcup/worldcup.html Southam Newspapers' 1996 World Cup of Hockey page]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/19961202140434/http://www.thestar.com/thestar/editorial/worldcup/index.html Toronto Star's 1996 World Cup of Hockey page]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/19970419012129/http://www.canoe.com/HockeyWorldCup/home.html Canoe Sports' 1996 World Cup of Hockey page]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/19980525061612/http://www.lcshockey.com/extra/worldcup/ LCS Hockey's 1996 World Cup of Hockey page]
{{WorldCupofHockey}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:World Cup of Hockey, 1996}}
Category:1996–97 in American ice hockey
Category:1996–97 in Canadian ice hockey
Category:1996–97 in Czech ice hockey
Category:1996–97 in Finnish ice hockey
Category:1996–97 in German ice hockey
Category:1996–97 in Russian ice hockey
Category:1996–97 in Swedish ice hockey
Category:August 1996 sports events in Europe
Category:August 1996 sports events in North America