Canada Cup
The Canada Cup was a 1976 be transferred to 1991 ice hockey tournament, his successor, the World Cup of Hockey is.
Description
Although the Canada Cup was only played five times, he still was considered particularly prestigious. Since the competitions - in contrast to the annual World Championship - did not conflict with the time held in the spring of play-off games in the NHL, the U.S. National teams could muster their best professional players usually. Especially in light of the world in this time political tensions had primarily the encounters between host Canada and the former series champion from the Soviet Union always a high prestige value. The Soviets sent in 1976 but only a B team for the tournament, during 1991, the Soviet hockey team was in rebuilding and already the collapse of the Soviet Union was also keenly felt in sports. Overall, Canada has won the tournament four times, the team of the USSR ended the competition only once victorious (1981 ) - but with a clear 8-1 Final victory over the " Maple Leaves ". This could return the favor six years later, in 1987 when they defeated the " Sbornaja " in three final matches in the best-of -three mode, where the decisions of the referee were at least as controversial.
Idea
The idea for the Canada Cup had Alan Eagleson, who had already organized the Summit Series.
Others
Since its debut in Canada Cup in 1981, the outstanding Canadian player Wayne Gretzky took the end of each tournament the top spot in the point standings. Only in 1976 Erstaustragung another player could be crowned as top scorer with Victor Schluktow Gretzky (USSR). The Canadian Hockey Association planned for 2005, a new edition of the competition, which was held in conjunction with the Česká Pojišťovna Cup Euro Hockey Tour from 31 August to 4 September 2005. Due to the lockout in the National Hockey League this tournament, however, beginning of June 2005 was canceled.