Following the exciting 1972 Summit Series between Canada and the Soviet Union, interest in a world professional ice hockey championship increased substantially. The Canada Cup would bring together the top hockey-playing countries in the world.
It was held in 1976, 1981, 1984, 1987 and 1991. It featured competition between national teams of Canada, Czechoslovakia, Finland, the Soviet Union, Sweden, the United States, and (in 1984 only, taking the place of Finland) West Germany. All the tournaments were won by Canada except the 1981 tournament, which was won by the Soviet Union. The 1987 event is often called one of the most spectacular in hockey history.
In the 2004 World Cup of Hockey tournament Canada won the championship, after it defeated Finland in the final match and the Czech Republic in the semifinals.
The World Cup of Hockey is not to be confused with the Ice Hockey World Championships, an annual tournament played since 1930.
In particular, the World Cup of Hockey is organized by the National Hockey League and not the International Ice Hockey Federation, with its games played under NHL rules and not those of the IIHF.
Feeds |
Contact