Canadian Olympic Hockey—Page 2

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Good but not Great

After severing ties with the International Ice Hockey Federation in 1969, Canada did not participate in the 1972 and 1976 Olympic hockey tournaments.

In 1980, the late Herb Brooks coached a team of American collegiate players to a 4-3 win over the Soviet Union en route to the gold medal. Team Canada, with future Edmonton Oilers Glenn Anderson and Randy Gregg, finished sixth.

The Canadians were looking for redemption at the 1984 tournament. After defeating the U.S. in the opening game, Canada ran up four more wins before losing to Czechoslovakia. The Czechs would lose in the gold-medal game to the Soviets while Canada would finish fourth behind Sweden.

Several months before the start of the 1988 Olympic hockey tournament in Calgary, it was decided that teams could use professionals. Goaltender Andy Moog, who was involved in a contract dispute with the Oilers, suited up for Canada. Oilers defenceman Randy Gregg also played, as did Brian Bradley and Jim Peplinski of the Calgary Flames. Despite the bolstered roster, Canada finished fourth while the Soviet Union went on to win its second straight gold.

Back to the Podium

Canada would play for gold in 1992. Led by Joe Juneau and Eric Lindros, the Canucks lost in the final to the Unified Team (formerly the Soviet Union).

Since the International Olympic Committee decided to have the Winter and Summer Olympics in different years, the Winter Olympics were held just two years later. The 1994 tourney featured a thrilling shootout in the final game between Canada and Sweden. Peter Forsberg’s winning goal gave Sweden its first Olympic championship while Canada claimed its second straight silver.

Nagano Nightmare

The entire nation was anxious for the 1998 Olympic hockey tournament in Nagano, Japan. The NHL made its best players available to each country and the Canadians were early favourites.

But the Czech Republic got past Canada in the semi-finals when star goaltender Dominik Hasek stopped all five shots in a tie-breaking shootout. The Czechs would defeat Russia 1-0 to win the gold while Finland doubled Canada 4-2 for the bronze. Canada would avenge its disappointing showing four years later.

Lucky Loonie

After a 50-year dry spell, Canada won the gold medal in Salt Lake City with a 5-2 win over the United States in the final. Edmonton native and Calgary Flames star Jarome Iginla tallied two goals and an assist in the win over the Americans. Edmonton Oilers Ryan Smyth and Eric Brewer were also part of the golden effort. Canada began the tournament on a sour note, losing 5-2 to Sweden. But after a win over Germany and a tie with the Czech Republic, the Canadians defeated Finland in the quarter-finals before bombing Belarus in the semi-finals. Edmonton-based ice-maker Trent Evans would embed a lucky loonie at centre ice in the E-Center before the gold-medal game. Following Team Canada's proud victory in Salt Lake City, the fabled coin made its way to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

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