The year 1996 was a bit of a bland one in North America. There were no world changing events. Jean Chretien was in his third year as Prime Minister, and Bill Clinton won re-election to a second term as President. But in the hockey world, 1996 was a huge year of change. It was the year that the United States defeated Canada to win the World Cup of Hockey. It marked the first time that the Americans defeated their rivals to the North to claim the title in an international tournament of the best professionals, and a huge psychological shift for Canada, who had to do some soul searching as the world hockey order was changing.
The teams split the first 2 games of the best-of-3 final in a tournament that featured 8 countries and games played in both Europe and North America. That set up a winner-take-all third and deciding game in Montreal’s Molson Centre. The game that September night got out to a slow start, with each team looking tentative, knowing how much was on the line. As the first period progressed, each team had a few good chances, but the American Mike Richter and the Canadian Curtis Joseph each made some nice saves to keep the score at 0-0.
Brett Hull then opened the scoring with a one-timer on the power play to make the score 1-0 USA. It was the sixth goal for Hull, who was having a great tournament. The Canadian crowd in Montreal was quiet and seemed almost to be foreseeing the impending doom of a Team Canada loss. Canada did build some momentum towards the end of the period, but Mike Richter continued to turn away some great scoring chances, two of which from Joe Sakic. It was 1-0 USA after one period.
Each team had a great 90s look for this one. It was an era where big graphic designs at the bottom of the sweater were in style. Canada were in their reds which featured a huge Canadian flag across the bottom at the back. The USA sweater featured huge waving red stripes at the bottom of the front and back. And there seemed to be a greater diversity of helmet design back then as compared to today’s game. One of the more memorable helmets of the era was the Jofa salad bowl that was sported by Theoren Fleury.
The second period was very similar to the first, with each team getting some decent chances, and neither side being able to score. Mike Richter continued his solid play as he stymied Vincent Damphousse on a short-handed breakaway. He also made a great stop on Eric Lindros, who was fed beautifully by Wayne Gretzky who was lurking behind the net. A Mike Richter hero story was starting to emerge, as Canada was outshooting the US 18-7 at about the halfway mark of the period. Canada responded by stepping up the physical play and storming the net in an attempt to rattle Richter.
The ice continued to be tilted, with most of the play taking place in the American end. The shots on goal were flashed on the screen again, and it was now 25-8 for Canada. American coach Ron Wilson decided it was time to call a time out and read the riot act to his side to try and break the Canadian dominance. The physical play continued to develop as each team was frustrated in being unable to score. In a heated battle, Keith Tkachuk broke his stick as he slashed Adam Foote. After a lengthy discussion between the officials, Foote was given a 4 minute double minor while Tkachuk took a 5 minute major and a game misconduct. Don’t forget, sticks didn’t break as easily back then, so it was quite a hack. It was clear how bitter this game was turning, and now the Americans were short one of their best players for the rest of the game. More scuffling and physical play ensued, and the Canadians finally scored as Eric Lindros tapped one in with just 6 seconds left in the second period on the power play. With that, the period which seemed to drag on forever ended at a 1-1 tie.
The third period featured a shift in play, with the Canadians dictating a bit less, and the Americans beginning to apply some more pressure of their own. In spite of the American push, Canada would be the team to score next, as Adam Foote gently tossed one on net that made it over the shoulder of a screened Mike Richter and in to the top corner. The crowd erupted and it seemed like Canada was once again on its way to another title.
But the last 5 minutes of the game would feature a stunning turn of events that would shock Canadian hockey fans everywhere and change hockey history. The tying goal originated from a point shot by Brian Leetch. It was a high fluttering shot and they went to video replay to see if it was deflected by a high stick. The verdict was that Brett Hull’s stick was low enough, and he was credited with the goal, but it was very close. The Americans got a burst of energy from this, and applied furious pressure. The death blow was then administered as Tony Amonte banged in a rebound in front. The crowd was silent as the only sounds were American players and a smattering of their fans cheering. Canada tried but could not reply. Team USA added two more quick goals, one being an empty-netter, to win the game 5-2 and claim the World Cup.
A lot of Canadians over the years have said that Brett Hull is really a Canadian, and that the goal he scored late in the third was indeed deflected by a high stick. And of course you could say that Canada deserved to win as they dominated most of the final game. But this was a very talented American team. Their roster was stacked and I think they deserve full credit for battling against the odds to defeat a great Canadian team on hostile territory. The win by the Americans ushered in a new era in international hockey. Canada’s main hockey rival was now the US, and the Cold War era of bipolar Canadian-Soviet dominance was replaced by a multitude of countries rising up to challenge for world hockey supremacy.
Not-so-instant-replay 