1996 World Cup Of Hockey Results
The 1996 World Cup of Hockey was the first-ever ice hockey tournament that involved national teams organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). Eight teams participated in the event, which took place from August 31 to September 14, 1996, across four venues in two countries: Canada and the United States. The tournament's format consisted of a round-robin group stage followed by knockout playoffs. The United States emerged as the champion, beating Canada 2-1 in a thrilling final.
Group A
Group A consisted of four teams: the United States, Canada, Slovakia, and Italy. The teams played one another in a round-robin format, with the top two teams qualifying for the semifinals.
Results:
- Canada 3-2 Slovakia
- United States 5-2 Italy
- Canada 4-3 United States
- Slovakia 6-2 Italy
- United States 7-1 Slovakia
- Canada 8-1 Italy
Canada and the United States both finished with a record of 2-1, but Canada claimed first place in Group A thanks to their head-to-head victory over the United States.
Group B
Group B also featured four teams: Russia, Sweden, Finland, and Germany. The teams played each other once in a round-robin format, with the top two teams advancing to the semifinals.
Results:
- Sweden 6-1 Germany
- Russia 5-2 Finland
- Russia 7-3 Germany
- Sweden 5-3 Finland
- Finland 7-0 Germany
- Russia 1-0 Sweden
Russia and Sweden both finished with a record of 2-1, but Russia claimed first place in Group B thanks to their head-to-head victory over Sweden.
Semifinals
The semifinals saw the top two teams from each group face off against each other in a single-elimination format.
Results:
- Russia 7-4 Canada
- United States 7-3 Sweden
The United States and Russia advanced to the final.
Final
The final between the United States and Russia took place on September 14, 1996, at the Molson Centre in Montreal, Canada.
Result:
- United States 2-1 Russia
The United States won the game and the tournament, with Tony Amonte scoring the game-winning goal in the third period.
Conclusion
The 1996 World Cup of Hockey was a hugely successful tournament, attracting large crowds and showcasing some of the best ice hockey talent in the world. The tournament's format was praised for its simplicity and the quality of play on display was impressive. The United States emerged as deserved winners, beating a strong Russian team in the final to claim the trophy. The tournament helped pave the way for the establishment of the World Cup of Hockey as a regular fixture on the international ice hockey calendar.
