Calgary Cup

The Calgary Cup was a four-team ice hockey tournament held from December 26, 1986 to January 3, 1987 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It was a preview event for the 1988 Winter Olympics, and featured the national hockey teams of Canada, Czechoslovakia, the Soviet Union and the United States. All games were held at the Olympic Saddledome.

The tournament was won by Czechoslovakia, who defeated the Soviet Union 3–2 in the gold medal game. Canada won the bronze.cite news |first=Eric |last=Duhatschek |title=Czech victory opens a few eyes |publisher=Calgary Herald |date=1987-01-04 |page=F1] Jiri Hrdina was named the tournament's top forward, Jaroslav Benak was named top defenceman and Evgeny Belosheikin the top goaltender. Legendary Soviet goaltender Vladislav Tretiak was the honourary chairman of the tournament.cite news |first=Ken |last=Bradshaw |title=Soviet 'minder perfect |publisher=Calgary Sun |date=1986-12-29 |page=25]

Many future National Hockey League players played in the Calgary Cup. In addition to Hrdina, Brett Hull, Dominik Hasek, Joe Nieuwendyk, Zarley Zalapski, Cliff Ronning, Viacheslav Fetisov and Sergei Makarov, among others, suited up for their respective national teams.cite news |first=Eric |last=Duhatschek |title=Championship is pivotal |publisher=Calgary Herald |date=1986-12-27 |page=E1-E2]

Game play

The Calgary Cup was organized as one of several "preview events" for the 1988 Winter Olympics, set to be held in Calgary ten months after this tournament. It featured the national teams of Canada and the United States, as international hockey's dominant powers of the time, the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia, in a round robin tournament that would see the top two teams meet in a gold medal game, and the bottom two play for the bronze. The tournament would also help the Canadian and American teams prepare for the European style of play. [cite news |first=Eric |last=Duhatschek |title=Coaches ready for international style of hockey |publisher=Calgary Herald |date=1986-12-27 |page=E1]

The tournament opened on December 27, 1986 with the host Canadians facing the United States. The American team, which had formed only 36 hours previous, had only one full workout together prior to the game. They nonetheless shocked the Canadians, winning by a 5–3 score on the strength of two goals by Brett Hull.cite news |first=Ken |last=Bradshaw |title=What a stunner! |publisher=Calgary Sun |date=1986-12-28 |page=SS1] Obviously disappointed with his team's result, Canadian coach Dave King stated: "We're obviously behind the eight ball. We have to go out and beat the Czechs and Russians, I guess. That'll be fun." [cite news |first=Eric |last=Duhatschek |title=Canadian balloon deflates fast |publisher=Calgary Herald |date=1986-12-28 |page=D1]

The second game saw the Soviet Union defeat the Czechs 4–0 on the strength of a shutout by Soviet goaltender Evgeny Belosheikin. The goaltender, who had previously been suspended prior to the tournament for what was rumoured to be alcohol problems, earned comparisons to legendary Soviet goaltender Vladislav Tretiak. [cite news |first=Allan |last=Maki |title=Iron Curtain still strong |publisher=Calgary Herald |date=1986-12-29 |page=D1] The Czechs rebounded the next night with a 6–3 victory over the Canadians in a game that left the home squad feeling much better than following the loss to the Americans.cite news |first=Ken |last=Bradshaw |title=Czech-book hockey |publisher=Calgary Sun |date=1986-12-30 |page=34]

The Soviets pummelled the Americans 10–1 in the fourth game as eight different Soviet players scored. Describing the loss, American coach Craig Patrick said the Soviets made the Americans look like "the guys who travel with the Harlem Globetrotters. At times, you can look pretty foolish." [cite news |first=Allan |last=Maki |title=Salt is poured on USA wounds |publisher=Calgary Herald |date=1986-12-31 |page=34] The Soviets then defeated Canada 4–1 on New Year's Eve in a game that was tied at one heading to the third period. The Russians outshot Canada 45–19 in the contest.cite news |first=Rita |last=Mingo |title=Canucks lose stalwarts |publisher=Calgary Sun |date=1987-01-02 |page=56]

The final game of the round robin saw Czechoslovakia embarrass the United States 11–2 on the strength of a Jiri Hrdina hat trick.cite news |first=Ken |last=Bradshaw |title=The Flaming Czech |publisher=Calgary Sun |date=1987-01-02 |page=55] As a result, the Czechs earned a match-up against the Soviet Union for the gold medal, while Canada would face the Americans for the bronze.

Results

Final standings

Hockeybox2
bg = #eeeeee
date = December 27, 1986
time = 7:00PM
team1 = ih-rt|CAN
score = 3–5
periods = ( 1–1 , 2–3 , 0–1 )

team2 = ih|USA
goals1 = First period
Ronning 2:33 (ES)
Second period
Felix 0:19 (PP)
Nieuwendyk 6:09 (PP)
Third period
"No scoring"
goals2 = First period
Hull 4:44 (ES)
Second period
Hull 7:04 (ES)
Johnson 8:28 (ES)
Middendorf 17:22 (ES)
Third period
Micheletti 17:21 (ES)
stadium = Olympic Saddledome
attendance = 13,175Hockeybox2
bg = #eeffff
date = December 28, 1986
time = 7:00PM
team1 = ih-rt|TCH
score = 0–4
periods = ( 0–2 , 0–1 , 0–1 )

team2 = ih|URS
goals1 = First period
"No scoring"
Second period
"No scoring"
Third period
"No scoring"
goals2 = First period
Fetisov 3:17 (PP)
Khomutov 7:35 (ES)
Second period
Varnakov 16:49 (ES)
Third period
Khymlev 2:44 (ES)
stadium = Olympic Saddledome
attendance = 9,996Hockeybox2
bg = #eeeeee
date = December 28, 1986
time = 7:00PM
team1 = ih-rt|TCH
score = 6–3
periods = ( 3–1 , 1–1 , 2–1 )

team2 = ih|CAN
goals1 = First period
Vlk 9:51 (ES)
Cajka 12:27 (ES)
Cerny18:58 (ES)
Second period
Cerny 5:16 (ES)
"'Third period
Volek 13:00 (ES)
Volek 19:57 (EN)
goals2 = First period
Sherven 10:31 (ES)
Second period
Berry 19:41 (ES)
Third period
Nieuwendyk 14:50 (ES)
stadium = Olympic Saddledome
attendance = 13,240Hockeybox2
bg = #eeffff
date = December 30, 1986
time = 7:00PM
team1 = ih-rt|URS
score = 10–1
periods = ( 3–0 , 5–1 , 2–0 )
[cite news |first=Ken |last=Bradshaw |title=Soviets put end to miracle dream |publisher=Calgary Sun |date=1986-12-31 |page=39]
team2 = ih|USA
goals1 = First period
Khymlev 7:30 (ES)
Kamensky 10:20 (PP)
Krutov 12:58
Second period
Svetlov 1:43
Priakhin 2:54 (ES)
Khmlyev 6:24 (PP)
Makarov 7:35 (PP)
Fetisov 17:24 (PP)
Third period
Kamensky 8:51 (ES)
Khomutov 16:07 (ES)
goals2 = First period
"No scoring"
Second period
Mersch 5:37 (SH)
Third period
"No scoring"
stadium = Olympic Saddledome
attendance = 10,777Hockeybox2
bg = #eeeeee
date = December 31, 1986
time = 7:00PM
team1 = ih-rt|URS
score = 4–1
periods = ( 1–0 , 0–1 , 3–0 )

team2 = ih|CAN
goals1 = First period
Kamensky 16:46 (ES)
Second period
"No scoring"
Third period
Makarov 4:11 (ES)
Semenov 8:16 (ES)
Larionov 19:48 (EN)
goals2 = First period
"No scoring"
Second period
Vilgrain 10:51 (ES)
Third period
"No scoring"
stadium = Olympic Saddledome
attendance = 13,240Hockeybox2
bg = #eeffff
date = January 1, 1987
time = 11:30AM
team1 = ih-rt|USA
score = 2–11
periods = ( 1–4 , 0–5 , 1–2 )

team2 = ih|TCH
goals1 = First period
Vargas 18:16 (ES)
Second period
"No scoring"
Third period
Vargas 4:15 (ES)
goals2 = First period
Hrdina 5:46 (PP)
Dolezal 12:24 (ES)
Stavjana 17:04 (ES)
Valek 19:15 (ES)
Second period
Hrdina 1:06 (ES)
Dolana 3:02 (ES)
Vlk 15:40 (ES)
Sejba 16:25 (ES)
Volek 17:13 (ES)
Third period
Pasek 15:14 (ES)
Hrdina 19:47 (ES)
stadium = Olympic Saddledome
attendance = 11,988

;Bronze medal gameHockeybox2
bg = #eeeeee
date = January 2, 1987
time = 7:00PM
team1 = ih-rt|CAN
score = 6–1
periods = ( 1–0 , 3–1 , 2–0 )
[cite news |first=Rita |last=Mingo |title=Canada's road paved with bronze |publisher=Calgary Sun |date=1987-01-04 |page=SS4]
team2 = ih|USA
goals1 = First period
Ronning 14:27 (PP)
Second period
Zalapski 1:48 (PP)
Stiles 7:36 (ES)
Schreiber 8:19 (SH)
Third period
Habscheid 8:29 (ES)
Habscheid 16:16 (ES)
goals2 = First period
"No scoring"
Second period
Turcotte 15:26 (ES)
Third period
"No scoring"
stadium = Olympic Saddledome
attendance = 12,519

;Gold medal gameHockeybox2
bg = #eeffff
date = January 3, 1987
time = 7:00PM
team1 = ih-rt|TCH
score = 3–2
periods = ( 2–0 , 1–0 , 0–2 )

team2 = ih|URS
goals1 = First period
Cerni 3:04 (ES)
Ruzicka 8:16 (PP)
Second period
Pasek 10:24 (PP)
Third period
"No scoring"
goals2 = First period
"No scoring"
Second period
"No scoring"
Third period
Svetlov 14:18
Khomutov 19:36 (ES)
stadium = Olympic Saddledome
attendance = 16,343

ee also

*Ice hockey at the 1988 Winter Olympics
*Ice hockey in Calgary

References