Everyone played well, with special acknowledgement to the DDT line Joe Thornton-Kris Draper and Shane Doan. Doan scored the winning goal. Mario Lemieux played his best game, and Joe Sakic looked dangerous all night. Scott Niedermayer and Adam Foote were studs on defense, and Marty Brodeur overcame discomfort with his bad wrist to shut the door.

Team Canada Report Card

Violence In Toronto
Nineteen people were arrested and 11 police officers injured as thousands of ecstatic celebrants took to Toronto's streets after Team Canada defeated Finland 3-2 in the World Cup of Hockey final.

TV Viewership Strong
An average of nearly 4 million Canadian homes watched the World Cup final on CBC, with a peak audience of nearly 5 million.

Sept 14, 2004
Canada vs. Finland Tonight
As Canada prepares to faceoff against Finland, Wayne Gretzky has some words of advice: Enjoy the experience. One guy who hopes to enjoy the experience is Martin Brodeur, who expects to return from a wrist injury. However Wade Redden likely will sit though he may be healthy enough to play.

Canada may have home ice advantage, but Finnish fans are cheering on their team boisterously. The Finnish media has also gone World Cup Crazy. They know Canada is a slight favorite, though Miika Kiprusoff evens the odds. The Finns just hope to get a good night's sleep with their hotel the victim of middle of the night false fire alarms.

Sept 13, 2004
Canada and Finland face-off for the World Cup of Hockey on Tuesday.

The Finns are riding the unbelievable goaltending of Miika Kiprusoff and the national heroics of Saku Koivu. Meanwhile Canada faced their first adversity against the proud and relentless Czech Republic

Canada will have to be disciplined against the buzzsaw Finns. Although generally the Finns are smaller and not as individually skilled as the Czechs, they play a perfect team game and employ similar strategy. The difference will likely be Kiprusoff, who will provide stronger goaltending than any netminder facing Canada so far. Calgary Flames' teammate Jarome Iginla insists Kipper has no weaknesses.

Some news and notes - Martin Brodeur continues to nurse a sore wrist, and his status for Tuesday's game remains in question. As much as Roberto Luongo saved Canada's rear ends on Saturday, Brodeur is needed in nets. Wade Redden appears ready to return, although maybe not at a full 100%. It will be interesting if he gets in the lineup. One possibility could be for him to replace Robyn Regehr. Regehr missed practice on Sunday with an undisclosed injury.

Sept 11, 2004
Lecavalier Scores In OT, Canada Wins Thriller
Earlier this month I wrote an article for The Hockey News highlighting the top 10 games ever played in September. I will definitely have to update that article to include the Canada 4 - Czech Republic 3 (OT) game in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.

The game was an absolute thriller, with Canada fortunate to escape. The Czechs did an incredible job of pressuring the Canadian "D" and were incredibly strong on the puck. They outplayed Canada for long stretches, and were very deserving of advancing! Vincent Lecavalier and Roberto Luongo managed to find ways to win the game for Canada.

Brodeur Won't Play In Semi-Final
Canada's incredible run in the World Cup is in jeopardy now that their best player, goaltender Martin Brodeur, is injured an not expected to play against the Czechs in today's semi-final. Robert Luongo is expected to get the start instead. Luongo has stepped into tough situations before on the international stage.

Wade Redden is also available for tonight's game, but is not expected to play. 

Speaking of the international stage, this could very likely be the last time we see Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr on the same sheet of ice.

Finland Through To The Finals
Team Finland played a committed game plan out-working and out-executed Team USA in a 2-1 victory. 

Finland's top players - Koivu, Jokinen, Selanne, Ruutu - played very well in the third period, and was deserving of the victory. 

Sept 10, 2004
USA - Finland Tonight
The United States and Finland duke it out for the first of wo spots in Tuesday's final. The Finns are on Mission: Possible, while the US turn to the Odd Couple. It should make for some interesting TV tonight.

Jaromir Jagr, Martin Brodeur Injured?
There are reports out there that Martin Brodeur is injured with what maybe be a bad bruise on his catching hand. The same report looks at the health situation of Jaromir Jagr.

Or maybe both teams are playing head games? One thing is for sure: The Czechs continue to be unpredictable.

Team Canada vs Team Quebec?
With all this talk about what if the Czechs and Slovaks combined teams liked they used to do, Globe and Mail columnist Eric Duhatschek looks what Team Canada and Team Quebec would look like if Canada had its own political separation in the 1990s.

TV Audience Is Down
According to William Houston of the Globe and Mail: "The CBC's audiences for the World Cup are down from 1996. The network drew its largest audience for Wednesday's quarter-final game, 1.764 million. The next most watched game was the Canada-U.S. opener, 1.739 million. Eight years ago, Canada-Russia drew 1.899 million.

Last Saturday, Canada-Russia produced 1.541 million. For the 1996 three-game final (Canada-U.S.), the CBC pulled in 2.4 million, 2.8 million and 3.9 million. If next Tuesday's one-game final involves the same teams, the CBC should draw close to four million viewers.

In the United States, ESPN2, which has aired the prime-time games, earned a .4 rating (362,000 households) for each of the U.S. games against Canada, Russia and Slovakia. That's double ESPN2's .2 average rating for a National Hockey League telecast last season. But the main channel, ESPN, earned an average 1.2 rating (1.02 million households) for two Stanley Cup final telecasts in 2004."

Sept 9, 2004
Canada Moves On
After a tight first period, Canada exploded in the second period en route to a convincing 5-0 win over Slovakia. Jarome Iginla scored twice, while Vincent Lecavalier, Joe Sakic and Ryan Smyth added singles. Martin Brodeur recorded shutout. Team Canada Report Card

It was nice to see Canada's talented trio of Mario Lemieux, Joe Sakic and Jarome Iginla breakout. The line combined for 8 points. Mario still needs to score a goal, as does Dany Heatley.

Slovakia had serious injury troubles and lacked NHL quality goaltending, but the bottom line for them ultimately was they just could not score.

Toronto Game Not A Sell Out
Its hard to believe, but the Team Canada game in Toronto tonight was not a sell out. The attendance was 18,786, 33 seats shy of a sell-out. I suspect the seats were last minute single seat releases that the NHL had reserved and then released just hours to game time. Attendance in St. Paul has also been a problem, with the early start times being blamed there.

Semi-Finals Set
The United States will play Finland on Friday night, while Canada will host the Czech Republic on Saturday, with the winners meeting in Tuesday's final.

Finland is very devoted to a team game, although the recent Raimo Summanen-Janne Niinimaa spat may still negatively affect them. If they can advance to the finals, it could become Finland's greatest day. The Americans have found their game and are selling themselves as the underdog. The game should be a classic.

Canada meanwhile is clicking on all cylinders and have not faced any real adversity. But the Czechs are all smiles, and will offer the best goaltending they have faced yet, and with Jaromir Jagr apparently motivated for the moment, the Czechs are just as likely to win. Both sides remember the 1998 Olympic showdown very vividly.

Jagr Injured?
Jaromir Jagr missed practice on Thursday with a hip problem. Is he really injured, or are the Czechs playing possum?

Sept 8, 2004
USA Eliminates Russia
Keith Tkachuk scored 4 goals, while Mike Modano added 4 assists as Team USA downed Russia 5-3. The USA seems to have found the fountain of youth, even without Brett Hull for the second game in a row. Was Hull even in the building? CBC mentioned something about him being at a golf course, but I'm not sure if that was a sarcastic remark or not. Maybe he and Janne Niinimaa played a round. Regardless, Hull is refusing to offer an apology.

Tkachuk's 4 Goals Equals Record
Keith Tkachuk's 4 goal performance against the Russians equals a World Cup record. Here are the other hat trick performances in World Cup history:

4 Viktor Zhluktov (Soviet Union) Sep. 7, 1976 vs Finland 11-3
4 Keith Tkachuk (USA) Sept 7, 2004 vs Russia 5-3
3 Rick Martin (Canada) Sep.2,1976 vs Finland 11-2
3 Sergei Shepelev (Soviet Union) Sep.13,1981 vs Canada
3 Wayne Gretzky (Canada) Sep.1, 1984 vs West Germany 7-2
3 Håkan Loob (Sweden) Sep.12, 1984 vs USA 9-2
3 Sergei Makarov (Soviet Union) Sep.2, 1987 vs Finland 7-4
3 Mario Lemieux (Canada) Sep.2, 1987 vs USA 3-2
3 Mario Lemieux (Canada) Sep.13, 1987 vs Soviet Union 6-5 OT
3 Keith Tkachuk (USA) Sep 3, 1996 vs Slovakia 9-3

Modano's 4 assists ties for the tournaments 2nd greatest performance:

5 Wayne Gretzky (Canada) Sept 13, 1987 vs Soviet Union 6-5 OT
4 Mike Modano (USA) Sept 7, 2004 vs Russia 5-3
4 Gilbert Perreault (Canada) Sept 1, 1981 vs. Finland 9-0
4 Kent Nilsson (Sweden) Sept 12, 1984 vs USA 9-2

Czechs Embarrass Swedes
The Czech Republic stunned Sweden 6-1 in order to advance in the World Cup of Hockey. Sweden, playing in front of a disappointed Stockholm crowd, were unceremoniously booed off the ice.

Redden Not Likely To Play On Wednesday
Wade Redden is getting better but is not expected to play against Slovakia. 

Jarome Iginla will be playing, and hopefully will find his game, or as Paul Hunter puts it, Iggy's Looking For His Pop.

How To Improve World Cup
Damien Cox makes a living criticizing the NHL, so take his suggestions on how to improve the World Cup of Hockey with a grain of salt. He raises good points about having the finals in other countries and committed future tournaments.

Sept 7, 2004
USA Confident Against Russians
While there is much Hull-abaloo regarding Brett Hull's situation, the Americans are confident they can defeat the Russians can expect a different result. The Russians embarrassed the USA last week, but after being dismissed by pretty much everybody, the Russians are ready.

Swedes Prepared To Bounce Czechs
In today's other playoff game, Sweden takes on the Czech Republic. Sweden never seems to pick the easy route. Maybe that's good. In 2002 they took the easy route in the Olympics, but lost to Belarus.

Meanwhile, I've gone on many radio stations across the country and publicly showed my hockey brilliance by stating lookout for Sweden, the Sedin Twins will make a big impact. The Sedins continue to ride the pine. In spite of that, I do know what I'm talking about and you should still buy the book :o)

The book is full over Canada Cup memories, which is what Mats Sundin has been recalling as of late.

Canada - Slovakia On Wednesday
Canada continues to be confident as they head into the playoffs against Slovakia. But are they too confident? Can Slovakia be Canada's Belarus?

Slovakia has no interest in playing the role of Belarus, they have every intention of winning the game and the tournament. Slovakia is concentrating on improving their defense, although Zdeno Chara has a bad right thumb. He is expected to play on Wednesday, as is Canada's Simon Gagne who has a bad "lower body."

Martin Brodeur has a goals-against Martin Brodeur has a goals-against average of 1.00 after round-robin play, having allowed one goal in each of the three games. His save percentage is .961.

Sept 6, 2004
Hull Of A Storm Brewing In USA 
No, we're not talking about any of the seemingly numerous hurricanes/tropical storms that are battering the south-eastern states. We're talking about Brett Hull's apparent unhappiness about being benched against Slovakia for the final game of the USA's round robin. Hull insulted fans and stormed out of practice early on Sunday.

Hull showed up for practice shocked to find he had been assigned the same green sweater as other Friday scrubs, and he didn't like it at all. He left the ice 10 minutes before his teammates, and declined interview requests. When asked what about the fans, Hull apparently replied that he no longer cares about the fans.

Niinimaa Is Finished, Too
Hull hasn't completely left his team like Janne Niinimaa has. Niinimaa and coach Raimo Summanen have had a long simmering feud which boiled over to the personal level today, and Niinimaa had enough and left the team. All reports suggest that Finnish players do not blame Niinimaa whatsoever, and the Summanen went to far. Summanen is something of a Finnish Mike Keenan, and has several feuds with players over the years.

Needless to say, this could have a detrimental effect on Team Finland if the coach has lost his players.

Jagr's Swan Song?
Jaromir Jagr is not leaving the Czech national team, at least not immediately. But he's making it very clear that this is likely his last appearance for the national team. Perhaps Jagr is planning to retire before the 2006 Olympics?

Finland Escapes From Germany In First Quarterfinal
A good effort by the Germans when the game counted the most couldn't quite stop the heavily favoured Finns from advancing in the World Cup of Hockey.

Russians Continue To Impress
The Russians remain the darling of the media, impressing the press with their high skill level and dedication and pride. Much of the talk heading into the tournament surrounded the players who quit on Team Russia, but the players who remain are doing a heck of a job.

One of the players all of North America has their eyes on was Alexander Ovechkin. He made his North America debut against Slovakia, and definitely impressed. Kudos also go out to Alex Kovalev, Artem Chubarov and coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov. 

Slovakia Prepares For Canada
Canada and Slovakia have a quarterfinal showdown on Wednesday. Slovakia is preparing by trying to shore up their defense. That won't be easy if Zdeno Chara is injured. His right hand appears to be a problem. He used his left hand to shake hands with the Russians after Sunday night's round robin game. Regardless, the Slovaks need their high skilled forwards to start doing some dirty work if they hope to advance.

Canada's injuries are also a concern. It is unlikely Wade Redden will play against Slovakia, and on Monday Simon Gagne was give the day to rest with what is believed to be a bruised foot. He is expected to be fine for the game against Slovakia, however.

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Tournament History

1976 Canada Cup

1981 Canada Cup

1984 Canada Cup

1987 Canada Cup

1991 Canada Cup

1996 World Cup

2004 World Cup

Oddball Stories

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Legends of Team Canada Book Oct 2004