International TournamentsDiscuss International Tournaments like the WJC, Olympics, and World Cup, as they take place, or discuss past tournaments. performances.
Since I'm born in the late '80s this is probably scewed towards modern results. Perhaps someone more knowledgeble in the history of hockey can come up with better examples.
Sweden vs. Canada
1994 Olympic final
or 1962 World Championship (first win in competitive game)
Sweden vs. Czech Republic
2006 Olympic semi-final
or
2006 World Championship final
Sweden vs. Finland
2006 Olympic final
Sweden vs. Russia/USSR
1991 World Championship final round
Sweden vs. Slovakia
unsure, we havn't meet them in a major final game and they beat us in both the 2006 and 2010 Olympics. We haven't beaten them in the knockout stage in any of the major tournaments we have won since the split of Czechoslovakia (1994 Olympics 4-4 tie, 1998 World Championships didn't meet, 2006 Olympics 3-0 loss, 2006 World Championships 5-2 loss). The biggest win is probably some World Championship quarter- or semifinal.
Sweden vs. USA
Don't think we have knocked them out in a major best-on-best tournament. Theses are the best results I could find:
1998 Olympics round-robin
or
1962 World Championships round-robin
Win: 2006 Olympics 2006 Olympics Preliminary Round Fin - Can 2 - 0
Loss: 2004 World Cup Final: Can - Fin 3 - 2
Czech Republic/ Czechoslovakia
Win: 1992 IIHF WC Semifinal Czhechoslovakia 2 - 2 Finland (0 - 2 Shootout) Loss: 1999 IIHF WC Final (in that tournament you needed to win 2 games to win a gold so first game: Czech - Finland 3 - 1, Second Finland - Czech 4 - 1. Then a final sudden death overtime perioud for the gold and Jan Hlavac 16.23. scored the golden medal for the Czech republic/ 2001 IIHF Final Czech - Finland 3 - 2 (Overtime).
USA
Win: 2004 World Cup Semifinal: Fin - USA 2 - 1 Loss: 2010 Olympics Semifinal: USA - Fin 6 - 1
Sweden
Win: 1995 IIHF WC Final Fin - Swe 4 - 1/ 2011 IIHF WC Fin - Swe 6 - 1
Loss: 2006 Olympics Final Swe - Fin 3 - 2
Slovakia
Win: 2010 Olympics bronze medal game Finland - Slovakia 5 - 2 Loss: 2000 IIHF WC Semifinal Finland - Slovakia 1 - 3
Russia/ Soviet Union
Win: 1988 Olympics Final Round (back in the day there wasn't finals or semifinals but a group of 6 teams that made it to the final round, Soviet Union had already ensured Gold with 4 wins in the final round and Finland bronze but if Finland would win Soviet Union they would won the Silver medal, and they did. This was the first medal of any kind for Finland in any major hockey tournament. 1988 Olympics Final Round Finland - Soviet Union 2 - 1 Loss: 1998 Olympics Semifinal Russia - Finland 7 - 4 (Pavel Bure scored 5 goals!!!)
2010 is bigger than 2002? I know 2010 was in Canada but Canada had not won a gold medal in the Olympics in 50 years and further more were avenging 1996.
2010 is bigger than 2002? I know 2010 was in Canada but Canada had not won a gold medal in the Olympics in 50 years and further more were avenging 1996.
The 50 year thing is way overblown. People in Canada didn't really care a great deal about losing in the Olympics before NHL players were involved. It was just expected. Winning in 2010 was a once in a generation opportunity to win on home ice, and it was a chance to make up for the debacle in Turin. Winning in 2002 was about making up for the painful loss in 1998 more than the loss in 1996, although that added to it. Ultimately it just seemed like winning while the Olympics were in Canada trumped all of the other plotlines in 2002. The celebrations were definitely crazier anyway.
The 50 year thing is way overblown. People in Canada didn't really care a great deal about losing in the Olympics before NHL players were involved. It was just expected. Winning in 2010 was a once in a generation opportunity to win on home ice, and it was a chance to make up for the debacle in Turin. Winning in 2002 was about making up for the painful loss in 1998 more than the loss in 1996, although that added to it. Ultimately it just seemed like winning while the Olympics were in Canada trumped all of the other plotlines in 2002. The celebrations were definitely crazier anyway.
Maybe it's just events being fresher in memory because I remember a lot of ink being split back in the lead up to 2002. Canada had lost to the US in 1996, lost in 1998 badly and hadn't won anything since 1991. Canadian writers were bemoaning the death of Canadian hockey, and American writers, the few there were, were proclaiming American dominance of the sport. All complete bull turd, but I guess you have to write something in your column. Anyway, far be it for me to tell Canadians which game was bigger but my personal opinion is that 2002 was a more important win.
Maybe it's just events being fresher in memory because I remember a lot of ink being split back in the lead up to 2002. Canada had lost to the US in 1996, lost in 1998 badly and hadn't won anything since 1991. Canadian writers were bemoaning the death of Canadian hockey, and American writers, the few there were, were proclaiming American dominance of the sport. All complete bull turd, but I guess you have to write something in your column. Anyway, far be it for me to tell Canadians which game was bigger but my personal opinion is that 2002 was a more important win.
I'm sure there are a great many Canadians who will agree with you. There were lots of interesting storylines heading into both gold medal games.
I say that the fact that 2010 ended in OT and there was a definitive moment when the whole country knew Canada won makes it more important then 02 which was a 5-2 the closest it came to a moment like Crosby's goal was Sakic's 2nd
Win: 2010 Olympics bronze medal game Finland - Slovakia 5 - 2
I was soooo sad after this game. It looked very good after 2 Slovak goals. But then Olli Jokinen showed his skills.
And then exactly this player didn't realized the decisive shutout in the New York Rangers last regular season game. After that he is public enemy Nr. 1 for many of Slovak fans.
I say that the fact that 2010 ended in OT and there was a definitive moment when the whole country knew Canada won makes it more important then 02 which was a 5-2 the closest it came to a moment like Crosby's goal was Sakic's 2nd
Not sure it makes it more important, certainly more exciting.
Slovakia vs. Canada
Win: 2002 and 2012 WC quarterfinal (it´s pretty much the same, but if I had to pick one then probably 2002 because it ended with gold)
Loss: 2010 Olympics semifinal
Slovakia vs. Czech republic
Win: 2003 WC bronze medal game/2012 WC semifinal
Loss: 2006 Olympics quarterfinal (one might argue for 2000 WC final, but I think this one actually hurt far more)
Slovakia vs. Finland
Win: 2000 WC semifinal
Loss: 2010 Olympics bronze medal game (that one still hurts)
Slovakia vs. Russia
Win: 2002 WC Final
Loss: 1994 Olympics Quarterfinal
Slovakia vs. Sweden
Win: 2002 WC Semifinal (2010 Olympics quarterfinal follows after that, I know Olympics are Olympics, but I don´t think I will ever forget the 2002 game)
Slovakia vs. USA
Win: Hm, I can´t really recall one right now
Loss: 2004 WC bronze medal game (really don´t like recalling that one)
Sweden vs. Russia/USSR
1991 World Championship final round
Would probably rank the 1957 finals higher. Soviet being so sure of winning that they didn't have a recording of the Swedish national anthem and the players resorting to singing "Helan går" alone makes it worthy of the top spot.
Win: 2010 Olympics bronze medal game Finland - Slovakia 5 - 2
That one was 5-3, actually. Finland was down by 1-3, but then Hagman made it 2-3 to start the rally. Jokinen with the 3-3 equalizer and 4-3 GWG. The end was a nailbiter because Slovakia intensely sought to make it even again before Filppula buried an empty netter only seconds away from the horn.
