Following Canada's third straight gold medal at the World Hockey Junior Championship, I have come to a firm conclusion. 1) I need to buy a new hockey stick and 2) Canada versus Russia has to be considered among the greatest international sports rivalry in the world.
It's a strong assertion, I know, given that the sports world is filled with many rivalries cut along not just cultural lines but religious ones as well. Be it in cricket, rugby, basketball, and even baseball. Soccer is probably the only sport where rivalries run deep on so many levels. But soccer is not the focus of this piece. Shinny is.
Hockey probably offers pound for pound more rivalries than any sport. Think of it, the sport has seven traditional powers: the Czech Republic, Slovakia (both of whom once played under the Czechoslovakian flag) Sweden, Finland, Russia (and the former Soviet Union), Canada and the United States. All are rivals. To the student of geography and history, the natural rivalries among these nations are obvious: Czechs vs. Slovaks, Swedes vs. Finns, Canadians vs. Americans. National boundaries not enough for you? The Soviet Union versus Czechoslovakia was a battle between communist states. The United States versus the same godless Soviets was a battle between capitalism and communism. Liberty versus tyranny. Lada vs. Geo. Good versus evil. Superman vs. er, any Russian villain. And so on.
Gary Bettman and Bud Selig would sell their hair for such inbred animosity.
Men's Championships
Canada: 23 gold, 11 silver, 10 bronze- 44 total medals in 59 participation.
Russia/Soviet Union: 22 gold, 7 silver, 5 bronze, 34 in 34 total medals in participation.
Head to head in finals 3-2 for Canada
For bronze medal 4-0 for Canada
Men's World Junior Hockey Championships (U-20)
Russia/Soviet Union/CIS: 15-9-5 29 medals
Canada: 13-8-5 26 medals
Head to head in finals 7-7
For bronze 0-1
Canada/World Cup
Canada: 5 gold, 1 silver
Soviet Union: 1 gold, 1 silver
Head to head in finals Canada 3-1*
*1987 best of three won by Canada 2-1
Olympics
Canada: 9-5-2 16 medals
Russia/Soviet Union: 7-1-1 9 medals
Head to head in gold medal match 0-1 (Unified Team)
For bronze medal 1-0
Canada vs. USSR Summit Series
1972 - Canada 4-3-1
1974 - Soviet Union 4-1-3
Combined Olympics, World Cup, Men's World's and World Junior's:
Canada: 50 gold 25 silver 17 bronze - 92 total
Russia: 45 gold, 18 silver, 11 bronze - 74 total
Overall head to head in select key matches: Canada leads 23-18-4
Recently, the matches played between the United States and Canada have been outstanding. Since the U.S. won the World Cup in 1996, there have been some special games between the two at the World Cup, Olympics and World Juniors - the most recent being the semi-final game between Team Canada and Team USA at the WJHC. It's too bad someone had to lose in a shoot-out. A most ridiculous way to settle a team sport. It's also unfortunate the attendance was abysmal for such a horny, hockey mad country like Sweden. As I have stated in a previous post, the WJHC tournament is vastly under rated.
Article comments
1 - Dan Rather
Yes I have to agree, that Canada should just quietly take the victory and never speak of it again.
Although I'm not sure about the Russians and Canadians hating each other. When Russia is playing USA we always root for the Russians. Plus what I hate about us is when we win something we are always so cocky, goign around and screaming to the world: "We are number one etc" (I've seen Don Cherry do that). Especially this year, this year it was just luck, Russians were as strong as us, just not as lucky.
2 - alessandro nicolo
Hello Dan Rather, if it is indeed your real name ;<)
The thing that annoys me about the cheering is that we hate it when Americans do it. We thnk they are so arrogant. Yet, we act the exact same way when we win in hockey. The Canadian hockey fan is boorish when he or she wants to be. I am not for booing anyone's anthem. It's plain stupid. I always root for Team USA. I have family in friends in America. How could I not?
3 - choco
if you choose to ignore the '72 series as one of the most important and entertaining and epic hockey series' in the history of (any) sport, than you must be under 40, and devoid of understanding of what (grit and courage) was required of each team to not only participate, but succeed in an arena never before experienced by anyone in that context.
4 - alessandro nicolo
I'm talking about the quality of the game. Of the series. I have a keen sense of history and seen, read, heard and spoke to enough hockey players to understand '72. I watched the ENTIRE series. For me, '87 is better. No one is ignoring '72 and its impact.
5 - OnlYBeat
Ice warriors GO!
6 - bk
1972 meant more than any other series - and a lot more was at stake.
albeit, there is a TON at stake for canada going into vancouver in february 2010; a win and the bad taste from the past two world championships (and the residue from Torino) disappears. A loss, however.....well, let's not even go there.