Canada vs. Russia

Great Moments

Most hockey fans and pundits will argue that Canada vs. Russia is not the heated hockey battle it once was.

Nevertheless, we still love to reminisce about great games from the past...especially when the two hockey powers square off once more.

It all started with the historic Summit Series - and Paul Henderson's unforgettable performance - back in 1972 (right). In the years that followed, the two nations were always checking over their shoulders at one another on the ice. When they weren't battling it out in tournaments like the World Junior Hockey Championship and Canada Cup, they were measuring themselves against one another in the Winter Olympics.

With Canada set to face Russia once more in the 2007 Super Series, TSN.ca offers a look back at the off-and-on rivalry between the two nations over the last 30 years.

Note: "Russia" includes the Commonwealth of Independent States (Unified) team in 1992 and the Soviet Union up until 1991.

Olympics (Since 1980)

2006:
Canada: Lost 2-0 to Russia in quarterfinals in Torino
Russia: Won 2-0 over Canada in quarterfinals, lost to Czech Republic in bronze medal game
Notes: Alexander Ovechkin score game-winner, first time Canada failed to reach semifinals since full participation of NHL players began in 1998.

2002
Canada: Gold - beat USA 5-2 - Canada wins first gold medal since 1952
Russia: Bronze - beat Belarus 7-2
Notes: Teams did not play one another

1998
Russia: Silver - lost 1-0 to Czech Rep. - Pavel Bure led tournament with 9 goals
Canada: 4th, lost bronze 3-2 vs Finland
Notes: Teams did not play one another

1994
Canada: Silver - lost 3-2 in SO to Sweden
Russia: 4th - lost bronze 4-0 to Finland
Notes: Teams did not play one another. After a shootout goal by Peter Forsberg, Swedish goaltender Tommy Salo made an acrobatic save on Paul Kariya's close-in shot to win the game and the gold for Sweden.

1992
Unified Team (Soviet Union/Russia): Gold - beat Canada 3-1
Canada: Silver - lost 3-1 to Unified Team.
Notes: Joe Juneau led tournament with 15 points, Lindros had 11...Andrei Khomutov had 14 points, 7 goals tied with Nikolai Borschevsky and Teemu Selanne for tournament lead.

1988
Russia: Gold
Canada: 4th
Notes: KLM line combined for 39 points in 8 games...The event was round-robin, and Russia beat Canada in the final round.

1984
Russia: Gold
Canada: 4th
Notes: Round Robin - Russia shut out Canada in final round matchup. In fact, Canada did not score a goal in the two final round games.

1980
Russia: Silver
Canada: 6th
Notes: Canada missed out on final round by tiebreaking rule to Finland. Soviets were upset by USA but rebounded to beat Sweden in final game to take silver. Canada and Russia met in the preliminary round with Russia winning.

Additional Notes:
In 1972 and 1976, Canada did not send a team, having withdrawn from international amateur competition in 1969 to protest use of 'professional amateurs' by the USSR and other Eastern Bloc countries. The Soviets won gold both times without losing a game. Their only blemish was a tie against Sweden in 1972.

The Canada Cup

The 1980's provided the background for the height of the Cold War, and it carried over well into the Canada Cup. The rivalry between hockey's two superpowers started with the Soviets' dominating performance in 1984, right through to the 'Gretzky to Lemieux' period in 1987.

1981 Canada Cup | 1984 Canada Cup | 1987 Canada Cup

World Junior Hockey Championship (Since 1982)

Year	Round	Score	CAN	RUS
2007	Final	Canada 4, Russia 2	Gold	Silver
2006	Final	Canada 5, Russia 0	Gold	Silver
2005	Final	Canada 6, Russia 1	Gold	Silver
2003	Final	Russia 3, Canada 2	Silver	Gold
2002	Round Robin	Canada 5, Russia 2	Silver	Gold
	Final	Russia 5, Canada 4	Silver	Gold
2001	Round Robin	Russia 3, Canada 1	Bronze	7th
2000	Semifinals	Russia 3, Canada 2	Bronze	Silver
1999	Final	Russia 3, Canada 2 (OT)	Silver	Gold
1998	Quarterfinals	Russia 2, Canada 1 (OT)	8th	Silver
1997	Semifinals	Canada 3, Russia 2	Gold	Bronze
1996	Semifinals	Canada 4, Russia 3	Gold	Bronze
1995	Round Robin	Canada 8, Russia 5	Gold	Silver
1994	Round Robin	Canada 3, Russia 3	Gold	Bronze
1993	Round Robin	Canada 9, Russia 1	Gold	6th
1992	Round Robin	Russia 7, Canada 2	6th	Gold
1991	Round Robin	Canada 3, Russia 2	Gold	Silver
1990	Round Robin	Canada 6, Russia 4	Gold	Silver
1989	Round Robin	Russia 7, Canada 2	4th	Gold
1988	Round Robin	Canada 3, Russia 2	Gold	Silver
1987	Round Robin	Game Suspended	DQ	DQ
1986	Round Robin	Russia 4, Canada 1	Silver	Gold
1985	Round Robin	Canada 5, Russia 0	Gold	Bronze
1984	Round Robin	Canada 3, Russia 3	4th	Gold
1983	Round Robin	Russia 7, Canada 3	Bronze	Gold
1982	Round Robin	Canada 7, Russia 0	Gold	4th

The World Juniors on TSN and TSN.ca

VOD: Gold Medal Game - Canada vs. United States
VOD: Bronze Medal Game - Sweden vs. Switzerland
VOD Archive