[GDT] 2026 Olympics Game #5: Semi-final- Canada vs. Finland

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

CP tends to skew a little older so I absolutely am surprised to see anyone say that 2002 isn’t a top three moment. With the only possible arguments to surpass it being 1972 and 1987. And don’t get me wrong I have a lot of love for 2010. To me it currently sits for behind those three hockey games.

I would also add Yzerman to your list of storylines. He’s often overlooked because of Lemieux and the Sakic connection with Iginla. But Stevie Y had a monster tournament on one leg.


I was watching a little bit of that four nations documentary on CBC. I was actually kind of interested until about 10 minutes in one of the pundits they were interviewing said that four nations was the fourth most important hockey game in Canadian history after 1972, 1987, 2010.

After he said something so monumentally idiotic I turned the channel. If they’re going to interview people who don’t know anything about hockey then I have no interest in watching. It’s not like he was young either the guy was for sure in his 40s.

With the 50 year drought, 96 collapse, 98 failure, 2002 felt like our legitimacy as a hockey power was in question and on the verge of proving over.

I’m gonna quote myself to add some more.

1996 World Cup was an interesting tourney. The first best on best since 87. Canada riding a high in junior championships. The double overtime vs Sweden was imo one of the most exciting international games Canada ever played. It was like an OT game 7.

The 98 Olympics were of course a huge disappointment.

Fast forward to 2002 and our junior team by this point hadn’t won gold since 97. We also hadn’t won a senior men’s world championship since 97. Then to finish 3rd in our group after getting whipped by Sweden, barely beating Germany and tying the Czechs.

Gretzky’s speech was front page news across the country because it felt like our program was in complete turmoil. All our stars were chokers and our best player ever couldn’t manage/select a roster for ####.

Many, many coaches in sports history have played the “us against the world” tactic and Wayne’s rant was perhaps the best ever. It wasn’t just us against the world. It was the world against us. The entire country rallied around the team. It was constantly compared to the 72 Esposito speech. Instead of dumping on our team we needed to rally around them. Support swelled and the team responded.

Someone earlier said the game wasn’t really close. Couldn’t be further from the truth. USA went ahead 1-0 and was 2-2 late in the 2nd until Canada pulled ahead.

Even at 4-2, after the late collapse at the 96 World Cup where Canada allowed a last second goal to tie, it felt like anything could happen.

It’s part of the reason Cole’s call of the sakic breakaway was so monumental. The entire country finally experienced collective ecstasy and relief that we would win.

[Nadal Fan]

People always talk about 98 how it was such a disaster but in actuality it was very unlucky and with not so many key injuries it might have been the greatest Team Canada ever assembled.

First you have the best player in the world Mario Lemieux retire the year previous (he put up 283 points the previous 2 years), then Paul Kariya goes down thanks to a horrific cross-check to the face by Gary Sister, and finally Joe Sakic gets injured at the games and misses the semi finals. Your telling me had those 3 players been available they couldn't have found a way to beat the Czechs? No shade at the Czechs they deserved Gold in 98 but had Lemieux, Kariya and Sakic played I'm convinced they win Gold in 98.

I mean you could have had prime Lemieux and Lindros as your 1/2 centers with Gretzky as your 3rd line center, or you could have reunited 66 and 99 and let them fly. Then you also had Patrick Roy in net for the only time he would start for Canada, and he was also really good, just Hasek was better. It's to bad it went down how it did because the 98 team could have been an all timer.

2006 is another story......

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

I don’t think 87 had as much cultural relevance as 72 or 2002. But it’s remembered for the quality of play. The Canadian and Soviet rosters were chock full of hall of famers who all consider is the best hockey they ever took part in.

And since it was before the wall came down, the CAN vs SOV three-game final was two systems pitted against each other. It was fascinating watching a whole roster of players who had never played in a game in the NHL but were a match for the very best the NHL had to offer.

By 87 there had been a few exhibition series with the Red Army coming through in 1983 and 1986 plus the Rendezvous 87 series. So between those and Canada cups in 76, 80, and 84. So the players were all pretty familiar with the other side by that time. Very different than in 72 where the players didn't know the Soviets. I remember the NHL teams having to furnish the Soviet teams with new gear when they did their exhibition tour, and the Red Army collected a fee for appearing at Rendezvous 87. So the mystery of 72 wasn't there.

By 87 the Soviet Union was showing cracks especially after the Chernobyl disaster, the stalemate in Afghanistan, and having had three leaders die in short order. But it was still the Iron curtain. Really it was their last stand and the end of that era. Shortly after that a few of those guys made their way to the NHL where some of that Russian style started influencing how NHL teams played

[dino7c]

Hasek stole it...maybe the best goalie of all time in his prime. Canada dominated the game and he stole it.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

By 87 there had been a few exhibition series with the Red Army coming through in 1983 and 1986 plus the Rendezvous 87 series. So between those and Canada cups in 76, 80, and 84. So the players were all pretty familiar with the other side by that time. Very different than in 72 where the players didn't know the Soviets. I remember the NHL teams having to furnish the Soviet teams with new gear when they did their exhibition tour, and the Red Army collected a fee for appearing at Rendezvous 87. So the mystery of 72 wasn't there.

By 87 the Soviet Union was showing cracks especially after the Chernobyl disaster, the stalemate in Afghanistan, and having had three leaders die in short order. But it was still the Iron curtain. Really it was their last stand and the end of that era. Shortly after that a few of those guys made their way to the NHL where some of that Russian style started influencing how NHL teams played

And the very first that was allowed to go was the Flames 12th round pick from 1988


https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/...y.php?pid=4381

[dammage79]

It's 2010 that's tops in my experience . The big W on home ice in front of probably the most rabid arena stuffed to the teets with fans in a city, province absolutely pinned to their radios and t. Vs to the point where literally nobody was working that didn't have to.

No , I was in Victoria and literally felt like the center of the universe for those 3 hours being on the coast. It was the most electric environment I've ever been in and I was a ferry fide away from the game.

No it's 2010, that felt.... Unbelievably important to the country from where I was standing.

[White Out 403]

I don't wanna overstate things, but this really is good versus evil. We're playing a country that voted in a pedophile protector, someone who is disrupting the world order, someone who aids a genocide. This is their leader, and these are the people that love him. I don't wanna just win, I want to crush them.

Also #### Dave Portnay and his stupid Boston accent and awful sports opinions.

[Jiri Hrdina]

That is over-stating things. In the broader sense in terms of what is happening around the world, this game doesn't matter at all and won't have any impact on the political landscape

In addition, not every American loves Trump. Not every American player on the team loves Trump. Some do. But likely some don't.

[Bingo]

I guess I'll have to stay away from any olympic discussion on here for the rest of the weekend.

The politics is unbearable.

Completely ruining what is a great competition and a hockey game for me.

Sad.

I personally don't care who people vote for. They are hockey players playing hockey and supporting their country. The world needs to chill out.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I personally don't care who people vote for.

You should. Don't ignore history's important lessons that are very applicable today.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Bill Bumface

You should. Don't ignore history's important lessons that are very applicable today.

No I shouldn't.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

That is over-stating things. In the broader sense in terms of what is happening around the world, this game doesn't matter at all and won't have any impact on the political landscape

In addition, not every American loves Trump. Not every American player on the team loves Trump. Some do. But likely some don't.

Yeah I dislike some of the MAGA American players but I’d dislike them regardless. Tkachuk and Guerin were dislikable POS’s before they came out supporting a child rapist.

It’s also important to remember that a lot of Canadians support Trump. Possibly even players on the Canadian hockey team. And I’m sure quite a few people on this forum.

It’s totally possible to cheer for Canada in hockey and support Trump and ice and protecting child rapists.

Whether or not we win or lose it’s not gonna change any of that.

[Coach]

People cite the political landscape as a big (maybe the main) reason the Summit Series is their #1. But today's generation should just focus on the hockey? Did the Summit Series break communism?

No one thinks a hockey game is going to topple Trump. That doesn't mean we can't use him as hate fuel.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Coach

People cite the political landscape as a big (maybe the main) reason the Summit Series is their #1. But today's generation should just focus on the hockey? Did the Summit Series break communism?

No one thinks a hockey game is going to topple Trump. That doesn't mean we can't use him as hate fuel.

Good point.


Could you actually imagine people in 72 being like ‘hey stop making this political and saying mean things about Stalin and his purges, you’re ruining my enjoyment of the sport’.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Yeah I dislike some of the MAGA American players but I’d dislike them regardless. Tkachuk and Guerin were dislikable POS’s before they came out supporting a child rapist.

It’s also important to remember that a lot of Canadians support Trump. Possibly even players on the Canadian hockey team. And I’m sure quite a few people on this forum.

It’s totally possible to cheer for Canada in hockey and support Trump and ice and protecting child rapists.

Whether or not we win or lose it’s not gonna change any of that.

Honestly, I don't think so. Not in a way that is genuine anyway. If you are a Trump supporter you are explicitly supporting his threats of annexation, and his governments attempts to break up this nation. You can't be a supporter of Canadian anything and a Trump supporter. Trump thinks Canada shouldn't exist.

[Bingo]

OK ... I'll just take a break.

I prefer to talk about hockey.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Bingo

OK ... I'll just take a break.

I prefer to talk about hockey.

You could go back literally one page and respond to the many posts about the hockey.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Coach

Honestly, I don't think so. Not in a way that is genuine anyway. If you are a Trump supporter you are explicitly supporting his threats of annexation, and his governments attempts to break up this nation. You can't be a supporter of Canadian anything and a Trump supporter. Trump thinks Canada shouldn't exist.

I disagree only because I think there’s people in this very thread who are clearly Trump supporters and are also cheering for Canada.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

I disagree only because I think there’s people in this very thread who are clearly Trump supporters and are also cheering for Canada.

Yeah, and I think they're disingenuous twats.

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I guess I'll have to stay away from any olympic discussion on here for the rest of the weekend.

The politics is unbearable.

Completely ruining what is a great competition and a hockey game for me.

Sad.

I personally don't care who people vote for. They are hockey players playing hockey and supporting their country. The world needs to chill out.

Sad indeed to think that politics doesn't play some role in international hockey. The Summit Series was about our way of life vs there's, on and off the ice.

america has been threatening our country with annexation, tariffs, and doing real harm to our economy and our citizens. I'm sorry/not sorry if this makes you uncomfortable.