In the enthusiastic days following the landmark Canada-USSR series of 1972, there were predictions that hockey would grow and become the number two sport in the world, second only to soccer.
Fans in North America wanted to see the best hockey players in the world no matter where they came from. A tournament called the Canada Cup was created, so that North American fans could see national teams from Canada and the United States, composed of mainly NHL professionals, take on the national teams of the USSR, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Sweden, Finland, and one bonus team (usually Germany). The Canada Cup went on to be re-named the World Cup in 1996.
This promised great things for the future of international hockey. Unfortunately, for all but one further competition in 2004, the tournament has been nearly abandoned. The next tournament is scheduled for 2016.
Its disappearance has reflected the stagnation that has engulfed international ice hockey since the promising days of 1972.
In 42 years, only Switzerland can claim that the quality of its hockey has improved, and the situation in women’s hockey is horrendous. No other countries can claim to play at the level of Canada and the United States, and the Olympics are threatening to drop the sport because of the disparity.
Several factors have caused the World Cup of Hockey to fall by the wayside.
First, the disappearance of the Iron Curtain in 1989 meant that Russian, Czech, and Slovak players were free to come and join the NHL. North American fans no longer had to wait until special competitions were organized to see them. Now these players were members of their own NHL teams.
Second, the commanding position of the NHL in hockey. Unlike soccer which has a supreme international organization called FIFA, the NHL answers to no one. The World Cup is held when the NHL wants it to be held, at irregular intervals. Even participation in the Olympics is not mandatory for the NHL. International commitments are clearly subordinate to making profits.
Third, the problem of insurance and the rugged nature of the sport. NHL teams are reluctant to allow their players to participate in extra-curricular hockey tournaments for fear that the players whom they have invested large sums of money in, will get hurt.
Fourth is American arrogance about international competition. While Canada has a more favorable attitude towards international competition, the United States, except in the case of the Olympics, verges on disrespectful. The champions of the NBA and the NFL are “world” champions even though they have never played a single championship playoff game outside of their borders against an international opponent. In baseball, the last playoff round is called the “world” series even though only two playoff series have ever been played outside the United States. The World Baseball Classic is continually belittled by American fans who cling to the myth that American baseball players are the best in the world despite the fact that the United States has done poorly in this tournament.
Fifth is the poor job that the “big seven” hockey countries (Canada, United States, Russia, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Sweden, and Finland) have done in developing the quality of hockey beyond their borders. When only one country, Switzerland, can really claim that the quality of its hockey has improved in 42 years, it testifies to the neglect the “big seven” have shown. The neglect usually shows at international competitions where other countries participate and are usually eliminated in the first round and scores like 8-1, 10-0 are common. Germany, Italy, Norway, Denmark, Latvia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, France, Poland and Austria could all be vastly improved. Quality in international curling has spread. Hockey could learn a lesson.
The World Cup of hockey could be revived and be better than ever, but reforms need to take place.
- Hold it at regular intervals, not at the NHL’s whim. If it is not a mandatory regular event, it is not going to get any respect but be seen as just some passing fancy. Supposedly, after 2016, it will be held every two years. If that is true, that is a step in the right direction.
- Standardize the number of participating countries. This means that the tournament cannot be limited to just the top eight countries. If hockey is to spread and be the “number 2 sport behind soccer”, this tournament has to include up and coming hockey powers. Probably 12 teams to start, and an eventual increase to 16 should be considered. This also implies point number 3…
- Develop hockey beyond the “big seven” borders. This will be good not only for international hockey, but for the NHL as well, since they plan to expand their league, and fans complain that the product is “watered down”. When a team steps on the ice at this caliber of a tournament, it should be worthy of being there. There still will be some routs but it should not be because one team comes from Denmark and the other from Canada, that it will be an automatic mismatch. The first round of this tournament should be just as interesting as the last round and that will only happen if hockey is developed in other countries.
- The NHL and the United States need to show more respect for international competition. Professional hockey is no longer merely about Canadians and Americans playing in the NHL. There is now a significant number of Europeans to be found as players, coaches, scouts, and in management. Their contribution has to be recognized and respected. Hockey, more than any other North American “big four” sport, is truly international, with non-North Americans playing a significant part. The NHL itself should be part of creating an international hockey body that it is going to respect and recognize. In soccer, FIFA and the World Cup are bigger than any national professional body. If international hockey, including a regular world cup tournament, is going to be developed, this organizational framework should be in place.
- Work out some way dealing with the insurance and injury problem. In reality, international tournaments are usually safer than the NHL because goony behavior is less tolerated and stupid penalties at this level of competition can mean a quick exit from the tournament.
- Play the tournament in ways so that fans in other countries get a chance to see the top players, particularly in the finals. The Canada/World Cup has been set up by Canadians and Americans, so the tournament is North American focused. However, if it’s international, other countries have to be allowed to host the finals and semi-finals. FIFA is very conscious of rotating soccer’s World Cup so that it truly is an international competition. It has been in held in North America, South America, Asia and Africa as well as Europe. Hockey’s World Cup has to be the same way.
The World Cup of Hockey does not need to remain dormant or become a fond memory of the past. It should be the crowning symbol of the popularity of hockey internationally and a means of developing hockey world-wide.
Thanks for reading!
For the latest in sports injury news, check out our friends at Sports Injury Alert.
Have you tuned into Last Word On Sports Radio? LWOS is pleased to bring you 24/7 sports radio to your PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone. What are you waiting for? GO!
Interested in writing for us? Find out more by visiting our “Write for Us” page.
Main Photo:
