Video of Day: 1996 World Cup: USA-Canada

July 5, 2009   ·   Derek Felix   ·   Jump to comments

Yesterday was a special day here in America as we celebrated Independence Day. Yes. The Fourth of July always brings wonderful fireworks like the ones shot from my cousin Lara here below:

Wonderful stuff indeed from her West New York home. This has always been such a significant day in our history as we remember those who sacrificed oh so much to turn us into the proud country we are today. Being a history buff as well, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that we live 20 minutes away from the historic Conference House in old Tottenville where our founding fathers met back on September 11, 1776 to discuss the American Revolution.

It’s still amazing to think when I visit that area during nice summer nights that such legendary people were there like Ben Franklin, John Adams and Edward Rutledge laying the foundation for what this country was built on. Yet even over two centuries later, it’s been preserved along with some of the nicest land out in these parts that really make you feel you’re somewhere else.

Sorry if my tribute was so lengthy but when it comes to this great day, it takes on extra meaning and is well appreciated. We might argue till the cows come home on the plight of our hockey teams but it’s this blogger’s opinion at least that we all share a common bond as Americans. Never forget it!

With it being such a patriotic day, NHL Network aired all three memorable 1996 World Cup games. A classic three-game series that saw our Team USA heroes fight back valiantly, rallying to win the final two games in Montreal including tournament scoring leader Brett Hull’s tying redirect and Tony Amonte’s memorable put back just 43 seconds later with 2:35 left which stood up as the decider in a 5-2 win, stunning our friendly Canadian neighbors up north.

That time sure was special for USA hockey. Of course, I took tremendous pride seeing tournament MVP Mike Richter stand on his head, giving his teammates a chance to beat a great Team Canada that featured Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Eric Lindros, Game One hero Steve Yzerman, Brendan Shanahan, Theo Fleury, Rod Brind’Amour, Claude Lemieux, Adam Graves, Paul Coffey, Rob Blake,  Scott Stevens and Scott Niedermayer. Curtis Joseph was the starting goalie over Martin Brodeur- a familiar storyline some six years later when Marty replaced Cujo leading Canada to Olympic gold over Richter and Team USA in Salt Lake.

In this outstanding championship series, the play was remarkable as both teams left everything out there. Last night, I caught the tail end of Game One in Philadelphia that saw Team USA rally to tie off a late draw when Keith Tkachuk’s rebound of a Brian Leetch shot was accidentally put in by Eric Desjardins. Most amusing was the look on Glen Sather’s face behind the bench after the tying goal that sent Philly into bedlum. Joel Otto won the draw from Graves, who took it following Messier getting tossed. And so, it went to overtime before Yzerman’s seeing eye tricky wrister went off Richter’s glove and in giving Canada the series lead.

Could USA- who boasted a great roster featuring captain Leetch, Chris Chelios, Gary Suter, Phil Housley, Mathieu Schneider, Derian Hatcher, Kevin Hatcher, Hull, Amonte, Tkachuk, John LeClair, Bill Guerin, Doug Weight, Pat Lafontaine, Mike Modano, Adam Deadmarsh, Bryan Smolinski, Brian Rolston and Richter- rise up in the face of adversity and win two straight in enemy territory?

When they lost that exciting Game 1, the task seemed daunting. How would they even get the series tied? It really felt impossible. And I can recall being so into it along with close buddy/Buffalo blogger Brian as we rooted hard for USA to win this epic series. Remember too that this was before the NHL signed off on pros going to the Olympics. So, the entire tournament had an Olympic feel.

We went to a USA-Russia game at Madison Square Garden that had an awesome international environment you usually get overseas. I remember being blown away by the turnout for both that game and the one involving Russia and Slovakia. The whistling. The wild chants. So many from other countries who’d made the trip in full support of their teams. It was cool as hell and left a lasting impression.

I’ll also never forget when Brian got into it with an incredibly biased Ranger fan over Brodeur. Some of the words exchanged were hilarious. Classic stuff. It probably would be better told by him. Those were preliminaries too yet you’d never have known by the energy in the building.

USA would show plenty of heart taking Game Two 5-2 to force the deciding game. Oddly enough, it wound up a similar end result by that exact margin. Though Canada was in control up a goal having peppered Richter during the second yet he made 23 of his 35 saves to keep his team alive.

They would rise up late in the third when it looked like Canada would prevail. First, a Leetch left point shot off a turnover was deflected in off Hull from the slot. Would it count? Without a doubt! Crossbar height though it went to video review. Then, with me so excited cause I could remember that feeling, before I could control myself, Amonte had put in a rebound past Joseph for the lead. At that moment, I was thinking:

‘Wow. They might do it!‘

Again due to Canada protests, it went upstairs. But it was plainly obvious it wasn’t distinct kicking motion and looked like Amonte had gotten a piece with his stick. Just like that, USA led 3-2 with an eternity left. With Canada, that’s how it felt looking at their roster. There was Gretzky nearly close to finishing off a broken play. But our Team USA stood up to the challenge getting a fluky empty netter before Deadmarsh put the exclamation on one of the greatest international victories this country’s seen.

So exciting and so pumped. It truly was a special tournament. One which brought close rivalry fans together for a great cause. Fitting that NHL Network would air it on the Fourth of July.

Here’s all the goals from the memorable Game 3 that stunned one nation while another celebrated:

And another version of Hull’s tying goal and Amonte’s winner from exciting familiar Hockey Hall of Fame tandem Mike “Doc” Emrick and John “JD” Davidson:

Indeed, it still is special all this time later. How I’d love to see this tournament brought back on a more consistent basis. But as long as the league remains entrenched in the Olympics, it probably will never have the same feel.

A classic series and special moment in hockey nonetheless.