Team Canada and the Spengler Cup – A Success Story
Team Canada finished last year's Spengler Cup in second place and is participating in the tournament for the 28th consecutive year (18 finals and 11 tournament wins). The Canadians won the Spengler Cup when they appeared for the very first time in 1984 (the tournament didn't have final games back then). Their successful Spengler Cup history and popularity among the fans in Davos have made Team Canada a permanent starter until at least 2012, which is when their current contract runs out.
Most Recent Victory Four Years Ago
Team Canada has been a favourite for the Spengler Cup win whenever they've been among the participants. Their most extraordinary accomplishment so far have been their victories in four Spengler Cups in a row between 1995 and 1998. With host HC Davos and Team Canada, the same two teams made it to the final every year between 2000 and 2003: After two wins for Davos in 2000 and 2001, the Canadians beat back impressively and won the following two Spengler Cups. Their most recent victory dates back four years, when they defeated Salavat Yulayev Ufa 2:1 in the final in 2007.
Canada's goal is always the same, irrespective of the results in the past: They want to win every competition they take part in.
A Big TV Audience – Also Thanks to Canadian Supporters
There is a sense of mutual respect between Team Canada and HC Davos, and the Canadians are one of the reasons why the tournament is so attractive every year. Fredi Pargätzi explains: “There's always a great atmosphere when they’re in Davos, they play attractive hockey and they are the main reason why many people in Canada follow the Spengler Cup broadcasts on TV“.
In return, being invited to participate in this historic tournament is an honour for Team Canada’s players.
Both Established and Young Players
Among the 24 Canadians selected for this year's Spengler Cup, there are 20 players who are currently playing in Switzerland's first hockey league. "The players we have selected are Canadian ambassadors for the game and we are excited they will wear the maple leaf in Davos and represent Canada proudly," says Brad Pascall, vice-president of hockey operations / national teams.
Eight Canadians (Down, Kwiatkowski, Metropolit, Brett McLean, Murphy, Pelletier, Roche, Vigier) were part of last year's team, which lost the final against St Petersburg 3:4. Four players (Kwiatkowski, Metropolit, Murphy, Roest) were in action for Canada at the IIHF World Championship, where the team was eliminated by the Russians in the quarter finals (1:2). Further, Hockey Canada has also selected five players (Allen, Fata, McLean, Parent, Reid) who had previously represented Canada at IIHF World Junior Championships. Three of the players on Team Canada's Spengler Cup team this year play in the AHL and have been loaned by their NHL teams (Allen (St Louis Blues), McLean (Chicago Blackhawks), and Parent (Vancouver Canucks).
Head Coach with 500 NHL Wins
Head coach Marc Crawford will be behind Team Canada's bench, where he'll be assisted by assistant coaches Doug Shedden and Trent Yawney as well as goaltending consultant Ron Tugnutt. Marc Crawford was an NHL coach for 15 years (Quebec, Colorado, Vancouver, Los Angeles and Dallas) and was already in charge of Team Canada at the Olympic Games in 1998. During his time as a coach in the NHL, he won 500 games, something that’s only been achieved by 15 coaches in NHL history so far. In 1996, Crawford won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche and received the Jack Adams Award as the best NHL coach for his 1994 / 1995 season with Colorado. Further, he was elected AHL coach of the year with the St John's Maple Leafs in 1992 / 1993.
Brad Pascall is convinced that "these coaches have all the knowledge necessary to bring the Spengler Cup trophy back to Canada."
