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Canada's Olympic Hockey History

Falcons First The Winnipeg Falcons earned their top-rank status by winning the Allan Cup — Canada’s highest prize for senior men’s amateur hockey. Right after this victory, the team was told to board a ship to Europe, bound for the Olympics.

After nearly two weeks of travel, they

The Toronto Varsity Grads at the 1928 Winter Games.

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arrived in Antwerp. As soon as the hockey event began, it was clear that the Falcons were by far the best players in the tournament.

Their awesome skills and speed thrilled spectators and shocked the other teams.

In the end, the Falcons defeated their opponents by a combined score of 29-1.

And just like that, they became the first hockey team in the world to earn an Olympic gold medal.

Start of a Streak The first official Olympic Winter Games took place in 1924, in Chamonix, France. Once again, Canada sent its top-ranked club team to represent the country in hockey. This time it was the Toronto Granites.

Just like the Falcons before them, the Granites took home the gold — easily.

They outplayed every single team they went up against. In their match against Switzerland, the Granites won 33-0! They also established a world record by scoring 110 goals in five games.

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Gold and a Silver Lining The Olympic hockey wins kept coming. In 1928, the Toronto Varsity Grads represented Canada at the Games in St. Moritz, Switzerland. When Olympic officials saw the team practising before the start of the tournament, they realized the Grads were in a class of their own. So, the team was moved straight to the final round without having to play a single game beforehand.

Not surprisingly, the Grads took home the gold. Four years later, the Winnipeg Hockey Club won gold for Canada again at the 1932 Games.

Canada’s Olympic hockey gold-streak was interrupted in 1936. That year, our team won the silver medal instead. But

End of an Era The Winter Olympics were not held during World War II (1939–1945). But when the Games started up again in 1948, the RCAF Flyers took first place in the hockey tournament, resuming Canada’s winning streak. At the following Games, in Oslo, Norway, the mighty Edmonton Mercurys won hockey gold for Canada — again.

By this time, Canadian hockey fans had grown to expect gold medals. No one could have guessed that things were about to change…

The Edmonton Mercurys at the 1952 Winter Games.

The RCAF Flyers at the 1948 Winter Games.

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here’s the funny part: the gold-winning team (Great Britain) was made up almost entirely of Canadian players!

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Top right and bottom left: Hockey Hall of Fame. Bottom middle: STRTRSTR/CP Photo. Bottom Right: STRSCANPIX/CP Photo.

Here’s a brain-buster for you: How did hockey become an Olympic event four years before the first official Winter Games?

Give up?

It was played at the Summer Olympics.

That’s right! The first Olympic hockey event took place at the 1920 Summer Games in Antwerp, Belgium.

Seven countries competed in the tournament that year, including Canada.

Back then, only amateur athletes were permitted to participate in the Olympics. So Canada sent its top-ranked amateur team to represent the nation. That team was the Winnipeg Falcons.

The Winnipeg Falcons at the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium.

Team Canada wins gold in men's hockey at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

New Blood In 1956, a major shift took place in Olympic hockey. That year, the Soviet Union competed at the Winter Games for the first time. Their hockey team was good — very good. To the shock of many Canadians, the Soviets won the gold medal that year. (Canada took home the bronze.)

The Canadians took the silver four years later. But for the next several decades, the Soviet Union replaced Canada as the team to beat.

Team Canada Debuts As the Soviets dominated Olympic hockey, Canada tried to find ways to defeat them.

In the early 1960s, Canadian officials decided to stop sending our top amateur hockey team to the Olympics. Instead, the best amateur players from across the country were assembled into a national team.

Team Canada played its first-ever Olympic hockey tournament at the 1964 Games. They finished in fourth place, but claimed Olympic bronze four years later.

were restricted to amateur athletes. But the Soviet team played hockey full-time and even got paid by their government. This, Canada argued, made them professionals, not amateurs. To protest this unfair advantage, Canada boycotted Olympic hockey in 1972 and 1976.

Team Canada returned in 1980, but finished out of the medals. It was the same story in 1984 and 1988. But Canada did capture silver in the 1992 and 1994 Olympic hockey tournaments.

Amateur vs. Professional

Two Big Firsts, Two Big Disappointments

There was no doubt that the Soviet team played impressive hockey. But was it fair hockey? Canada didn’t think so.

Olympic rules stated that the Games

The 1998 Games marked a big change in Olympic hockey. For the first time, NHL players were free to join their national teams and compete in the Games. Canadians were

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thrilled that their best professional players would finally be representing the nation.

There was another big first that year!

Women’s hockey made its Olympic debut!

Six teams competed, including Canada’s, which was ranked the best women’s team in the world.

Both Canadian hockey teams were considered early favourites to win gold. But it wasn’t to be. The women lost the gold medal game to the United States, settling for silver. And the men’s team finished out of the medals completely. It was a big blow to Canadian hockey.

Golden Glory The 2002 Games marked Canada’s return to Olympic hockey glory. It started on February 21, when the Canadian women’s

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team faced the United States again in the finals. This time, Canada won the gold, beating the US in a 3-2 showdown!

Three days later, the men’s team also faced the US in the finals. It was exactly 50 years TO THE DAY that Canada had won its last gold medal in men’s hockey. Could the team finally end their gold medal drought? Yes! They beat the US 5-2!

Canadians recently chose these two golden victories as their all-time favourite Winter Olympic moments.

Looking Forward At the 2006 Turin Games, Canada’s women’s team once again claimed gold, while the men’s team placed out of the medals.

Whatever happens at the 2010 Games, there’s no doubt that many incredible Canadian Olympic hockey moments are yet to come!

Gold in the Ice In 2002, Canada’s Olympic hockey teams had a top-secret good luck charm hidden under centre ice. Go to kayakmag.ca to find out what it was!

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Photos p. 20–21: Tom Hanson/CP Photos

Team Canada wins gold in women's hockey at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.