Never earlier than have two nations performed in three successive World Championship gold-medal video games, and it might probably now be mentioned a true and wealthy rivalry is growing between these nations who respect one another a lot. Finland’s hockey improvement got here a lot later than Canada’s, and far slower, so the Canada-Finland rivalry that we all know right this moment takes a bit of time to analyse. It didn’t occur in a single day the way in which the Canada-Soviet Union rivalry did in 1954.
Indeed, it wasn’t till 1968 that Finland beat Canada for the primary time, 6-4 on the Olympics in Grenoble, France. That 5-2 rating is a monumental one in Finnish hockey historical past, and it paved the way in which for higher ends in the approaching many years. They beat Canada once more in 1980, a end result that didn’t imply a lot to the ultimate placings besides that Finland went to the medal spherical (ending fourth) and Canada didn’t. Suomi received for a third time on the Olympics, 3-1, proper in Calgary in 1988, through the preliminary spherical.
That sport was maybe the primary actually necessary Finland win over Canada as a result of it counted as a carry-over end result within the medal spherical as effectively and helped Finland win silver, its first-ever Olympic medal. And the loss additionally pushed Canada into fourth place and off the rostrum within the first Olympic Winter Games ever performed in Canada.
But the most important Olympic victory for Suomi was certainly 1998 in Nagano when Wayne Gretzky and the NHL participated for the primary time. In that event Canada and Finland met within the bronze-medal sport, the primary time they performed a sport towards one another with a medal on the road. Finland received, 3-2, taking a medal straight at Canada’s expense.
There was a comparable trajectory in World Championship play. Finland didn’t win a sport towards Canada till 1978, after 14 straight losses courting again to 1951, however that end result had little that means within the standings or medals. But in 1994, they met within the gold-medal sport, their most necessary matchup ever, and Canada eked out a 2-1 win in a penalty-shot shootout because of a Luc Robitaille aim. In each 2000 and 2006, the groups met for bronze, a sport Canada historically has hassle getting motivated for, and the Finns fortunately claimed each video games by 2-1 and 5-0 scores.
In between, although, there was one other monumental sport. The groups made it to the finals of the 2004 World Cup, in Toronto, and the hosts received that by the narrowest of margins, 3-2. Tuomo Ruutu tied the sport 2-2 late within the second, however Shane Doan scored within the first minute of the third and Canada skated to victory. As effectively, Canada continued to dominate on the World Championships, beating Finland for gold in 2007, 4-2, and once more in 2016, 2-0.
Notice a sample? When bronze was on the road, Finland had no drawback successful, however when gold or a main championship was on the road, Canada proved superior. Time and once more. Well, all that ended, lastly, in 2019, within the gold-medal sport in Bratislava. With the rating tied 1-1 within the center interval, captain Marko Anttila took issues into his personal palms and scored twice, giving Finland a 3-1 win and – lastly – a gold medal at Canada’s expense. It was a victory for the ages.
Canada, nonetheless, reasserted itself two years later, beating Finland in additional time 3-2 for gold. That set the stage for 2022 in Tampere’s new and sumptuous Nokia Arena. Fans began to have a good time after Joel Armia made it 3-1 for Finland with six minutes to play, however Canada mounted a rally with two late objectives to silence the group. When Max Comtois tied the sport at 18:36, primarily taking a positive Finland victory now to additional time, you may have heard a pin drop.
Finland, nonetheless, had the expertise by this time, expertise in successful, and, as necessary, expertise in beating Canada within the massive sport. They received in additional time, on a energy play, to reclaim what Canada had taken from them.
Now? Well, you’ll be able to’t assist however really feel the groups are kind of even on the World Championship stage. The closing mountain, the final word problem, may are available a proposed 2024 World Cup or a 2026 Olympics with NHL participation. Canada has been to the finals of each Canada Cup/World Cup competitors, and misplaced solely in 1981 and 1996, so if Finland might one way or the other prise that trophy from the Canadian grip, effectively, a new and extra spectacular victory can have been had by Suomi.
For now, followers can benefit from the workforce’s present streak, a dynasty the likes of which the nation has by no means seen earlier than in some 80 years of IIHF play.