Team Canada 1976 was the greatest team ever!

Although Team Canada 2016 is certainly deserving of their lofty status as the favourite to win the upcoming World Cup of Hockey, as supremely skilled as the roster is, the squad is nowhere near being the best team this country has ever iced in international hockey competition. That lofty title has belonged for 40 years to Team Canada 1976 and quite frankly, that amazing team may never lose the designation.

Forty years ago, Team Canada ’76 did face a couple of challenges enroute to winning the first-ever Canada Cup – the tournament that was essentially the forerunner to today’s World Cup of Hockey – but those challenges were squashed.

The Canada Cup of Hockey 1976 featured teams from the then-Czechoslavakia, Finland, Sweden, Soviet Union and the United States. And easily the most talented team in the Canada Cup of Hockey 1976 was Team Canada. Not only did the squad have superstars at every position on the ice, but also when it came to the coaching staff, which included the likes of Scotty Bowman and Don Cherry.

Team Canada ’76 featured not only the professional international hockey debut of Bobby Orr, but also included the Golden Jet, Bobby Hull, who was not permitted to play for Team Canada 1972 because he had just jumped to the upstart rival World Hockey Association. While Hull was still playing in the WHA with the Winnipeg Jets. the powers that be allowed him to play for Canada this time around. Hull ended up tied for the most goals in the tournament with five.

Meanwhile playing for Team Canada ’76 was essentially the swan song of Orr’s incredible career as he played just 26 games over the next three seasons in the NHL –including having to sit out the entire ’77-’78 season due to his celebrated knee problems. Number Four finished second in Canada Cup tournament scoring, notching 2 goals and adding 7 assists,in 7 games, while also being named to the tournament’s first all star team. He was also the tournament MVP for the tourney as well.

In addition to Orr, Denis Potvin and the Big Three of the Montreal Canadiens – Larry Robinson, Serge Savard and Guy Lapointe – made up Team Canada’s blueline contingent in addition to Carol Vadnais and Jimmy Watson.

Up-front, the super-star studded roster included the likes of Bobby Clarke, Marcel Dionne, Phil Esposito, Guy Lafleur, Gilbert Perreault, Peter Mahovlich, Lanny McDonald and Darryl Sittler. Do you think any of these guys would have difficulty getting playing time on Team Canada 2016?

The one perceived weak stop for Team Canada ’76 was thought to be in goal, but Rogie Vachon of the Los Angeles Kings stepped up and played every minute of every game and registered a 1.39 GAA. Back-up puckstoppers Gerry Cheevers and Chico Resch never left the bench during a game.

Team Canada ’76 finished the round robin portion of the tournament with an overall record of 3-1-1. They outscored the opposition 22-10 with their sole loss coming during the round robin to the reigning world champion Czechs, who scored the only goal of the game on a powerplay. Canada went on to avenge that loss in the best-of-three tournament championship series, sweeping both games and outscoring the Czechs 11-4.

Flash forward four decades to 2016 and the World Cup of Hockey. While Team Canada 2016 should win the tournament and although the team does have some considerable star power, the squad will never be confused with Team Canada 1976.