1992 – CANADA 4, GERMANY 3 (SO)
When Canadian hockey fans think of Olympic hockey shootouts, the first that
come to mind are the 1998 semifinal loss to the Czech Republic or the 1994
gold medal defeat at the hands of Peter Forsberg and Sweden.
But two years before the loss in Lillehammer, Canada came out on top in the
first shootout in Olympic history, a quarter-final victory over Germany at
the 1992 Games in Albertville, France.
“We had practiced penalty shots quite a bit but I never imagined it would
ever come to life the way it did,” recalls defenceman Jason Woolley, who
scored one of the three Canadian goals in the shootout. “It was a momentum
builder for us at the time.”
With the game tied 2-2 after two, Canada looked as if it had taken the lead
for good when Kevin Dahl scored with just 6:06 to go, but the Germans
answered less than four minutes later, forcing overtime and, eventually, a
shootout.
After the first four shooters were unsuccessful, Woolley gave Canada the
lead to start off Round 3, wiring a wrist shot over the glove of German
netminder Helmut de Raaf.
Just don’t ask Woolley to remember the goal.
“We were so focused on winning at all costs. I don’t remember much other
than Dave King calling my name for the shootout. I was real nervous, until
I hit the ice. Then I was ready to shine.”
Wally Schreiber and Michael Rumrich traded goals in Round 4, keeping Canada
in the lead, but Andreas Brockmann converted the Germans’ last chance in
Round 5, forcing a sudden death round.
Canada’s 18-year-old phenom, Eric Lindros, served as the shootout hero,
deftly deking to the forehand to beat de Raaf, and veteran netminder Sean
Burke got just enough of Peter Draisaitl’s shot, which stopped on the goal
line, to send Canada to the semifinals.
OTHER GAMES
1928 – Hugh Plaxton scored six goals to help Canada, represented by the
University of Toronto Grads, hammer Great Britain 14-0 in the opening game
for both in St. Moritz.
1952 – Canada kept its perfect record intact and hit double-digits in goals
for the third time in as many games, getting three goals from George Abel
and shutout goaltending from Eric Paterson in an 11-0 win over Poland.
1980 – John Devaney, Kevin Primeau, Paul MacLean, Ron Davidson, Warren
Anderson and David Hindmarch had goals and Paul Pageau made 13 saves for
the shutout as Canada scored twice in each period to blank Japan 6-0.
1988 – Randy Gregg scored for Canada, but three goals in 6:09 late in the
first period were enough for Finland to earn a 3-1 win in Calgary, handing
the Canadians their lone preliminary round loss.
1998 – Joe Nieuwendyk and Shayne Corson scored in the first 2:13, Wayne
Gretzky had a pair of assists and Canada held Kazakhstan to just seven
shots over the final 40 minutes of a 4-1 quarter-final win in Nagano,
sending the Canadians to the semifinals.
2002 – Mario Lemieux scored twice and Joe Nieuwendyk tied the game with
3:24 to go as Canada wrapped up a 1-1-1 preliminary round in Salt Lake City
with a 3-3 tie with the Czech Republic.
2006 – Canada outshot Switzerland 49-16, including 24-1 in the third
period, but two goals from Canadian-born Paul DiPietro and spectacular
goaltending from Martin Gerber led the Swiss to a 2-0 victory, their first
ever over Canada at the Olympics.
2010 – Dany Heatley and Patrick Marleau had a goal and an assist each in
regulation time, and Sidney Crosby scored the lone goal in the shootout as
Canada earned a 3-2 win over Switzerland.