Looking at the NHL’s most interesting international hockey records
In the lead-up to the 4 Nations Face-Off, the National Hockey League has added a new wing to its online record book.
The league created a section dedicated to records from international hockey tournaments. It features stats featuring hundreds of legends of the game. The only caveat is that it only features records from previous Canada Cup and World Cup of Hockey events, excluding the Olympics and IIHF Men’s World Championships.
That said, the site highlights many memorable performances from yesteryear, including an era when NHLers weren’t allowed to go to the Olympics, giving fans an opportunity to see some best-on-best hockey featuring legends like Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Viacheslav Fetisov.
Let’s look at some of the most interesting records set during NHL-sanctioned international hockey over the years.
Most Points from 2016 World Cup of Hockey: Sidney Crosby, Canada (10 Points)
Let’s start with the most recent example of a best-on-best tournament. Just over two years removed from the last time the NHL allowed its players to compete in the Winter Olympics, the league brought back the World Cup of Hockey for the first time in 12 years. It led to an exciting tournament, most notably because of the involvement of Team North America.
However, it was one of the established superstars who stood out above the rest. While everyone remembers Brad Marchand’s heroics for Team Canada, it was his linemate, captain Sidney Crosby, who was the best player in the tournament. The Pittsburgh Penguins legend led the tournament in assists (7) and points, earning most valuable player honors as Canada swept Team Europe in the best-of-three final.
Most International Games Played: Wayne Gretzky, 39 (Canada)
Even though he only had the chance to play in one Olympics, The Great One was still one of the most dominant players in international hockey and was a mainstay on the Team Canada roster during the ’80s and ’90s. From the 1981 Canada Cup to the 1996 World Cup, Gretzky played all but one game, missing just one game during the 1991 Canada Cup in which U.S. defenseman Gary Suter leveled him in Game 1 of the final.
In the five tournaments he appeared in, Gretzky led the tournament in scoring every time, posting 64 points, an average of 1.64 points per game.
The bookends of Gretzky’s international career (outside of Nagano in 1998) resulted in losses in the final. Canada infamously was hounded 8-1 by the Soviet Union in the 1981 Canada Cup championship game, with the Canadians falling to the Americans in a wild best-of-three in 1996.
Most Points in a Single Tournament: Wayne Gretzky, Canada (21 points at 1987 Canada Cup)
One of the tournaments that Gretzky led was arguably one of the most fantastic displays hockey has ever seen. The 1987 Canada Cup saw numerous future Hall of Famers in action, with Gretzky besting of them all.
Granted, he had some notable help as he played on a line with Lemieux. The duo found ways to connect during games that we’ve only seen a few times throughout the game’s history. Along with Gretzky’s 21 points (18 of which were assists), Lemieux led the tournament with 11 goals, as the two centermen were the only players to average two points per game.
Gretzky and Lemieux shined in the final against the Soviet Union. In a three-game set that saw 33 goals scored, the two combined for 16 points, with Gretzky notching five assists in a Game 2 win for Canada. Lemieux scored the overtime winner in that game from Gretzky, with No. 99 setting up Lemieux for the memorable Cup-clinching goal in Game 3.
The late Dan Kelly, if you’d please…
Most Saves in a Single Game: Evgeni Belosheikin, Soviet Union (55 saves on Sept. 13, 1987)
In that epic final, and despite the number of goals allowed, Soviet netminder Evgeni Belosheikin did everything he could to give his team a chance to win. The second game of the series saw Canada pour on the offense in order to stay alive, outshooting the U.S.S.R. 61-50 in a game that took over 90 minutes to complete.
Belosheikin, who only played three games in the entire Canada Cup behind Sergei Mylnikov, had to face a barrage of shots from the get-go, with Canada posting 17 shots in the first period and another 13 in the middle frame. In the second overtime, the Canadians fired 13 shots on goal, with Belosheikin only getting beat in the mad scramble that led to Lemieux’s game-winner.
Most Wins in a Career by a Goaltender: Mike Richter, United States (9 wins)
A name many Canadians remember in infamy, Mike Richter was the driving force behind the United States’ success in 1991 and 1996. The former New York Ranger led the Americans to the final in the ’91 Canada Cup (where Canada swept them), finishing with four wins.
Then, in the first-ever World Cup of Hockey, Richter stole the show, posting a 5-1 record and leading the tournament in save percentage (.923) and saves (179). His efforts led to the Americans’ upset win over Canada, with Richter taking home the MVP, as well as a nice Harley Davidson motorcycle.
Richter also has the most saves in a career than any other goaltender in international competition, making 387 saves in 13 games. That’s an average of 30 stops per contest. The Stanley Cup champion also leads all netminders in shots against (424) as well.
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