Canada Cup

Definition: Created in 1976 by the NHL and NHL Players' Association, the tournament was designed to allow top NHL players to play for their countries - at the time NHL players did not participate in the Olympics or World Hockey Championship. The Canada Cup was played five times: 1976, 1981, 1984, 1987 and 1991. The Soviet Union won the 1981 tournament; Canada was the champion on the other occasions. In 1996, the Canada Cup was replaced by the World Cup of Hockey.