View source for World Cup of Hockey

{{short description|Ice hockey tournament for men's national teams}}
{{about|the NHL sanctioned hockey world cup|the field hockey world cup|Hockey World Cup|the annual [[International Ice Hockey Federation|IIHF]]-run ice hockey tournament|Ice Hockey World Championships|other hockey world cups|List of world cups#Hockey}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox sports league
|title = World Cup of Hockey
|logo = World Cup of Hockey 2016 small logo.png
|caption = Logo of 2016 event
|sport = Ice hockey
|founded = 1992
|inaugural = [[1996 World Cup of Hockey|1996]]
|organizer = [[National Hockey League]]
|teams = 8
|champions = {{ih|CAN}} (2nd title)
|champ_season = [[2016 World Cup of Hockey|2016]]
|website = 
}}
The '''World Cup of Hockey''' is an international [[ice hockey]] tournament. Inaugurated in [[1996 World Cup of Hockey|1996]], it is the successor to the [[Canada Cup]], which was held every three to five years from [[1976 Canada Cup|1976]] to [[1991 Canada Cup|1991]] and was the first international hockey championship to allow nations to field their top players.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Rob |title=NHL cancels plans for World Cup of Hockey in 2020 |url=https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/nhl-cancels-world-cup-of-hockey-2020 |website=dailyhive.com |access-date=February 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324173233/https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/nhl-cancels-world-cup-of-hockey-2020 |archive-date=March 24, 2020 |date=January 17, 2019}}</ref> The World Cup has occurred thrice before on an irregular basis, with the [[United States national men's ice hockey team|United States]] winning in 1996 and [[Canada national men's ice hockey team|Canada]] winning in [[2004 World Cup of Hockey|2004]] and [[2016 World Cup of Hockey|2016]]. Following the 2016 tournament, it was uncertain whether the series would be continued, after the cancellation of the 2020 tournament. It is tentatively scheduled to be held every four years, starting in 2028.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Leary |first=Sean |date=February 2, 2024 |title=NHL returning to Olympics, finalizes 4 Nations Face-Off |url=https://www.thescore.com/wolymhm/news/2836209 |access-date=June 20, 2024 |website=theScore.com}}</ref>

The World Cup of Hockey is organized by the [[National Hockey League]] (NHL) and the [[National Hockey League Players' Association]] (NHLPA), unlike the annual [[Ice Hockey World Championships]] and quadrennial [[Ice hockey at the Olympic Games|Olympic tournament]], both run by the [[International Ice Hockey Federation]] (IIHF). World Cup games are played under NHL rules and not those of the IIHF, and the tournament occurs prior to the NHL pre-season, allowing all the NHL's players to be available, unlike the World Championships, which overlaps with the NHL's [[Stanley Cup playoffs]].

==History==

===Canada Cup===
{{main|Canada Cup}}
The World Cup of Hockey was preceded by the Canada Cup, which began in [[1976 Canada Cup|1976]] in a combined effort from [[Doug Fisher (politician)|Doug Fisher]] of [[Hockey Canada]] and [[Alan Eagleson]] of the [[NHL Players' Association]].<ref name="canadian">{{cite web |last1=Coleman |first1=Jim |title=Canada Cup (World Cup of Hockey) |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canada-cup-world-cup-of-hockey |website=thecanadianencyclopedia.ca |access-date=February 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101123842/http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canada-cup-world-cup-of-hockey/ |archive-date=January 1, 2014 |date=May 2, 2011}}</ref> Taking inspiration from [[association football|soccer]]'s [[FIFA World Cup]], Eagleson proposed a new tournament that would bring together all the top hockey–playing nations. After successful negotiations with hockey officials from the [[Soviet Union]] in September 1974, Eagleson began arranging the Canada Cup tournament, which debuted in 1976.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Anderson |first1=H. J. |title=The Canada Cup of Hockey Fact and Stat Book |date=August 26, 2005 |publisher=Trafford Publishing |isbn=978-1-4120-5512-3 |page=2}}</ref>{{Self-published inline|certain=yes|date=January 2018}} It was the first international ice hockey tournament that allowed hockey nations to field their top players, as the [[Ice hockey at the Olympic Games|Winter Olympics]] was nominally an amateur competition at the time and the annual [[Ice Hockey World Championships|World Championships]] clashed with the [[Stanley Cup playoffs]].

The tournaments, held every three to five years, took place in [[North America]]n venues prior to the start of the [[National Hockey League]] (NHL) regular season. Six teams competed in each edition. Of the five Canada Cup tournaments, four were won by Canada, and one by the Soviet Union in [[1981 Canada Cup|1981]].

===World Cup of Hockey===
[[File:2016 World Cup of Hockey - Europe v USA.jpg|thumb|left|[[2016 World Cup of Hockey]] game between Europe and the United States]]
In 1996, the Canada Cup was officially replaced by the World Cup of Hockey. The Canada Cup trophy was retired. The tournament expanded to eight teams: as the national teams of [[Canada men's national ice hockey team|Canada]], the [[United States men's national ice hockey team|United States]], the [[Czech Republic men's national ice hockey team|Czech Republic]], [[Finland men's national ice hockey team|Finland]], [[Russia men's national ice hockey team|Russia]] and [[Sweden men's national ice hockey team|Sweden]], popularly dubbed as the [[Big Six (ice hockey)|Big Six]],<ref>{{cite web |title=NHL announces World Cup of Hockey for 2016 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/nhl-announces-world-cup-of-hockey-for-2016-1.2930670 |website=CBC.ca |access-date=February 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150127023952/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/nhl-announces-world-cup-of-hockey-for-2016-1.2930670 |archive-date=January 27, 2015 |date=January 24, 2015}}</ref> were joined by [[Germany men's national ice hockey team|Germany]] and [[Slovakia men's national ice hockey team|Slovakia]]. The United States defeated Canada in the finals to win [[1996 World Cup of Hockey|the inaugural event]].

Eight years later, the second installment of the World Cup of Hockey took place in [[2004 World Cup of Hockey|2004]], just prior to the [[2004–05 NHL lockout]]. Canada won its first tournament championship, defeating the Czech Republic in the semifinals and Finland in the final match.

On January 24, 2015, NHL commissioner [[Gary Bettman]] announced the [[2016 World Cup of Hockey]] to be held in September 2016 at [[Air Canada Centre]] in Toronto. The 2016 edition featured a slightly modified format: alongside the Big Six countries, there were two all-star teams, consisting of [[Team Europe (ice hockey)|Team Europe]] and an under-23 [[Team North America (World Cup of Hockey 2016)|Team North America]]. Canada again won the championship, defeating Team Europe in the finals.

A 2020 edition was planned to include a European qualification tournament to determine some participating nations.<ref name="sn-wch2016">{{cite web |last1=Johnston |first1=Chris |title=New-look World Cup of hockey back for 2016 |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/new-look-world-cup-of-hockey-back-for-2016/ |website=Sportsnet.ca |access-date=February 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128102520/https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/new-look-world-cup-of-hockey-back-for-2016/ |archive-date=January 28, 2015 |date=January 24, 2015}}</ref> In January 2019, plans for the tournament were abandoned due to the pending expiration of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the NHL and the [[National Hockey League Players' Association|NHL Players' Association]].<ref>{{cite web |title=NHL, NHLPA abandon hope of a World Cup in September 2020 |url=https://www.nhlpa.com/news/2-11131/nhl-nhlpa-abandon-hope-of-a-world-cup-in-september-2020 |website=NHLPA.com |access-date=February 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919025502/https://www.nhlpa.com/news/2-11131/nhl-nhlpa-abandon-hope-of-a-world-cup-in-september-2020 |archive-date=September 19, 2020 |date=January 16, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Seravalli |first1=Frank |title=NHL, NHLPA abandon plans for 2020 World Cup of Hockey |url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl-nhlpa-abandon-plans-for-2020-world-cup-of-hockey-1.1242728 |website=TSN.ca |access-date=February 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119121049/https://www.tsn.ca/nhl-nhlpa-abandon-plans-for-2020-world-cup-of-hockey-1.1242728 |archive-date=January 19, 2019 |date=January 16, 2019}}</ref> In August 2019, it was reported that a World Cup could take place in February 2021 if the CBA could be extended or renewed;<ref>{{cite web |last1=Johnston |first1=Chris |title='Cautiously optimistic' NHL CBA talks could result in 2021 World Cup |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/cautiously-optimistic-nhl-cba-talks-result-2021-world-cup/ |website=Sportsnet.ca |access-date=February 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827072039/https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/cautiously-optimistic-nhl-cba-talks-result-2021-world-cup/ |archive-date=August 27, 2019 |date=August 16, 2019}}</ref> however, this was ruled-out by the NHL later that year.<ref name="2021 WCH">{{cite web |last1=Gretz |first1=Adam |title=There will be no World Cup of Hockey during 2021 season |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nhl/news/there-will-be-no-world-cup-of-hockey-during-2021-season |website=NBC Sports |access-date=February 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230809164145/https://www.nbcsports.com/nhl/news/there-will-be-no-world-cup-of-hockey-during-2021-season |archive-date=August 9, 2023 |date=December 10, 2019}}</ref>

In February 2024, the NHL announced plans to hold the next World Cup in 2028 and every four years after that.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Van Diest |first=Derek |date=February 2, 2024|title=NHL to hold 4 Nations Face-Off tournament in 2025 |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-to-hold-4-nations-face-off-tournament-in-2025 |access-date=June 20, 2024 |website=www.nhl.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Biringer |first=Jim |date=February 7, 2024|title=Four Nations Faceoff Resets International Hockey Schedule |url=https://fullpresshockey.com/2024/02/07/four-nations-faceoff-resets-international-hockey-schedule/ |access-date=June 20, 2024 |website=Full Press Hockey}}</ref> The NHL hosted the [[4 Nations Face-Off]] in lieu of a World Cup in February 2025. On February 12, 2025, the NHL again announced that the tournament would return in February 2028, launching a commitment to send NHL players to the [[2030 Winter Olympics]]. It was mentioned that the Olympics and World Cup are going to rotate every two years starting with the [[2026 Winter Olympics]] and the teams will be solicited by the league and the [[NHLPA]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gulitti |first=Tom |date=February 13, 2024 |title=World Cup of Hockey to return in February 2028 |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/world-cup-of-hockey-to-return-in-february-2028 |access-date=February 13, 2024 |website=nhl.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kaplan |first=Emily |date=February 13, 2024 |title=World Cup of Hockey to return in February 2028 |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/43816383/world-cup-hockey-return-2028-held-alternating-olympic-cycles |access-date=February 13, 2024 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref>

==Trophy==
[[File:World Cup of Hockey.jpg|thumb|upright|1996 World Cup trophy]]
In 2004, Canadian American architect [[Frank Gehry]] designed a new trophy for the tournament. It is made from a composite alloy of copper and nickel as well as solid cast urethane plastic.<ref>{{cite news |last=Baurick |first=Tristan |date=May 13, 2004 |title=Architect's love of the game inspiration behind Cup trophy |url=https://ottawacitizen.newspapers.com/image/466760859/ |work=Ottawa Citizen |location=Ottawa |page=32 |access-date=February 3, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The trophy was criticized by the sports community, including the ''[[Toronto Sun]]'''s headline "What is that?"<ref>{{cite web |last1=Adams |first1=Noah |title=Frank Gehry's World Cup of Hockey Trophy |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=3888076 |website=npr.org |access-date=February 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023154758/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=3888076 |archive-date=October 23, 2022 |date=September 3, 2004}}</ref>

==Tournaments==
{| class="wikitable"
! Year !! Final host !! Champion !! Final score(s) !! Runner-up !! Semifinalists 
|-
| [[1996 World Cup of Hockey|1996]] || {{flagdeco|USA}} [[Philadelphia]] (game 1)<br />{{flagdeco|CAN}} [[Montreal]] (games 2, 3) || '''{{ih|USA}}''' || style="text-align:center;"|3–4 (OT), 5–2, 5–2 || {{ih|CAN}} || {{ih|RUS}}, {{ih|SWE}} 
|-
|| [[2004 World Cup of Hockey|2004]] || {{flagdeco|CAN}} [[Toronto]] || '''{{ih|CAN}}''' || style="text-align:center;"|3–2 || {{ih|FIN}} || {{ih|CZE}}, {{ih|USA}} 
|-
|| [[2016 World Cup of Hockey|2016]] || {{flagdeco|CAN}} Toronto || '''{{ih|CAN}}''' || style="text-align:center;"|3–1, 2–1 || [[Team Europe (ice hockey)|Europe]] || {{ih|RUS}}, {{ih|SWE}}
|-
|| [[2028 World Cup of Hockey|2028]] || &nbsp; || &nbsp; || &nbsp; || &nbsp; || &nbsp;
|}

==Titles==
{| class="wikitable"
!Team
! style="background:#FFD700;"|Titles
! style="background:#C0C0C0;"|Runners-up
! Semifinals
! Total (top 4)
|-
| {{ih|CAN}}
| '''2''' ([[2004 World Cup of Hockey|2004]], [[2016 World Cup of Hockey|2016]])
| '''1''' ([[1996 World Cup of Hockey|1996]])
| —
| style="text-align:center;"|3
|-
| {{ih|USA}}
| '''1''' ([[1996 World Cup of Hockey|1996]])
| —
| 1 ([[2004 World Cup of Hockey|2004]])
| style="text-align:center;"|2
|-
| {{ih|FIN}}
| —
| '''1''' ([[2004 World Cup of Hockey|2004]])
| —
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
| [[Team Europe (ice hockey)|Europe]]
| —
| '''1''' ([[2016 World Cup of Hockey|2016]])
| —
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
| {{ih|SWE}}
| —
| —
| 2 ([[1996 World Cup of Hockey|1996]], [[2016 World Cup of Hockey|2016]])
| style="text-align:center;"|2
|-
| {{ih|RUS}}
| —
| —
| 2 ([[1996 World Cup of Hockey|1996]], [[2016 World Cup of Hockey|2016]])
| style="text-align:center;"|2
|-
| {{ih|CZE}}
| —
| —
| 1 ([[2004 World Cup of Hockey|2004]])
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|}

==See also==
{{Commons category|World Cup of Hockey}}
* [[List of international ice hockey competitions featuring NHL players]]
* [[2025 4 Nations Face-Off]]
* [[Ice hockey at the Olympic Games]]
* [[World Baseball Classic]] (an international tournament organized by [[Major League Baseball|MLB]] and [[MLBPA]])

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |last1=Müller |first1=Stephan |title=International ice hockey encyclopaedia: 1904 – 2005 |date=2005 |publisher=Books on Demand |location=Norderstedt |isbn=3-8334-4189-5 |edition=1. Aufl}}

{{WorldCupofHockey}}
{{Canada Cup World Cup of Hockey Finals venues}}
{{NHL topics}}
{{Main world cups}}

[[Category:World Cup of Hockey| ]]
[[Category:Ice hockey tournaments]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1996]]
[[Category:World cups in winter sports]]