In 1984, 40 years ago, Team Canada made its debut at the Spengler Cup and emerged victorious. Since then, the team has become a fan favorite and, with 16 victories, shares the record for most wins at the prestigious tournament alongside Hockey Club Davos. However, winning has evidently become more challenging for the Canadians.

In its effort to bring the world’s top ice hockey nations to the Spengler Cup, Alfred "Putz" Gfeller invited the Canadian team to Davos for the first time during the final week of 1984. The idea began germinating in the mind of the then-tournament director nearly three years earlier. In March 1982, a team called “Canada Europe Hockey” played a series of exhibition games in Europe, including one in Lugano against a Finnish selection. But securing Team Canada’s participation in the Spengler Cup required Gfeller’s determined and persistent efforts at the World Championships in 1982 and 1983 and the 1984 Winter Olympics.

Finally, on June 14, 1984, the breakthrough came: via telex, Gfeller received written confirmation from the Canadian Ice Hockey Association stating, “We are prepared to send Team Canada 1984.” Comprised primarily of Canadian professionals playing for Swiss and other European clubs, as well as a few players from Canada, the team went on to win the trophy in its inaugural appearance.

After a 1-4 opening loss to Dukla Jihlava, the team embarked on a winning streak, defeating Schwenninger ERC (3-1), Hockey Club Davos (9-2), and Chimik Voskresensk (4-3). The Canadians thrilled the audience with their relentless determination and exceptional skill, quickly winning over the hearts of spectators.

Canada’s Last Triumph Half a Decade Ago
Canada’s most recent Spengler Cup victory came in 2019 with a convincing 4-0 win in the final against Czech team Oceláři Třinec. The tournament was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in the past two years, Canada failed to reach the final. For Hockey Canada, recruiting enough Canadian players from Switzerland’s National League has become increasingly difficult. Since Swedish and Finnish players have avoided the Russian KHL due to the war in Ukraine, most Swiss clubs now rely predominantly on Scandinavian imports.

To read more about how Canadian coaching legend Andy Murray earned the title “Mr. Spengler Cup” and why 13 active NHL players with a combined experience of 4,736 NHL games played in Davos in 2012, check out the full article “Team Canada – A Unique Success Story” in the 8th Spengler Cup Davos Yearbook (only available in German), available now for free online or in print at the Davos Fanshop.

Text: 8. Jahrbuch des Spengler Cup Davos    Foto: Keystone