At the hockey tournament of the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, for the first time in the history of the Olympics, 2 sets of medals were played: for the 19th time - for men and for the 1st time - for women.

Also, for the first time in the history of the Games, the world's strongest hockey players had the opportunity to come to the Olympics. For the first time in more than 80 years of history, the IIHF and the NHL managed to reach an agreement. Finally, the commissioner of the richest hockey league in the world decided to announce a break in February so that all the most worthy would have the opportunity to play in Nagano. The NHL management came to the obvious conclusion that the Olympics with the participation of all the stars would be the best advertisement for the American-Canadian championship. Well, if one of the North American squads won this championship, the ratings of the National League would skyrocket.

In addition, hockey experts have not yet forgotten the excellent, and most importantly, very effective game of the USA and Canada national teams at the World Cup two years ago. "Stars and Stripes" and "maple-leaved" hockey players reached the final at that tournament. That is why the overwhelming majority of overseas experts predicted that it was these teams that would meet in the decisive match of the Japanese Games, defeating all rivals on their way. However, the Russians, Swedes, Finns, and most importantly the Czechs had their own opinion on this matter.

Leaders of the Czech national team: Jaromir Jagr and Petr Svoboda

True, there really is someone, and the Russian players at this tournament were definitely not ranked among the favorites. It's scary to imagine that in the last four world championships, the Russians could not even win a bronze medal, and in the IIHF ranking they took a very unpretentious sixth place.

At the same World Cup, Russian hockey players performed well for that time, reaching the semifinals. But the conflict between the Russian Ice Hockey Federation and Russian NHL players has grown to simply unimaginable proportions. We will not now return to the various accusations that the parties expressed against each other. Who was right then, who was wrong, it doesn't matter at all now.

Disputes are forgotten, but the facts remain, and they were not at all in favor of the Russian national team. While the players in other national teams were simply eager for the Olympics, our hockey players began to massively refuse to participate in it. Decided to skip the main sporting event of the fourth anniversary Vyacheslav Fetisov, Nikolay Khabibulin, Igor Larionov, Alexander Mogilny, Sergey Zubov, Vyacheslav Kozlov... Many others, in particular Alexander Karpovtsev, Alexey Kovalev and Andrey Nikolishin, were injured shortly before the Games.

The real trouble for the Russians was with the goalkeepers. Khabibulin, who did not go to the tournament, was the only main NHL goalkeeper from Russia. "Collections" Mikhail Shtalenkov and Andrey Trefilov had very little experience in matches in the strongest league in the world, and they had little game practice.

But even so, the composition of the Russian national team was more than stellar. Both brothers arrived Bure, Alexey Zhamnov, Sergey Gonchar, Alexey Yashin, Andrey Kovalenko, Sergey Fedorov.

The group of the Russian national team at the Olympic tournament was considered much weaker than the parallel four. Experts believed that only the goodwill of fate saved the Russians from meeting with the favorites of the Americans and Canadians, as well as strong Swedes. However, as it turned out later, it was in our "light" group that all future Olympic medalists gathered. It all started more than successfully for the Russian team. In battles for the honor of the tricolor wingmen Vladimir Yurzinov the Olympians first smashed the Kazakhs 9: 2, then snatched a strong-willed victory from the Finns 4: 3 and managed to defeat the Czech team 2: 1.

In the last match after the second period, the Russians were behind 0: 1 and tried to recoup for a long time. However, the famous Czech goalkeeper Dominik Hasek was just phenomenal. He beat off everything that flew into his gate, but this could not last forever. As a result, Aleksey Zhamnov and Valery Bure still knocked out the legendary Czech.

And in the other group, meanwhile, the US team, having lost to the Swedes in the first round, remained only in third place, thus securing a meeting with Hasek and company. As it turned out, she provided for her misfortune. There were only two unpredictable fights in the quarterfinals: the northern derby of Sweden and Finland, which ended with the victory of the Suomi team, and just the game of the Czech Republic with the United States. In this meeting, the team led by Jaromir Jagrom and Dominator missed the first, but in the second game segment she defeated the Americans, and in the third she only strengthened her success - 4: 1. Russia and Canada, by the way, with the same score, as expected, outplayed, respectively, Belarusians and Kazakhstanis.

In the first semifinal, the Czechs, having already proved that they are a formidable force, managed not to lose to the Canadians either in regulation time or in overtime. And in the shootout, even the founders of hockey were unable to resist Hasek. The Russians and the Finns, in turn, gave a real scoring extravaganza. Until the score 4: 4, the game went like a swing, but in the final twenty minutes the fifth goal of our team was scored by Andrey Kovalenko, and then we put the squeeze on the opponent with two more goals. Note that five of the seven goals in the Russian squad were scored by Pavel Bure, who was later recognized as the best striker and sniper of the tournament.

Hockey tournament semi-final. Russia - Finland - 7: 4

Pavel Bure

The disappointed Canadians, almost without resisting, lost the fight for the bronze medals to the Finns 3: 2. But in the final meeting, the Russian national team, which already achieved more than was expected of it, did not play against the Czech Republic. The scenario of this game was very similar to the first match of the Slavic squads in the tournament. All the same massive attacks by the Russians, the same goal scored by the Czechs, and the same inaccessibility of the goalkeeper, who never missed.

Russian national team defender Darius Kasparaitis uses force against Czech striker Jiri Dopita

After this meeting, none of the Russian players had smiles on their faces, despite the undoubted success - the won silver. The conceded goal was completely optional. After a throw-in in the zone of the Russian team, the Czechs won the puck and brought the defender to the throw. He threw, and the projectile ricocheted from the hand of our striker flew into the goal. An offensive defeat for which Russian hockey players took revenge in Salt Lake City four years later, but they never won the Olympics.

The joy of Czech hockey players

Czech national team - winners of the hockey tournament in Nagano

Women's league

For the first time in the history of the Olympic Games, a women's ice hockey tournament was organized. According to the results of the Women's World Championship, the four strongest teams and China, as well as the hostess Japan, played in one round "each with each". According to the results of the tournament, the teams that took the third and fourth places played the match for the third place, and the teams that took the first and second places played the final match. In the decisive confrontation, the Americans outplayed the Canadian national team 3: 1, and in the game for the bronze, the Finnish team defeated the Chinese women 4: 1.

American women became the first Olympic ice hockey champions in history

Despite the small list of participants, the games showed a major breakthrough in this sport, and it was hoped that this event would help attract large financial flows.

Not without a scandal at these Games. Angry about the failure, American hockey players made a row and broke furniture in their rooms in the Olympic Village, causing material and moral damage to the organizers.

The most "Russian" team in the tournament was the national team of Kazakhstan, all of whose players were ethnic Russians. But the Russian national team included a Ukrainian and a Lithuanian.

Before the start of the Games, the NHL decided to hold several exhibition matches in Japan in order to instill an interest in hockey among the Japanese. After that, impressionable Asians, according to rumors, simply "got sick" with the game with a stick and a puck. They could hardly understand the rules, but they kept the atmosphere great.

The best goalkeeper of the tournament, Dominik Hasek, had a clean sheet only in the first and last matches of the championship.

All winners:

Men

1. Czech Republic

Goalkeepers: Dominik Hasek, Milan Gnilichka, Roman Chekhmanek.
Defenders: Petr Svoboda, Roman Hamrlik, Jiri Schlegr, Richard Schmeglik, Frantisek Kuchera, Jaroslav Shpachek, Libor Prochazka.
Forwards: Pavel Patera, Jaromir Jagr, Martin Ruchinsky, Robert Reichel, Vladimir Ruzicka, Jiri Dopita, Martin Straka, Robert Lang, Martin Prochazka, Josef Beranek, David Moravec, Milan Heyduk, Jan Chaloun.
Trainers: Ivan Glinka, Slavomir Lehner, Vladimir Martinets.

2. Russia

Goalkeepers: Mikhail Shtalenkov, Andrey Trefilov, Oleg Shevtsov.
Defenders: Dmitry Mironov, Sergey Gonchar, Alexey Zhitnik, Darius Kasparaitis, Igor Kravchuk, Boris Mironov, Alexey Gusarov, Dmitry Yushkevich.
Forwards: Pavel Bure, Alexey Yashin, Sergey Fedorov, Andrey Kovalenko, Alexey Morozov, Alexey Zhamnov, Valery Zelepukin, Valery Kamensky, Valery Bure, Sergey Nemchinov, German Titov, Sergey Krivokrasov.
Trainers: Vladimir Yurzinov, Petr Vorobyov, Zinetula Bilyaletdinov.

3. Finland

Goalkeepers: Yarmo Mullys, Ari Sulander, Jukka Tammi.
Defenders: Jani Ninimaa, Kimmo Timonen, Teppo Numminen, Jyrki Lumme, Aki-Petteri Berg, Janne Laukkanen, Tuomas Grönman.
Forwards: Teemu Selanne, Saku Koivu, Jere Lehtinen, Jari Kurri, Ville Peltonen, Mika Nieminen, Raimo Helminen, Esa Tikkanen, Kimmo Rintanen, Sami Kapanen, Juha Lind, Juha Yulönen, Antti Törmänen.
Trainers: Hannu Aravirta, Esko Nokelainen, Jari Kaarela.

Women

1. USA

Sarah DeCosta, Sarah Tueting, Chris Bailey, Colleen Coyne, Sue Merz, Tara Munsey, Vicky Movsesian, Angela Ruggiero, Laura Baker, Alana Blahoski, Lisa Brown, Karyn Bye, Tricia Dune, Cammy Granato, Katie King, Shelley Lunydal, Jenny Schmiguel , Gretchen Julion, Sandra White.

2. Canada

Lesley Raddon, Manon Rehom, Teresa Brisson, Cassie Campbell, Judy Didac, Geraldine Heani, Becky Kellar, Fiona Smith, Jennifer Botteril, Nancy Drolet, Laurie Dupuis, Daniel Goyette, Jaina Hefford, Karenti McCormer -Luis, Vicky Sunohara, Hayley Wickenheiser, Stace Wilson.

3. Finland

Lisa-Maria Snack, Tuula Puputti, Emma Laaksonen, Kirsi Haninen, Katia Lehto, Satu Huotari, Johana Ikonen, Maria-Helena Palvila, Payvi Salo, Marian Ihalainen, Sari Frisk, Rikka Nieminen, Maria Celine, Tia Reima, Sari Vaarakallio, Sanna Lankosaari, Marika Lehtimaki, Katia Ripi, Carolina Rantamaki.

I don’t know how anyone, but when I mention the "Olympic hockey tournament" Nagano immediately comes to mind. Perhaps because it was the first Olympic hockey tournament I watched. Or maybe because it was with Nagano that the Olympic hockey tournament reached a new, higher level. And the NHL helped to reach this new level. For the first time in history, the league suspended the regular season and gave its players the opportunity to play in the tournament for their national teams.

Since the best players from the top national teams have played in the NHL, it would be odd not to use their services. And so it happened - 8 teams took part in the Olympic hockey tournament, 61% made up of NHL players.

Russian team

The Russian team had great difficulties with the line-up. If at the 1996 World Cup it was possible to collect almost all the best players, then in Nagano this, alas, was not possible.

No other team had so many "refuseniks". And because of this, the team “sagged” in all “lines”. The only main Russian goalkeeper in the NHL refused - Nikolay Khabibulin , in the end, we had to rely on Shtalenkov and Trefilov, who played little. There were big losses among the "defencists" - Fetisov , Tverdovsky , Malakhov and Teeth ... The losses were in the attack - Kozlov , Mogilny (on the picture), Larionov and Kovalev ... Although Kovalev is a different case - he was injured.

There was no definiteness in relation to the leading Russian center-forward - Sergey Fedorov ... The player went on strike with Detroit for six months and did not play, so coming to the national team was of course a risk. But he still came.

If there were doubts in Fedorov's playful form (after all, more than half a year outside hockey), then in relation to another star of the Russian national team - Pavel Bure - there was no doubt. The captain of the Russian team had a great season in Vancouver and, importantly, scored a lot.

Finland squad

The strong team was Suomi , headed by Teemu Selanne , Saku Koivu and Jari Kurri ... Moreover, for Kurri it was the second Olympiad, he came to the first 18 years ago (in Lake Place). The goalkeeper's brigade raised only questions. In recent years, we have become accustomed to the fact that now there are many Finnish goalkeepers in the NHL, almost all of them are the main ones in the teams. But then the Finns did not have NHL goalkeepers at all, so they had to rely on those who play in Europe.

Czech national team

Czechs attracted attention by the fact that quite a few players were not from the NHL - 11 (that is, almost 50%). Other top teams had more NHL players.

Standing out in attack, of course Jaromir Jagr is one of the best forwards in the world.

But the goal was defended by a man whom all the teams would not refuse to see at home - Dominik Hasek ... At that time, “Dominator” was at its peak and was considered the best goalkeeper in the world. The best confirmation of that - in the last 4 seasons, he received "Vezina" three times.

Sweden squad

Reigning Olympic World Champions. Among the European teams, it was Tre Kruner who had the most preferred chances of winning the tournament. Great offense led by a great center-forward duo - Peter Forsberg and Mats Sundin .

Team USA

Many experts saw the Americans among the main contenders for the "gold". Which, however, was quite logical - a couple of years ago they triumphantly performed at the 1996 World Cup, winning the tournament.

Almost everyone from that championship team came. The national team looked very impressive and by name - the goalkeeper Mike Richter , defenders Chris Chelios and Brian Leach , forwards Mike Modano , Brett Hull , John Leclair , Jeremy Renick , Pat Lafontaine , Kate Tkachuk, Tony Amonti and Doug Waite .

Team Canada

Well, the main favorites of the tournament are Canadians ... For the first time in the history of the Olympic Games, they put together a normal team - made up of the best Canadian players.

The abundance of "stars" - Joe Sakik , Eric Lindros , Joe Nuwendijk , Scott Stevens , Ray Burke , Al McKinis , Patrick Roy and the most important thing Wayne Gretzky .

Gretzky: " I am looking forward to the start of the Games. I had never played for Canada in the Olympics and deep down I regretted it. When I played at Edmonton, I watched every match of the Canadian national team on TV with other Canadians during the Olympics and were very worried about her. Therefore, I am sure that unusual and very pleasant sensations await me. But the main thing is that after this Olympics, Canadian children will have two dreams: to win the Stanley Cup and the gold medals of the Games. "

It is noteworthy that of the entire Canadian national team, only 24-year-old Eric Lindros had experience of participating in the Olympic Games. True, in Albertville (1992), the forward was content with only “silver”.

Many were surprised that it was "Big Eric" who became the captain of the "maple leaves". In the presence of more experienced Gretzky, Yzerman, Burke, Stevens. Although, considering that the general manager of the team was Bobby Clark (general manager of Philadelphia), this is generally not surprising.

On the other hand, you cannot call him a random captain - in Philadelphia he has been skating with the "C" patch for 4 seasons.

An interesting fact - for Patrick Roy, the tournament in Nagano was the first for the national team. Before that, “Saint Patrick” did not play internationally, even for the “youth”. It so happened that this tournament was his first and last.

Since the Olympiad was held in Japan, many eagerly wanted to see their hero - Paula Caria ... Yes, Kariya was born and raised in Canada, but he was half Japanese (by his father). He was included in the team and had to go to the Olympics, if not for one thing. Just before the tournament, after a dirty trick, Suter suffered a fractured jaw and a concussion.

For Caria, skipping the Olympics will be one of the biggest disappointments in her career.

For the Canadian team, Caria's absence was a loss. Forward Anaheim in those years showed a super-productive game.

If the aforementioned "six" claimed medals, then Belarus and Kazakhstan set themselves much more modest tasks. In principle, they have already completed all their tasks, making their way to the tournament through the sieve of qualifying matches.

Objectively, both of them were extremely difficult to compete with the leading national teams. The Belarusians included only 2 NHLers - Ruslan Salei and Vladimir Tsyplakov (on the picture).

But in the composition Of Kazakhstan there were no NHL players at all.

Both teams were actually made up of the players of the Russian "Super League".

Looking ahead, both teams did not show anything outstanding at the tournament, losing all their matches.

Group stage

Russian national team to some extent lucky with the calendar - the tournament started with a match with Kazakhstan ... The Russian team did a great job in the attack, hitting the gate 9 times with a Kazakh. However, the team conceded twice. As a result, "9 - 2" - running ahead, this victory was the most devastating in the tournament.

Czech Republic - Finland

In another match, the rivals, the Finns and the Czechs, sorted out the relationship. The Czech defense did not allow the attack of “Suomi”, led by Koivu and Selyanne, to turn around, and Hasek made the first “cracker” in the tournament.

In attack, the Czechs played much more productively than their rivals - having thrown 3 goals.

Russia - Finland

The first serious test for the Russian national team is the match against the Finnish squad. B really, the match was extremely difficult - the Finns were leading three times (2-0, 3-1), but each time the Russians recouped. In the third period, with 3 minutes left before the end, Alexey Morozov scores the winning goal. Outcome 4-3.

Russia - Czech Republic

In fact, the match was for reaching the semifinals, since the winner received 1/4 of the Belarusians.

As in the match with the Finns, the Russians were losing again - losing in the long run after 2 periods 0-1. But they made a comeback again - at the beginning of the third period, within 10 seconds, the Russians hit Hasek twice. As a result, 2-1.

Sweden - USA

In the match with the Swedes, the Americans started well, leading after 1 period with a score of 2-1. But in the future, only the Scandinavians were soloing - three times hitting the gate of Mike Richter. As a result, 4-2.

Canada - Sweden

Four years ago in Lillehamer, both teams met in the final, in which the Scandinavians won in shootouts. The Canadians are not without problems, but still took revenge for that defeat by winning 3-2 .

Canada - USA

In addition to the desire to win the "gold" for the Canadians, it was in principle also to defeat the southern neighbors - the Americans (not without reason Gretzky said this). The rematch for the defeat in the 1996 World Cup final was a success - by the beginning of the 3rd period, Canada removed all questions about the winners, leading 4-0. The only thing that the Americans could do was to reduce the score in the match - Brett Hull's puck set the final score in the match (4-1).

Having defeated the Americans, the Canadians, like the Russian team, also won 1st place in their group. But most importantly, both those and others could now intersect with each other not earlier than the final.

At the end of the group stage, there was a scandal. As part of the Swedish national team played Ulf Samuelsson who had American citizenship. According to Swedish laws, the presence of two citizenships was not allowed - when acquiring a new one, the old (Swedish) was lost.

Members of the Czech Olympic Committee demanded that the Swedes admit defeats in all group stage matches. As a result, the Czechs would play with a weak Belarus, and the Russian team would receive the Swedes in 1/4. but the arbitration was limited to disqualification only against Samuelsson.

Quarter-finals

At the group stage, the Kazakhs played all their 3 matches with a very devastating score - "6 - 25". But in a match with Canadians lost with a more decent score of "1-4".

Russian national team with the same score took up over Belarus.

Finland - Sweden

“Northern Derby” turned into a confrontation between the two main stars of their national teams - Teemu Selanne and Peter Fosberg (on the picture) - because only they scored in that match.

On Forsberg's goal, “Finnish Flash” responded with a “double” and the Swedes resigned their championship powers.

Czech Republic - USA

The Americans scored first. But later neither increase the advantage nor keep the score “Stars and Stripes” could not.

Broke the outcome of the fight Jaromir Jagr ... With his transfer Ruzicka equalized the score in the middle of the match.

But then Jaromir scored himself. Washers Ruchinski and Completed set the final score - " 4 -1 ".

The inglorious participation in the tournament somewhat puzzled the American players and they made a brawl, breaking the furniture in their rooms in the Olympic Village, causing material and moral damage to the organizers.

Czech Republic - Canada

The game turned out to be extremely stubborn.

The attack of both those and others was "silent" for a long time.

In the middle of the third period, the goal still happened - with a flick of the defender Jiri Schleger Roy failed.

After the Czechs retreated to their goal, trying to keep their minimal advantage. More than a minute before the siren, the Canadians still struck the “Dominator”. Distinguished himself Trevor Linden .

Overtime did not reveal the winner and there was a shootout - as in football, each team was given 5 attempts. Looking ahead, this match was the only one in the history of the "Olympics of the New Era" (with the participation of NHLovtsev), when in the playoffs the winner was determined by shootouts.

Canadians opened the "bullet streak", but not successfully - throw Theo Fleury retorted Hasek.

But the Czechs open an account - Robert Reichel punches Rua.

Burke past, but also Ruchinski also does not score. Doesn't beat Hasek and Nuwendijk, Patera does not use the opportunity to break away.

The fourth attempt of the Canadians is performed Lindros and does it great, but ... the puck hits the bar. But Canadians are also lucky - after the throw Jagra the puck flies into the side goal post.

Before the last series of shots, a difficult situation - there was little goal Shenaheng , one had to hope that he would not miss Roy. But Hasek took this shot too.

The Czechs, after the Americans in the quarterfinals, are now stopping another North African team.

After the match Gretzky will say: "We didn't lose the match, we lost the gold medals."

But the Czechs for the first time in history reached the final of the Olympics.

Russia - Finland

If the first semi-final was a "benefit of defense", then the second, on the contrary, was "attacks". The Russian-Finnish confrontation turned into 11 goals.

Better in this scoring extravaganza showed themselves Russian hockey players, scoring 7 goals.

The lion of which was on the account Pavel Bure ... “Russian Rocket” scored a “penta-trick” in that match - scored 5 goals!

Match for 3rd place

Finland - Canada

The match was also interesting with the confrontation between long-term teammates - Jari Kurri and Wayne Gretzky.

The personal duel ended in a draw - on Kurri's goal, Gretzky noted an assist.

But Kurri left the tournament with the “bronze” as the Finns won (3-2).

Only 4th place - this is how the tournament ended gloomily for the Canadians, and for the entire North African hockey.

After the tournament, the coach of the Canadians Mark Crawford did not seek an excuse, saying: " In this particular tournament, the best teams were the Czechs, Russians and Finns, who received medals. Maybe next time we will be on the podium. I am confident that one day Canada will become an Olympic champion. "

Moreover, the Finns won the “bronze”, speaking in a weakened composition - due to injury, Teemu Selanne did not play. For Suomi

To all other Saku Koivu and Topic Selanne with 10 points each, became the top scorers of the tournament.

The final. Czech Republic - Russia

The final brought together not only the principal rivals, but also the main “underdogs” of the tournament - the best attack (26 goals) led by Pavel Bure and the best defense led by “Dominator” (6 goals).

Unlike the semifinals, the Czech defense did not allow the Russian forwards to turn around.

Although there were undoubtedly moments at Hasek's goal. Kamenskiy had a great moment as he escaped from the lethal position.

It was a great moment for Andrey Kovalenko .

But against the best sniper of the tournament Pavel Bure (9 goals) the Czechs played very reliably and the captain of the Russian national team, in general, did not have any chances.

But the Czechs, even though they acted from defense, but very sharply attacked, there was even a one-on-one way with Pavel Patera.

But neither the one nor the other had the puck stubbornly going into the goal. The more time passed, the higher the goal factor grew. Alas, for the Russian team, this goal flew into their goal. Throw-in and kick-in won Petre Svoboda ... The defender, who was not famous for his exploits in the attack before, worked flawlessly this time - a powerful click flew into the nine of the gate Mikhail Shtalenkov .

For the remaining 12 minutes, the Russian national team did not try, but failed to break through the Czechs' defense. To be fair, the Czechs played very reliably.

The final whistle declared the first Olympic "gold" in the history of not only Czech, but also Czechoslovakian hockey.

By the way, this "gold" was the only one for the Czechs at that Olympiad.

To this day, it is the only Olympic gold medal in the history of Czech ice hockey.

its already the main victory in the history of Czech hockey.

But he led this victorious team - the now deceased Ivan Glinka .

After the Olympics in Nagano, 4 Olympic hockey tournaments have already taken place - Salt Lake City, Turin, Vancouver and Sochi. In none of them did the Russian national team surpass the achievement of Nagano, but it was not even possible to repeat it - content only with the “bronze” of Salt Lake City (2002).

The rival of our team was the sensation of this tournament - the German team. 20 years ago, our Olympians stopped one step away from triumph, losing the palm to the Czechs. We remember how that match developed.

48th minute of the game, 0: 0. Jagr and Josef Beranek flee in a counterattack. Beranek makes one shot, picks up the bounced puck and “shoots” Mikhail Shtalenkov point-blank. Pavel Bure rushes to his aid, and the goalkeeper fixes the puck.

After the resumption of the game, the Russians throw themselves. The puck returns to the "point". Pavel Patera wins the throw-in, Peter Svoboda throws in from the blue line. The shell touches Andrei Kovalenko and hits the top nine.

This is how the victorious and only goal was scored in the final of the Olympics in Nagano. What happened before that?

"I have 22 brothers here"

That became the silver team was collected by Vladimir Yurzinov. Many of our stars refused to participate in the Olympics. Who knows how things would have turned out if Nikolai Khabibulin had arrived? But he did not even begin to talk with the head of the FHR, Alexander Steblin. Sergei Fedorov refused for a long time, referring to the fact that he was on strike because of the contract and had no playing practice, but then changed his mind and came.

The list of refuseniks included Igor Larionov, Alexander Mogilny, Vyacheslav Fetisov, Sergey Zubov, Vladimir Malakhov. How everything would have turned out if not for the war of hockey players with the federation, it is useless to guess. But we remember that that team managed to rally and become one. “I have not one brother Valery here, but 22,” said Pavel Bure before the start of the tournament.

“For me, it was the sixth Olympics out of eight in which I participated. The time was vague then. After the 1996 World Cup, strife arose. Vasya does not want to play with Petya, Petya - with Kolya, these on these, those on those ... In the spring of 97, Sych was killed. Dmitriev died. I got to the Olympics, in general, by accident. He worked in a Finnish club. In the summer, Steblin called and offered to lead the team in Nagano. At first I wanted to refuse. But, after thinking hard, I decided to take it, ”Yurzinov recalled.

Russia got into the same group with the Czech Republic and won it, then scoring two goals to Hasek in 10 seconds in the third period. With a victory in the preliminary round, our guys secured a comfortable playoff grid - Belarus in the quarterfinals, and then the Finns or Swedes should have been. It turned out the Suomi team, in a tense match with which Pavel Bure scored five goals, becoming the hero of the semifinals.

The Czechs, on the other hand, were rivals in the quarterfinals against the Americans, with whom they coped quite confidently, and then there was a game with Canada. Here Dominik Hasek had to sweat, but Ivan Glinka's team emerged victorious in the battle with the star maple leaves.

And here is the ending. The Russians felt themselves to be favorites, while the Czechs were dark horses, upstarts who miraculously reached the battle for gold. Yes, there were many good-quality players in their roster, but only Jaromir Jagr and the famous Hasek stood out against the general background.

Russian national team-1998: five Bure goals and a fatal ricochet in the final

Bure's five goals against the Finns and the fatal Svoboda puck - this was our best Olympics in 20 years.

The final

Interest in the hockey tournament in Japan was high. At the beginning of the season, the NHL, which was preparing for the first time to send players to the Olympics, even arranged two regular season matches in Tokyo in order to better acquaint the inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun with an outlandish sport for them. Big Hat stadium was packed for the gold match. In addition to Czech and Russian fans in the stands were the Emperor and Empress of Japan, IIHF President Rene Fasel, IOC head Juan Antonio Samaranch. The league commissioner Gary Bettman and the head of the players' union Bob Goodenough also closely followed the "tournament of the century", as the first Olympics with the participation of the NHL was called.

The game began cautiously. Here Jagr tries to break through to the gate of Shtalenkov, but Gusarov and Mironov take him into the "box". The Russians have a removal, but the minority is confident, and Fedorov even manages to run into a counterattack, but throws past.

Then Milan Heyduk creates a wonderful moment. After the Russians' mistake, he finds himself face to face with Shtalenkov, but does not outplay through the goalkeeper. Our guys also attack dangerously - Yashin and Kamensky get an excellent chance in a two-on-one attack, but Hasek, in his own style, throws himself under the puck, and Valery artlessly throws the bottom into the goalkeeper.

The Czechs are knitting the game, but the Russians still carry out attacks, however, with the completion it does not go well at all. In our own zone, we play selflessly, we block a lot of shots, and the Czechs take a wait-and-see attitude and no, no, and make dangerous attacks. Raichel brought Jagr to a rendezvous with the goalkeeper with an accurate pass, but the zeros continue to burn on the scoreboard.

The Russians had three majorities in the first period, but they could not take advantage of the chances. Yashin's excellent program could pass from behind the gate on Fedorov, forgotten by everyone in the patch, but it is skillfully interrupted by Hasek with a club. Ours are playing tough against the leader of the Czechs, the brilliant Jagr. Zhitnik conducts a crushing forcefulness, after which Jaromir cannot recover for some time, sitting on the bench.

In the second period, the Czechs began to seize the initiative. At first, the Russians did not even manage to part in the zone in the majority, then Jagr could complete a dangerous counterattack, but Kasparaitis played reliably, knocking out the puck from him. Soon Shtalenkov's goal was dangerously shot twice in a row - the first shot was blocked, and in the second moment our goalkeeper helped out.

And now Hasek responds with his save. Mironov gives the pass to Yashin, who is on duty at the left post, he sends the puck behind his back to an empty corner, but Kovalenko pulls in another moment, probably the best that our team had in that match.

Photo: Jamie Squire / Allsport / Getty Images

Soon there is a ringing of the barbell - this is Jagr again reminded of himself, throwing from under the defender. Jaromir practically does not leave the court at all, playing through the shift. The attacks of the Russians are stalling more and more often, the Czechs reduce the game to the sides and knit the opponent in their trademark manner. Neither team can gain a foothold in the zone.

At the end of the period, the teams exchange moments. First, Zelepukin moved along the side of the gate and drove out from the other side, but he did not succeed in the throw. The puck bounced on Morozov, but he was prevented from hitting an empty corner. And then Zhamnov is grossly mistaken in the majority. Lost on the blue line and Patera runs away one-on-one, but misses the target.

In the third period, the Czechs already completely dictate the game, and in the attack they have more chances to excel. Which is what happens. An unobvious moment, but luck is on the side of our rivals. And having scored a goal, they stood up as a wall. The Czechs put pressure on, do not allow to enter their zone ... Minutes run, but our guys do not succeed at all. Does not pass through the pass, through the cast too. The Czechs stand tight and even carry the puck around our zone, not allowing the goalkeeper to be replaced. Finally, 25 seconds before the end, when the Russians achieved a throw-in at Hasek's goal, Shtalenkov went to the bench. But the Czechs competently remove the puck, and ours throw themselves in powerlessness. Hasek rejoices - 13 seconds remain before the championship.

Dominator's Triumph. How Hasek stole gold from Gretzky and the Russian national team

After winning the Olympics, Hasek was nominated for the presidency of the Czech Republic, asteroids were named in his honor and operas were staged.

“Well, we’ll beat these dudes. Failed"

Our team remained a team that gave everything and did not deserve reproaches for the silver. Although, of course, I did not feel joy from this medal.

“In the group stage match, we beat the Czechs, and when I went to practice, and Ivan Glinka went to class with coffee, we greeted each other, and then I asked:“ Ivan, where is the team? ”. Answers: "Yes, it will come out now." And I look, they come out: Jagr in shorts and skates, then a couple more hockey players who are in what. That is, the Czech team went to roll out at will. I thought, "Well, we'll beat these dudes today." But they failed, "Yurzinov admitted recently.

“I remember that it was in Nagano that the team was felt, the team was felt. Yes, we had stars, we had personalities, but Vladimir Vladimirovich Yurzinov managed to create a good microclimate in the team. We didn’t play for ourselves, we played only for the team. First of all, we were worried about partners. This was the first time in the national team, ”Kovalenko recalled eight years after the memorable match.

And the Czechs ... The Czechs were the only ones who could dry up the Russians in Nagano, and they were the last to laugh.

“I knew that we had a great team, and told everyone that if we were with one fist, we could take gold. Then everyone laughed. Now we are laughing, ”said Jiri Schlegr.

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Abstract on the topic:

Ice Hockey at the 1998 Winter Olympics

Plan:

1 Men's tournament
- 1.1 Qualifying tournament
  - 1.1.1 1st stage
  - 1.1.2 2nd stage
  - 1.1.3 3rd stage
  - 1.1.4 Match for a place in the Olympic tournament
- 1.2 Olympic tournament
  - 1.2.1 Preliminary tournament
    - 1.2.1.1 Group A
    - 1.2.1.2 Group B
  - 1.2.2 Classification 9-14 seats
  - 1.2.3 Final tournament
    - 1.2.3.1 Group C
    - 1.2.3.2 Group D
  - 1.2.4 Play Offs
- 1.3 Olympic pedestal
- 1.4 Compositions of the prize-winners
2 Women's tournament
- 2.1 Main Event
- 2.2 Finals
- 2.3 Olympic pedestal
- 2.4 Compositions of the prize-winners

Introduction

Hockey tournament the 1998 Winter Olympics took place in Nagano.

At the hockey tournament of the Olympic Games, 2 sets of medals were played: for the 19th time - for men and for the 1st time - for women.

1. Men's tournament

1.1. Qualifying tournament

Before the Olympic tournament in a series of qualifying tournaments, 5 more teams were determined to participate in the preliminary tournament.

1.1.1. 1st stage

In 2 pairs, after 2 matches, 2 teams were determined to participate in the 2nd stage.

+ After Israel was disqualified due to players not entitled to play, Yugoslavia was defended a 5-0 win. The match itself was finished with a score of 5: 3.

1.1.2. 2nd stage

At the 2nd stage, 19 teams played, divided into four groups. Competitions in the 4th group were held only among Asian teams in the Asia Championship standings. The Japanese team was qualified for the Olympic tournament and therefore competed only in the Asian Championship. The group winners advanced to the third stage.

1.1.3. 3rd stage

The four winners of the 2nd stage were joined by the teams that took 9-11 places in the 1995 World Cup and the winner of Division I. They were divided into two groups. The teams that took 1st and 2nd places in the groups got to the Olympic tournament. Teams that took 3 places in groups in one match played for one more place in the Olympic tournament.

1.1.4. Match for a place in the Olympic tournament

Duisburg,

Teams from Germany, Belarus, Slovakia, Kazakhstan and Austria are qualified for the Olympic tournament.

1.2. Olympic tournament

1.2.1. Preliminary tournament

The teams that took 7th and 8th places at the 1995 World Cup were joined by 5 teams from the 2nd stage of the qualifying tournament. In two groups of 4 teams, the winners were determined according to the "each with each" system, who entered the main tournament. The rest of the teams qualified for 9-14 places.

1.2.1.1. Group A

1.2.1.2. Group B

1.2.2. Classification 9-14 seats

1.2.3. Final tournament

The teams that took 1st and 6th places at the 1995 World Cup were joined by 2 teams of the winners of the preliminary tournament groups. Play-off pairs were determined in two groups of 4 teams according to the “each with each” system.

During the group stage, a scandal occurred: as it turned out during the journalistic investigation, the defender of the Swedish national team Ulf Samuelsson had no right to play for the national team due to the loss of Swedish citizenship. Samuelsson was disqualified, but the Swedish national team was not deprived of the points scored.

1.2.3.1. Group C

1.2.3.2. Group D

1.2.4. Play-off

1.3. Olympic pedestal

1.4. Compositions of the prize-winners

2. Women's tournament

For the first time in the history of the Olympic Games, a women's ice hockey tournament was organized. According to the results of the 1994 World Cup among women, the 4 strongest teams and China, as well as the hostess Japan, played in one round "each with each". According to the results of the tournament, the teams that took the 3rd and 4th places played the match for the 3rd place, and the teams that took the 1st and 2nd places played the final match.

2.1. Main tournament

2.2. Finals

2.3. Olympic pedestal

2.4. Compositions of the prize-winners

Synchronization completed 07/12/11 13:03:24 PM

In 1998, the XVIII Winter Olympic Games in Nagano became truly iconic for world sports. The fact is that it was on the eve of these Games that the UN General Assembly in a new resolution for the first time in history de facto called on countries to suspend all international and internal conflicts. Thus, the tacit ban on wars during the Olympics in 1998, known from the history of Ancient Greece, finally received a material basis.

Emblem and mascots of the 1998 Olympics

In addition, the program of the last Winter Games in the twentieth century included such rapidly developing sports as snowboard,women's hockey and curling... This was a huge step into the future for the White Olympics, the popularity of which, from year to year, was more and more inferior to its summer counterpart, largely due to the lack of new sports. However, debutants still fell short of Olympic sports in their prevalence. Both women's hockey, and the art of hitting an ice target with a bat, and skating on a snowboard have been sufficiently practiced only in a few countries of the world. Their presence at the Games was explained only by their, oddly enough, entertainment. Yes, yes, television people were primarily interested in the introduction of these sports, with the help of which the IOC made a historic decision.

Winners of the 1998 Olympics

Gold - Czech Republic.
Silver- Russia.
Bronze- Finland.

True, soon the International Olympic Committee decided to protect itself from such pressure by establishing a rule that in the future only those disciplines and sports that are practiced in at least 50 countries of three continents, both among men and women, will be able to enter the program. ...

These Olympic Games were held in Japan, and therefore simply could not fail to amaze with scientific and technological achievements worthy of the new XXI century. The Land of the Rising Sun has repeatedly surprised the world with its high technologies, and the Olympics in Nagano were no exception.

For the first time, sports shoes from kevlar... The athletes were simply amazed at the new skates developed by the Dutch and introduced by the Canadians. Their idea was simple, like everything ingenious: they decided not to firmly attach the blade to the boot, but to make it movable. This small revolution led to the fact that at the XVIII Olympic Winter Games all records for speed skating fell, and their table had to be rewritten.

Emblem. Six-color flower

The emblem of the Nagano Olympics was a flower, on each petal of which an athlete is depicted - a representative of a particular winter sport. The emblem also resembles a snowflake symbolizing the Winter Olympics. It also resembles a mountain flower, emphasizing the respect for nature and the environment in Nagano. The dynamic nature of this bright and colorful painting speaks to the enthusiastic atmosphere in which the Games are held and also symbolizes their magnificence.

Olympic Champions - 1998

Goalkeepers: Dominik Hasek, Milan Gnilichka, Roman Chekhmanek.
Defenders: Petr Svoboda, Roman Gamrlik, Jiri Schlegr, Richard Schmeglik, Frantisek Kuchera, Jaroslav Shpachek, Libor Prochazka.
Forwards: Pavel Patera, Jaromir Jagr, Martin Ruchinsky, Robert Reichel, Vladimir Ruzicka, Jiri Dopita, Martin Straka, Robert Lang, Martin Prochazka, Josef Beranek, David Moravec, Milan Heyduk, Jan Chaloun.

Mascot. Snowy owls

No less interesting was the mascot, or rather the mascots of the Games. The wise Japanese have chosen four "snowlets" as mascots - the owls Sukki, Nokki, Lekki and Tsukki. The word "snowlets" consists of "snow" ( "snow") and "let" s "( "let's"). Games are held every four years, so the mascot consists of four owls. Their names were chosen from 47484 ideas suggested by sports enthusiasts.

Preliminary tournament. Through hardship to the stars

The qualifying tournament for the Olympics consisted of four preliminary stages, during which many interesting events took place. The heroes of this marathon were the teams of Kazakhstan and Belarus, which eventually made their way to the final eight. Our Central Asian neighbors managed to win the Asian Championship in the course of qualifying, then, not without difficulty, passed the third round and eventually made a real sensation, not allowing strong Slovaks to enter the main tournament.

The merits of the Belarusians are no less striking. In the second round, they won four matches with a total score of 54: 4, in the third round they became the first in their group, despite the resistance of the Kazakhs, and in the decisive round, they left Germany, France and even the hostess Japan behind the Olympics.

In the final tournament, Kazakhstan and Belarus joined the superstar teams that had previously placed first through sixth at the World Championships. Pairs of the playoffs were to be determined in two groups of four teams, but we will tell you about the matches a little later. After all, even before them, a decision was made that changed the fate of this and subsequent Winter Olympics, making them the only competition with the participation of all the strongest hockey players on the planet.

1. The real opening of the 1998 Olympics was the Kazakhstani hockey team - the most Russian of all the participants.
2. The US team became the first Olympic champion in women's hockey.

Pioneers of the wild west

For the first time in more than 80 years of history, the IIHF and the NHL managed to reach an agreement. Finally, the commissioner of the richest hockey league in the world decided to announce a break in February so that all the most worthy would have the opportunity to play in Nagano. The NHL management came to the obvious conclusion that the Olympics with the participation of all the stars would be the best advertisement for the American-Canadian championship. Well, if one of the North American squads won this championship, the ratings of the National League would skyrocket.

In addition, hockey experts have not yet forgotten the excellent, and most importantly, very effective game of the USA and Canada national teams at the World Cup two years ago. The "Stars and Stripes" and "maple-leaved" hockey players reached the final at that tournament. That is why the overwhelming majority of overseas experts predicted that it was these teams that would meet in the decisive match of the Japanese Games, defeating all rivals on their way. However, the Russians, Swedes, Finns, and most importantly the Czechs had their own opinion on this matter.

True, there really is someone, and the Russian players at this tournament were definitely not ranked among the favorites. It's scary to imagine that in the last four world championships we could not even win a bronze medal, and in the IIHF ranking we occupied a very unassuming sixth place.

At the same World Cup, we performed well for that time, reaching the semifinals. But the conflict between the Russian Ice Hockey Federation and Russian NHL players has grown to simply unimaginable proportions. We will not now return to the various accusations that the parties expressed against each other. Who was right then, who was wrong, it doesn't matter at all now.

Disputes are forgotten, but the facts remain, and they were not at all in our favor. While the players in other national teams were simply eager for the Olympics, our hockey players began to massively refuse to participate in it. Decided to skip the main sporting event of the fourth anniversary Vyacheslav Fetisov, Nikolay Khabibulin, Igor Larionov, Alexander Mogilny, Sergey Zubov, Vyacheslav Kozlov... Many others, in particular Alexander Karpovtsev, Alexey Kovalev and Andrey Nikolishin, were injured shortly before the Games.

We also had a real trouble with the goalkeepers. Khabibulin, who did not go to the tournament, was the only main NHL goalkeeper from Russia. "Collections" Mikhail Shtalenkov and Andrey Trefilov had very little experience in matches in the strongest league in the world, and they had little game practice.

And yet, we also had guys who were able to defend the honor of national sports. Both brothers arrived Bure, Alexey Zhamnov, Sergey Gonchar, Alexey Yashin, Andrey Kovalenko, Sergey Fedorov... With such guys, even without half of our star composition, we were both knee-deep in the Sea of Japan and Fujiyama on the shoulder.

Russian team
Goalkeepers: Mikhail Shtalenkov, Andrey Trefilov, Oleg Shevtsov.
Defenders: Dmitry Mironov, Sergey Gonchar, Alexey Zhitnik, Darius Kasparaitis, Igor Kravchuk, Boris Mironov, Alexey Gusarov, Dmitry Yushkevich.
Forwards: Pavel Bure, Alexey Yashin, Sergey Fedorov, Andrey Kovalenko, Alexey Morozov, Alexey Zhamnov, Valery Zelepukin, Valery Kamensky, Valery Bure, Sergey Nemchinov, German Titov, Sergey Krivokrasov.
Trainers: Vladimir Yurzinov, Pyotr Vorobyov, Zinetula Bilyaletdinov.

Main tournament. Dominator's Revenge

Our group at the Olympic tournament was considered much weaker than the parallel four. Experts believed that only the goodwill of fate saved us from meeting with the favorites of the Americans and Canadians, as well as strong Swedes. However, as it turned out later, it was in our "light" group that all future Olympic medalists gathered. It all started more than successfully for the Russian team. In battles for the honor of the tricolor wingmen Vladimir Yurzinov the Olympians first smashed the Kazakhs 9: 2, then snatched a strong-willed victory from the Finns 4: 3 and managed to defeat the Czech team 2: 1.

In the last match after the second period we were behind 0: 1 and tried to recoup for a long time. However, the famous Czech goalkeeper Dominik Hasek was just phenomenal. He beat off everything that flew into his gate, but this could not last forever. As a result, Aleksey Zhamnov and Valery Bure still knocked out the legendary Czech.

In the first semifinal, the Czechs, having already proved that they are a formidable force, managed not to lose to the Canadians either in regulation time or in overtime. And in the shootout, even the founders of hockey were unable to resist Hasek. The Russians and the Finns, in turn, gave a real scoring extravaganza. Until the score 4: 4, the game was like on a swing, but in the final twenty minutes he scored the fifth goal of our team Andrey Kovalenko, and then we put the squeeze on the opponent with two more goals. Note that five of the seven goals in the Russian squad were scored by Pavel Bure, who was later recognized as the best striker and sniper of the tournament.

The disappointed Canadians, almost without resisting, lost the fight for the bronze medals to the Finns 3: 2. But in the final meeting, our team, which already achieved more than was expected of it, did not play against the Czech Republic. The scenario of this game was very similar to the first match of the Slavic squads in the tournament. All the same massive attacks by the Russians, the same goal scored by the Czechs, and the same inaccessibility of the goalkeeper, who never missed.

After this meeting, none of the Russian players had smiles on their faces, despite the undoubted success - the won silver. The conceded goal was completely optional. After a throw-in in our zone, the Czechs won the puck and brought the defender to the throw. He threw, and the projectile ricocheted from the hand of our striker flew into the goal. An offensive defeat, for which we avenged ourselves four years later in Salt Lake City, but we never won the Olympics.

Women's league

Despite the small list of participants, the games showed a major breakthrough in this sport, and it was hoped that this event would help attract large financial flows.

Interesting Facts

The most "Russian" team in the tournament was the national team of Kazakhstan, all of whose players were ethnic Russians. But the Russian national team included a Ukrainian and a Lithuanian.

The best goalkeeper of the tournament, Dominik Hasek, had a clean sheet only in the first and last matches of the championship.

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