USSR-CSSR 1976 Olympic Final Round Match

The gold medal deciding match of the 1976 Olympic hockey tournament between Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union and one of the greatest in international hockey history. These were two of the finest European hockey nations at the time; the winner to take gold. CSSR jumped out to a 2-0 lead, only to surrender it, the match heading into the second intermission was tied at 2-2. The third period was high drama and I've uploaded it with some minor edits in place. The Soviet-Czechoslovakian hockey rivalry was probably at its peak in the mid-to-late 70s, right up until the migration of much of Czechoslovak talent into the NHL in the early 80s. Matches such as this one strongly counter the claims of some that the Soviet Union did not have strong competition at events like the Olympics.

Some participants of interest and their jersey numbers .. CSSR: Novy - 6; Pospisil - 7; Martinec - 10; Stastny - 12; Hlinka - 21. USSR: Maltsev - 10; Mikhailov - 13; Yakushev - 15; Kharlamov - 17. Goalies are Jiri Holecek and Vladislav Tretiak.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• 1976
• olympic
• hockey
• USSR
• CSSR
• Soviet
• CCCP
• Czechoslovakia
• tournament
• gold
• medal
• competition
• final
• international
• iihf
• classic
• tretiak
• holecek
• martinec
• kharlamov
• mikhailov
• novy

[stilleavy]

in reality, Canada is always the fave to win gold. the decide if they win gold, not the opponent. But Russia is always tough as nails. Hockeys best international rivalry

[chapaev36]

No one really decides who wins gold. If that were true, the favorite would never lose. Besides, Canada's depth doesn't always help it out to the utmost, as one can only ice a single team. And ultimately you still have to go out there and win the game. Can't just draw up the roster and make conclusions from that.

[paladin313]

Geez, fellas...hit!

[cernecky]

@BillyBoysing

No, that's Jiri Holik (#20, age 31)

[wg390]

@dimuha87

Keep be unlucky with your beloved Czesh and cry a river

Russian did good job and no one said that Russians were lucky

They Won and it is a buttom line

Keep crying, nobody cares about your tears

[pixphi]

@BillyBoysing Yes, a very good player, and very Kharlamovic style.

I can make out his number, 20, but the rosters I can find do not include the number.

[siepat]

@PetPiv Your memory is too short, if you are saying always :-). Till 1953 was Soviet hockey nothing and Czechs had already had 2 Golden medails from 47 and 49 , 3 bronz medals and one silver. And if our communist regime imported from CCCP did not put into prison 95 % of golden national team, it CCCP would had no chance till the end of 50s. Also you should realise who was the teacher of hockey in CCCP. Otherwise no doubt about quality of CCCP national team from 60s to 80s. and in 90s Czechs leded

[altfactor]

I recall that as part of their Olympic coverage, ABC carried the game back live and in full to the 'States with Curt Gowdy and Brian Conacher as commentators, since the winner would get the gold medal.

When the Czechs took a brief late lead, they sounded as if it were the Americans who had taken the lead against the Russians.

When the USSR came back, they sounded dejected.

[dimuha87]

I'm Russian but I have to say the Czechs were unlucky in this game.

[dimuha87]

Why are Canadian fans constantly watching and commenting on Russia/USSR hockey videos? ;)

[slepyjestrab]

@BillyBoysing That's Ivan Hlinka