1979 Challenge Cup (ice hockey)

The 1979 Challenge Cup was a series of international ice hockey games between the Soviet Union national ice hockey team and a team of All-Stars from the National Hockey League.[1] The games were played on February 8, 10, and 11 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. It replaced the NHL's all-star festivities for the 1978–79 NHL season. The Russians defeated the NHL All-Stars two games to one.

1979 Challenge Cup
123 Total
NHL All-Stars 440 1
Soviet Union 256 2
Location(s)New York City: Madison Square Garden
DatesFebruary 8–11, 1979 (1979-02-08 1979-02-11)
Hall of FamersNHL All-Stars:
Bill Barber (1990)
Mike Bossy (1991)
Gerry Cheevers (1985)
Bobby Clarke (1987)
Marcel Dionne (1992)
Ken Dryden (1983)
Tony Esposito (1988)
Bob Gainey (1992)
Clark Gillies (2002)
Guy Lafleur (1988)
Guy Lapointe (1993)
Lanny McDonald (1992)
Gilbert Perreault (1989)
Denis Potvin (1991)
Larry Robinson (1995)
Borje Salming (1996)
Serge Savard (1986)
Steve Shutt (1993)
Darryl Sittler (1989)
Bryan Trottier (1997)
Soviet Union:
Valeri Kharlamov (2005)
Sergei Makarov (2016)
Vladislav Tretiak (1989)
Coaches:
Scotty Bowman (1991)
NHL All-Star Game

The team of All-Stars from the National Hockey League included 23 Canadians and three Swedish players. Bobby Orr, Canadian lice hockey player, commenting in the post-game interviews after game two, accidentally called the NHL All-Stars "Team Canada" (because of the number of Canadians on the roster). The Challenge Cup, unlike its predecessor, the Summit Series, included non-Canadian born players in the NHL rosters.

The NHL All-Stars team was coached by Scotty Bowman, and the Soviet Union national team was coached by Viktor Tikhonov.

NHL All-Stars roster

Nat.No.PlayerPos.Team
10Guy LafleurRW Montreal Canadiens
19Larry RobinsonD Montreal Canadiens
23Bob GaineyLW Montreal Canadiens
22Steve ShuttLW Montreal Canadiens
11Gilbert PerreaultC Buffalo Sabres
17Marcel DionneC Los Angeles Kings
27Darryl SittlerC Toronto Maple Leafs
8Lanny McDonaldRW Toronto Maple Leafs
16Bobby ClarkeCC Philadelphia Flyers
20Bryan TrottierC New York Islanders
25Mike BossyRW New York Islanders
9Clark GilliesLW New York Islanders
4Barry BeckD Colorado Rockies
18Serge SavardD Montreal Canadiens
3Guy LapointeD Montreal Canadiens
Robert PicardD Washington Capitals
5Denis PotvinD New York Islanders
7Bill BarberLW Philadelphia Flyers
21Don MarcotteLW Boston Bruins
35Tony EspositoG Chicago Blackhawks
29Ken DrydenG Montreal Canadiens
30Gerry CheeversG Boston Bruins
Ron GreschnerD New York Rangers
26Börje SalmingD Toronto Maple Leafs
12Ulf NilssonC New York Rangers
15Anders HedbergRW New York Rangers

Soviet Union roster

Nat.No.PlayerPos.Team
12Sergei StarikovD Traktor Chelyabinsk
22Viktor ZhluktovF CSKA Moscow
5Vasili PervukhinD Dynamo Moscow
9Vladimir KovinC Torpedo Gorky
24Sergei MakarovRW CSKA Moscow
10Mikhail VarnakovLW Torpedo Gorky
11Aleksandr SkvortsovRW Torpedo Gorky
25Vladimir GolikovF Dynamo Moscow
23Aleksandr GolikovF Dynamo Moscow
13Boris MikhailovCF CSKA Moscow
16Vladimir PetrovF CSKA Moscow
17Valeri KharlamovF CSKA Moscow
7Gennadiy TsygankovD CSKA Moscow
6Valeri VasilievD Dynamo Moscow
8Sergei KapustinF CSKA Moscow
2Yuri Fedorov[2]D Torpedo Gorky
14Zinetula BilyaletdinovD Dynamo Moscow
19Helmuts BalderisRW CSKA Moscow
18Irek GimayevF Salavat Yulaev Ufa
21Viktor TyumenevF Krylya Sovetov Moscow
4Sergei BabinovD CSKA Moscow
20Vladislav TretiakG CSKA Moscow
1Vladimir MyshkinG Krylya Sovetov Moscow

Uniforms

The NHL vastly simplified their white All-Star uniforms, removing most of the striping and stars. The NHL shield on the front was enlarged, while the logos on the shoulders remained the same. The striping was reduced to two thin stripes, orange over black, separated by a thin white stripe. The names on the back remained in black with orange trim, and the numerals remained orange with black trim.

The Soviet team used their standard red national uniforms, which they also used when touring against the teams of the World Hockey Association (while billed as the "Soviet All-Stars"). The jerseys featured two white stripes at the waistline - one thin stripe over a wider stripe studded with red diamonds. The sleeve stripes followed a similar pattern, but without the diamonds on the wide stripes, and an additional white stripe below the wide band. While the Soviet team normally used the Russian language on its uniforms, the names on the back of the jerseys for the Challenge Cup were romanized for the event. The front of the jerseys retained the Russian СССР initials.

Game log

Game 1

  • Date: Thursday February 8, 1979
  • Time: 8:00pm
  • Location: New York City: Madison Square Garden
  • Attendance: 17,438

Score

NHL All-Stars 4 – Soviet Union 2

Goals
PeriodScoreTeamPlayerAssistPower PlayGoal
1st0:16NHL#10 Guy Lafleur#16 Bobby Clarke, #22 Steve Shutt1-0
1st6:22NHL#25 Mike Bossy#11 Gilbert Perreault, #10 Guy LafleurPP2-0
1st11:25URS#13 Boris Mikhailov#6 Valeri Vasiliev, #17 Valeri KharlamovPP2-1
1st15:48NHL#23 Bob Gainey#7 Bill Barber, #4 Barry Beck3-1
2nd8:14NHL#9 Clark Gillies#25 Mike Bossy4-1
3rd3:02URS#25 Vladimir Golikov#23 Aleksandr Golikov, #24 Sergei Makarov4-2
Penalties
PeriodPen. ScoreTeamPlayerPen. Min.Penalty
1st0:59URS#22 Viktor Zhluktov2:00Hooking
1st5:13URS#16 Vladimir Petrov2:00Hooking
1st8:31NHL#8 Lanny McDonald2:00High-Sticking
1st10:59NHL#9 Clark Gillies2:00Charging
1st12:21URS#22 Viktor Zhluktov2:00Interference
2nd10:48URS#7 Gennadiy Tsygankov2:00Holding
Shots on Goal
Team1st Period2nd Period3rd PeriodTotal
NHL All-Stars109524
Soviet Union65920
Goaltenders
Min.GoaliesTeamSavesGoals Against
60:00#29 Ken DrydenNHL All-Stars182 Goals
60:00#20 Vladislav TrekiakSoviet Union204 Goals

Officials

Game 2

  • Date: Saturday February 10, 1979
  • Time: 2:00pm
  • Location: New York City: Madison Square Garden
  • Attendance: 17,438

Score

NHL All-Stars 4 – Soviet Union 5

Goals
PeriodScoreTeamPlayerAssistPower PlayGoal
1st8:10URS#8 Sergei Kapustin#12 Sergei Starikov0-1
1st13:35NHL#25 Mike Bossy#20 Bryan Trottier, #9 Clark GilliesPP1-1
1st18:21NHL#20 Bryan Trottier#9 Clark Gillies, #25 Mike Bossy2-1
2nd0:27NHL#11 Gilbert Perreault#27 Darryl Sittler3-1
2nd2:05URS#10 Mikhail Varnakov#11 Aleksandr Skvortsov3-2
2nd5:06NHL#19 Larry Robinson#10 Guy Lafleur, #17 Marcel Dionne4-2
2nd17:02URS#13 Boris Mikhailov#16 Vladimir Petrov, #6 Valeri VasilievPP4-3
2nd7:47URS#8 Sergei Kapustin#22 Viktor Zhluktov4-4
3rd1:31URS#25 Vladimir Golikov#24 Sergei Makarov4-5
Penalties
PeriodPen. ScoreTeamPlayerPen. Min.Penalty
1st12:32URS#9 Vladimir Kovin2:00Cross-Checking
1st15:13NHL#11 Gilbert Perreault2:00Holding
2nd8:04NHL#26 Börje Salming2:00Interference
2nd15:07NHL#4 Barry Beck2:00Boarding
Shots on Goal
Team1st Period2nd Period3rd PeriodTotal
NHL All-Stars55616
Soviet Union7141031
Goaltenders
Min.GoaliesTeamSavesGoals Against
60:00#29 Ken DrydenNHL All-Stars265 Goals
60:00#20 Vladislav TretiakSoviet Union124 Goals

Officials

Game 3

  • Date: Sunday February 11, 1979
  • Time: 8:00pm
  • Location: New York City: Madison Square Garden
  • Attendance: 17,545

Score

NHL All-Stars 0 – Soviet Union 6[3]

Goals
PeriodScoreTeamPlayerAssistPower PlayGoal
2nd5:47URS#13 Boris Mikhailov#23 Aleksandr Golikov0-1
2nd7:44URS#22 Viktor Zhluktov#19 Helmuts Balderis, #6 Valeri VasilievPP0-2
3rd8:44URS#19 Helmuts Balderis#18 Irek Gimayev0-3
3rd10:21URS#9 Vladimir Kovin#11 Aleksandr Skvortsov, #10 Mikhail Varnakov0-4
3rd12:44URS#24 Sergei Makarov#8 Sergei Kapustin0-5
3rd14:46URS#23 Aleksandr Golikov0-6
Penalties
PeriodPen. ScoreTeamPlayerPen. Min.Penalty
2nd6:27NHL#21 Don Marcotte2:00Elbowing
2nd10:48URS#6 Valeri Vasiliev2:00Holding
2nd12:27URS#1 Vladimir Myshkin2:00RoughingServed by #18 Irek Gimayev
2nd12:27NHL#20 Bryan Trottier2:00Roughing
3rd14:22URS#13 Boris Mikhailov2:00Holding
Shots on Goal
Team1st Period2nd Period3rd PeriodTotal
NHL All-Stars771024
Soviet Union66719
Goaltenders
Min.GoaliesTeamSavesGoals Against
60:00#30 Gerry CheeversNHL All-Stars136 Goals
60:00#1 Vladimir MyshkinSoviet Union240 Goals

Officials

Broadcasters

In the United States, Game 2,[4] which was held on a Saturday afternoon, was shown on CBS[5] as part of CBS Sports Spectacular.[6][7][8] The network refused to expand CBS Sports Spectacular to carry the game in full[9] so instead, the show came on during the second intermission,[10] showed taped highlights of the first two periods, and then showed the final period live. The lead-in to Sports Spectacular was The World's Strongest Man. The then-CBS affiliate in Boston, the old WNAC-TV, broadcast a local college hockey game that led into Sports Spectacular.

The network, the show and their sponsors had a problem with the rink board advertising[11] that the NHL sold at Madison Square Garden, and refused to allow them to be shown on television. As a result, CBS viewers were unable to see the far boards above the yellow kickplate, and could only see players' skates when the play moved to that side of the ice. Games 1 and 3 were shown on the NHL Network,[4][12] where the advertising was no problem.

Dan Kelly and Lou Nanne called the game for CBS while Dick Stockton served as the host.

References

  1. 1979 Challenge Cup on greatesthockeylegends.com
  2. Yuri Fedorov's surname on the back of his shirt was listed as "Federov" // 1979 Challenge Cup Game 2 Goals - NHL vs USSR
  3. "SOVIETS EMBARRASS NHL ALL STARS 6-0 TO WIN CHALLENGE CUP". International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
  4. Eskenazi, Gerald (February 8, 1979). "Soviet Six Now Taking N.H.L. Series Seriously (Published 1979)". Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  5. "Sports BRIEFING". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Publishing. February 10, 1979. p. W_C3.
  6. Fachet, Robert (February 8, 1979). "NHL Stars Challenged By Soviets". The Washington Post.
  7. Anderson, Dave (February 11, 1979). "The Empty Cup". New York Times.
  8. E.M. Swift (February 19, 1979). "Run Over By The Big Red Machine". Sports Illustrated.
  9. "Argus-Leader from Sioux Falls, South Dakota · Page 26". Newspapers.com. January 14, 1979.
  10. Quinn, Hal (February 26, 1979). "Exploding the myth of hockey supremacy". MACLEAN’S.
  11. "Sports BRIEFING". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Publishing. February 15, 1979. p. E3.
  12. Bob Verdi (February 8, 1979). "Soviet 'pupils,' suspicious NHL stars open 3-game war". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Publishing. p. C3.
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