US inspired new generation with 1996 World Cup win

While the three players that will be inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame this fall credited the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team's gold medal win in Lake Placid as the impetus for their hockey careers, today's generation looks to them for their golden victory as their inspiration.

Chris Chelios , Gary Suter and Keith Tkachuk all played major roles in the U.S. winning the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, and will join Philadelphia Flyers founder and owner Ed Snider and long-time hockey broadcaster Mike "Doc" Emrick when the Class of 2011 is enshrined in Chicago in the fall.

That memorable tournament featured the U.S. and Canada battling in a best-of-3 series that at the time featured the best hockey had to offer.

Game 1 saw Steve Yzerman score in overtime to give Canada a 4-3 victory at the just-opened CoreStates Center (now the Wells Fargo Center) in Philadelphia, a building Snider financed himself as a new home for his Flyers to replace the Spectrum.

"They were in a brand new arena that was being opened in Philadelphia," Emrick said. "It had an enormous locker room, a huge Jacuzzi. I think it was big enough that a couple guys could do synchronized swimming , because I believed they tried it during training camp."

While the first-game loss was tough, the U.S. squad refused to wilt. The team went into Montreal and won a pair of games by identical 5-2 scores to stun the home fans. Game 3 featured a goaltending clinic by Mike Richter, who held the fort as the U.S. rallied from a 2-1 third-period deficit for the victory.

Tkachuk finished third on the team with 5 goals, while Chelios and Suter combined for 6 assists and shut-down defense.

"The 1996 World Cup probably was the best team I've ever played on," said Tkachuk, who also played on four Olympic teams. "What an experience it was, to be down in a best-of-3 series, go up to Montreal and putting USA back on the map."

Not only did Tkachuk play well in the tournament, he turned out to be a strong recruiter.

Chelios had no intention of playing in the tournament so he could get his body rested, recovered from injury and ready for the 1996-97 season. However, enough phone calls from players heading to the tournament convinced him he should suit up.

"I was a last-minute addition to the World Cup team," Chelios said. "Thank God the guys did talk me into coming. … If it wasn't for Gary and Keith calling me during those (pre-tournament) exhibition games, I probably wouldn't have come. The memory is always going to be there, and doing it with Gary and Keith and all those guys -- by far one of the best experiences of my U.S. career.

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There are plenty of sites in Vancouver and getting around to see them all is easy. If you’re staying in the city (and you probably are) you can walk to most attractions. The Vancouver Museum highlights the growth and development of Vancouver from an outpost of fishing and forestry to a world class city. Science World is a great spot to take the kids so they can experience the interactive exhibitions and see an eye-popping OMNIMAX presentation. Adults will appreciate spending the time on Granville Island, a former dingy collection of rusty warehouses now transformed into galleries, shops, artists’ studios and home to a thriving public market the perfect place to pick up provision for a picnic.

The best place to start your visit is Vancouver Lookout at Harbour Centre. Take a 45 second ride up a glass elevator to arrive at a spectacular 360° view of the city, the surrounding communities, the harbour and the mountains beyond. On a clear day you may even see Vancouver Island.

What you notice most when you’re perched above the city is how green it is. As the city developed over the years, a large tract of forest was set aside, over 1,000 acres, destined to remain wild and serve as a reminder of whence the city originated. So began Stanley Park. Located right in the heart of the city, this green sanctuary is crisscrossed with walking trails and surrounded by English Bay and a 6 mile seawall – a lovely place for a stroll at sunset. Within the park are tennis courts, playgrounds, a miniature golf course, restaurants, snack bars and cafes, the Vancouver Aquarium, the Lost Lagoon where you can feed ducks and raccoons, swimming beaches, a pool, a miniature railroad for the kids, totem poles and a cannon that goes off precisely at 9 PM each evening.

The capital of British Columbia is located at the tip of Vancouver Island, across the Straight of Georgia from Vancouver. Veddy Veddy British in nature, Victoria has the mildest climate in all of Canada.

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