Canada and the U.S. tie for first in round-robin play and breeze past their semifinal opponents. Canada wins 4-1 in Game 1, but Game 2 is tied in the third period until
Steve Larmer
scores a shorthanded goal with 7:47 remaining.
Dirk Graham
's empty-net goal with 42 seconds to play gives Canada its fourth championship in the five editions of the Cup. Goalie
Bill Ranford
, who goes 6-0 with two ties and a 1.75 goals-against average for Canada, is named MVP.
Canada wins despite the absence of
Wayne Gretzky
, who sits out with back spasms and a twisted knee after being driven into the boards from behind by U.S. defenseman
Gary Suter
midway through Game 1. Gretzky still leads all scorers with 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in seven games.
It's the last time the Canada Cup is held. The tournament is replaced by the World Cup of Hockey in 1996.
MORE MOMENTS
1978: Gretzky, 17, attends his first professional training camp as a member of the Indianapolis Racers of the World Hockey Association. He ends up playing eight games with Indianapolis before being sold to the Edmonton Oilers. After the 1978-79 season, the Oilers and three other WHA teams are absorbed into the NHL; however, the Oilers manage to keep Gretzky. Exactly one year later, he attends his first NHL training camp.
