4 Nations Cup

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The 4 Nations Cup is an annual women's ice hockey tournament, held between the major national teams in the sport; currently, these are Canada, the United States, Sweden and Finland. Until 2000, when Sweden joined, the tournament was the 3 Nations Cup. In general, it is held in or around November each year.

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[edit] History

The 3 Nations Cup was first held in 1996. Sweden joined the tourney in 2000, but the USA did not attend the 2001 event due to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks; the 4 Nations title has been constant since 2002. Team Canada has won every tournament except 1997 and 2003, where the victory went to Team USA. Finland has won bronze at every tournament it participated in, except 2001, when it won silver, and also 2004 and 2006, when it finished last both times. Sweden won bronze in 2001, 2004, and 2006.

The format of the tournament is of a round-robin with one team playing one game against each of the others. The top two teams advance to the gold-medal game. The last two teams play for bronze. When it was the 3 Nations Cup, the third place team was simply awarded bronze.

[edit] Medal Table

Country Gold Silver Bronze Total Tourneys
Flag of Canada Canada 10 2 0 12 12
Flag of the United States United States 2 9 0 11 11
Flag of Finland Finland 0 1 8 10 12
Flag of Sweden Sweden 0 0 3 3 8

[edit] Tournaments

Year Gold Silver Bronze Fourth Notes
1996 3 Nations Cup Flag of Canada Canada Flag of the United States United States Flag of Finland Finland N/A The inaugural competition was held in 1996, with Canada, United States and Finland
1997 3 Nations Cup Flag of the United States United States Flag of Canada Canada Flag of Finland Finland N/A
1998 3 Nations Cup Flag of Canada Canada Flag of the United States United States Flag of Finland Finland N/A
1999 3 Nations Cup Flag of Canada Canada Flag of the United States United States Flag of Finland Finland N/A
2000 4 Nations Cup Flag of Canada Canada Flag of the United States United States Flag of Finland Finland Flag of Sweden Sweden The competition expanded to four countries with the addition of Sweden
2001 3 Nations Cup Flag of Canada Canada Flag of Finland Finland Flag of Sweden Sweden N/A The United States did not participate due to the Al Qaeda terrorist strike of 11 September 2001
2002 4 Nations Cup Flag of Canada Canada Flag of the United States United States Flag of Finland Finland Flag of Sweden Sweden
2003 4 Nations Cup Flag of the United States United States Flag of Canada Canada Flag of Finland Finland Flag of Sweden Sweden
2004 4 Nations Cup Flag of Canada Canada Flag of the United States United States Flag of Sweden Sweden Flag of Finland Finland
2005 4 Nations Cup Flag of Canada Canada Flag of the United States United States Flag of Finland Finland Flag of Sweden Sweden
2006 4 Nations Cup Flag of Canada Canada Flag of the United States United States Flag of Sweden Sweden Flag of Finland Finland
2007 4 Nations Cup Flag of Canada Canada Flag of the United States United States Flag of Finland Finland Flag of Sweden Sweden
2008 4 Nations Cup

[edit] External links

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