Curtis Joseph recalls 1996 World Cup final

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. -- Retired NHL goaltender Curtis Joseph entered the World Cup of Hockey 1996 with the hope of gaining the exposure he thought would help boost his career.
On top of that, he'd be playing for Canada and be part of one of the greatest rosters ever assembled with Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Eric Lindros, Scott Stevens, Brendan Shanahan, Joe Sakic and Steve Yzerman.
"We had guys on our team who were Hall of Famers that I looked up to when I was a kid," Joseph told NHL.com Sunday. "I was looking inward at our team and with the guys we had, and I considered it an honor to play with them. I really wanted to prove myself."

When looking back at the 1996 World Cup, everyone seems to recall the spectacular performance exhibited by United States goaltender and tournament most valuable player Mike Richter. Few, however, can remember that Joseph actually went 5-2 with a tournament-best 2.31 goals-against average in seven games. Martin Brodeur (4.00 GAA), who played two games in the tournament, was his backup.
Joseph, who played 19 seasons in the NHL with the St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, Phoenix Coyotes and Calgary Flames before retiring in 2009, is a goalie consultant for the Carolina Hurricanes and is working with the prospects in Traverse City.

"It was exciting playing against all those great American players in the final like [Brett Hull], [Jeremy] Roenick, [Tony] Amonte and [Chris] Chelios," Joseph said. "I had enough to think about, but I did admire Richter as a goaltender, his style and how athletic he was."
Joseph was actually Richter's replacement at the University of Wisconsin when the latter left to begin his professional career in the International Hockey League in 1987-88. Little did Joseph know he'd be opposite Richter for what would be one of the biggest hockey events in American history.
"We did go to the same college and Mike had a great career," Joseph said. "He was a little bit before me but we were kind of in the same era. I followed his career with the Rangers."
From that 1996 U.S. World Cup team, 16 players plus assistant coach John Cunniff and general manager Lou Lamoriello have been inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame. The team as a whole will be enshrined as part of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2016 in Philadelphia on Nov. 30.
The upset win by the U.S. against Canada in three games still stings Joseph. But Father Time has helped ease some of the pain, particularly the high goal that deflected off the stick blade of U.S. forward Brett Hull to give the United States a 2-2 tie with 3:18 remaining in the third period of Game 3. The U.S. won the game 5-2.
"[Hull's] tip goal was one that is still fresh, and I cringe every time I see replays of it," Joseph said. "It was going high and I still remember that. It was the turning point in the game, in my mind."
Joseph laughed out loud when asked if he had any fond memories of the three-game championship series against the United States.
"It was a pretty amazing series," he said. "I was wishing it was one game since we won the first one. I was saying, 'Are you kidding me; it's the best two-out-of-three? That's unfair.' But it was great and I remember it fondly. I watched the replays of the game, it's kind of hard to not see it on some television set somewhere in the country.
"It was great hockey, though, and a great concept. I'm glad they're doing it again this year and I love the idea of having Team North America. If you're a hockey fan it's a treat seeing all these great players."
Joseph, 49, finished his NHL career with 454 wins, fourth-most all-time, in 943 games, fifth highest total in League history. He did win a gold medal with Canada while serving as Brodeur's backup at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.
Despite the heartbreaking loss to the United States, having a chance to represent Canada in the inaugural World Cup of Hockey is something Joseph will always cherish. He said he has never really spoken to Richter about the series or how special a victory it was for hockey in America, but he wouldn't be upset if the conversation shifted in that direction if they ever did get together.

"In the hockey world you go back to your own team and you have your own life," Joseph said. "I'm sure if I saw Mike now and that came up, we'd talk about it, but really I had friends on other teams that I didn't see for seven years. It's just our lifestyle."
Nicknamed "Cujo," Joseph always had a penchant for playing well in the big spots. He had a 2.42 GAA, .917 save percentage and 16 shutouts in 133 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
"You spend 24/7 with your teammates, and then a guy gets traded from your team who might be one of your best friends, and then you don't see him so it's the nature of the business," Joseph said. "After the World Cup, I would turn on the TV every morning and I'd see highlights and watch Mike Richter play (with the New York Rangers), and I know his style. But the fact is Mike was one of the best goalies of my era and a player I liked to watch, for sure."