High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The 1981 Canada Cup was the second best-on-best ice hockey world championship and involved the world`s top six hockey nations. Tournament games were held in Edmonton, Winnipeg, Montreal and Ottawa. The Soviet Union defeated Canada in a single game final to win its first title, while Soviet goaltender Vladislav Tretiak was named most valuable player. Canada`s Wayne Gretzky led the tournament in scoring with 12 points.