Rendez-Vous '87 More Than Just Hockey

Rendez-Vous '87 wasn't about hockey. The two hockey games themselves definitely were, but Rendez-Vous itself was a much bigger venture

Coinciding with the legendary Quebec Winter Carnival, Quebec Nordiques owner Marcel Aubut took it upon himself to make the NHL all star game much more than anything before, or for that matter since.

The most obvious change was change on the ice. Instead of NHL all stars from the two conferences squaring off, the Soviet National team was brought in to face the very best the NHL had to offer. This also happened in 1979 in a best of three series known as the Challenge Cup.

But Rendez-Vous encompassed so much more than just hockey. It was a cultural bringing together of Russia, the United States, and Canada. With the change in hockey format and the tie-in with the Winter Carnival confirmed, Aubut, a proud Quebecois, went about making it a "super-Carnival."

The Carnival went ahead with the traditional parades, variety shows and Snow Queen pageants, but also featured some fascinating additions:

* The Hockey Hall of Fame was temporarily moved from Toronto to the Manege militaire on Grande Allee.

* A special hockey parade was created.

* Quebec entertainers Yvon Deschamps and Jean Lapointe played host to over a dozen artists from Canada, France and the USSR at the Opening Variety Show.

* Gourmet Dinner at the Centre Municipal des Congres, featuring some of the finest Soviet, American and Canadian chefs.

* A business leaders' luncheon with special guest speaker Lee Iacocca, president of the Chrysler corporation.

* Alan Thicke hosts the International Gala, a collection of Soviet, American and Canadian entertainers including Gordon Lightfoot and the Red Army Choir.

* Mila Mulroney, wife of Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney hosts a brunch with fashion designer Pierre Cardin as special guest. Cardin later unveils a retrospective fashion show.

* Rock concert featuring Glass Tiger and Soviet group Autograph

* A closing variety show featuring Quebec artists Luba, Marjo and Silvie Tremblay.