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The Super Cup took place in September of 1997. Originally the International Ice Hockey Federation intended the Super Cup to be a pre-season tournament between the champions of the previous season's European Hockey League, European Cup and the Stanley Cup. As the season neared, however, it became evident that the National Hockey League would be able to send their defending champs, the Detroit Red Wings. Despite the loss of the Red Wings, the IIHF agreed to continue with the ultimate international championship.
On December 30, 1996, the gold medal game of the European Cup was played between Lada Togliatti from Russia and Modo HC Domsjö from Sweden. In a hard fought battle Lada defeated Modo by a score of 4-3 to capture the 32nd and final edition of the European Cup.
On January 26, 1997, the gold medal game of the inaugural European Hockey League was played between TPS Turku from Finland and Dynamo Moscow from Russia. Turku pulled away in third period and easily handled the Russian squad by a score of 5-2, thus being crown the first winner of the Silver Stone Cup.
As September drew closer, Lada Togliatti and TPS Turku prepared to face-off for the first European Super Cup. With members of the IIHF present, a classic match-up took place. The first period was scoreless and following two periods Lada held a slight edge, 2-1. Turku refused to give-up though and rallied in the third to tie the game at two. With 2:17 to play Tony Virta beat Lada's goaltender Sergei Nikolaiev on a rebound, clinching victory for Turku. Finally, following a year of action the final European Cup, and the inaugural EHL and Super Cup championships had all been played. TPS Turku had taken their place in history as the first champion of the Orbis Magnus Cup. Nikolaiev was named player of the game for Lada and Tomi Kallio, who scored the game-tying goal was player of the game for Turku.
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