The 1972 Summit Series between Canada and Soviet Union (now split into different countries, Russia was the biggest part of the Soviet Union) is one of the Greatest Moments in Hockey. The rivalry between the two countries makes any Canada - Russia hockey game a skilled, passionate game and both teams playing hard for the win.
1972 Summit Series
The Summit Series was the first hockey competition between Canada (all players played in the NHL on Canada) and the Soviet Union. The Summit Series was an eight game competition. 4 of the 8 games were in Canada at Montreal, QC (Montreal Forum), Toronto, ON (Maple Leaf Gardens), Winnipeg MB (Winnipeg Arena), and Vancouver, BC (Pacific Coliseum). The rest of the games were in the Soviet Union in Moscow (now part of Russia) at the Luzhniki Ice Palace.
The Competition
Game 1 at Montreal, QC, on September 2, 1972: The first game for the Summit Series started with a bang. Phil Esposito scored in the first period in thirty seconds for Canada. The Canadians took a 2-0 lead in the first 6 minutes in the first period. Canadians at the game thought Canada would easily win the Series. But they were wrong. USSR (Soviet Union) came back to tie the game up before the end of the period. The Soviets scored twice in the second period thanks to Valeri Kharlamov. The Soviets won the game 7-3. USSR was winning the series 1-0.
Game 2 at Toronto, ON, on September 4, 1972: Second Game of the Series had a different result then the first with Canada winning 4-1. Peter Mahovlich scored a short-handed which he beat the Soviet net-minder Vladislav Tretiak. Game 3 at Winnipeg, MB on September 6, 1972: The third game in ended in a tie of 4-4. Canada had two leads but the Soviets did not give and made the series one win, one tie, and one tie for both the teams.
Game 4 at Vancouver, B.C. on September 8, 1972: Game 4 was a disappointing loss for Canada, losing 5-3. Vancouver's crowd had booed off the ice after the game. Phil Esposito had a great speech to the fans and the Series:
"To the people across Canada, we tried, we gave it our best, and to the people that boo us, geez, I'm really, all of us guys are really disheartened and we're disillusioned, and we're disappointed at some of the people. We cannot believe the bad press we've got, the booing we've gotten in our own buildings. If the Russians boo their players, the fans... Russians boo their players... Some of the Canadian fans—I'm not saying all of them, some of them booed us, then I'll come back and I'll apologize to each one of the Canadians, but I don't think they will. I'm really, really... I'm really disappointed. I am completely disappointed. I cannot believe it. Some of our guys are really, really down in the dumps, we know, we're trying like hell. I mean, we're doing the best we can, and they got a good team, and let's face facts. But it doesn't mean that we're not giving it our 150%, because we certainly are.
I mean, the more - everyone of us guys, 35 guys that came out and played for Team Canada. We did it because we love our country, and not for any other reason, no other reason. They can throw the money, uh, for the pension fund out the window. They can throw anything they want out the window. We came because we love Canada. And even though we play in the United States, and we earn money in the United States, Canada is still our home, and that's the only reason we come. And I don't think it's fair that we should be booed." - Phil Esposito
Stop at Sweden: Team Canada stopped at Sweden and played the Swedish National Team on September 16 and 17 at the Hovet Arena, Stockholm, Sweden. Canada beat Sweden 4-1 and a 4-4 tie too.
Game 5 at Moscow, USSR (now in Russia) on September 22, 1972: Canada had arrived at Moscow for the final 4 games of the Summit Series. Some Canadian players left the team to go back home. Canada led the game 4-1, but lost 5-4 to the Soviets.
Game 6 at Moscow, USSR (now in Russia) on September 24, 1972: Game Six had controversy between some Canadian players and Soviet players. Bobby Clarke had purposely slashed Varleri Kharlamov in the ankle. Kharlamov was the Soviet's best player. Varleri Kharlamov played the rest of the game, but missed Game 7 and did not do much in Game 8. Few years after John Ferguson, the assistant coach of the Canadian Team, told the media that he told Bobby Clarke to slash his ankle. Canada won the game 3-2 with Paul Henderson scoring the game winner in the second period.
Game 7 at Moscow, USSR (now in Russia) on September 26, 1972: Game 7 had controversy as well. Gary Bergman of Canada and Boris Mikhailov of the Soviets had started a fight and Mikhailov used his skate as a weapon on him. He did it twice before stopping. Canada won the game 4-3 by Paul Henderson scoring in the third.
Game 8 at Moscow, USSR (now in Russia) on September 28, 1972: The series had been a tie going into Game 8 at both teams with 3 wins, 3 losses, and 1 tie. Most of Canada shut down to watch the game at school or work. The game was an intense battle between the Canadians and the Soviets. Canada took early penalties in the beginning of the game. J. P. Parise had swung his stick at the Soviet player, Josef Kompalla. Parise had received a match penalty. Harry Sinden (The Coach of Team Canada), had thrown a chair on to the ice. The score was 2-2 after the first periods end. The USSR had scored 3 more in the second period and Canada scored one to make it 5-3. Team Canada was desperate to score and goaltender Ken Dryden, quoted to say: "If we lose this one, I'll be the most hated man in Canada." - Ken Dryden. The third period was the best of the whole series and had the most controversy in it. Yvan Cournoyer, of Canada and Phil Esposito scored in the third to tie it up. The goal light do not come on and Alan Eagleson (hockey agent) had started making noise and was about to be taken away with the USSR police, but Peter Mahovlich stop the Soviet police with his stick. Eagleson did not go with the Soviets police, but went to the Canadian bench and gave the crowd the middle finger. Some other Canadian fans also gave the finger as well. The score was 5-5; both teams at 3-3-1, Soviets delegation said that if the game was a tie USSR would take the series win because of goal differential. With 1 minute left in the game Canadian had put Phil Esposito, Yvan Cournoyer, and Peter Mahovlich on to the ice. Paul Henderson had replaced Mahovlich when he skated by the bench and he rushed to the net. Esposito took a shot at the net and the Soviets goalie, Vladislav Tretiak gave a giant rebound and Henderson scored right past him! Canada had won the Summit Series 4-3-1 against the Soviets! The winning goal was captured by Frank Lennon.
Stop at Czechoslovakia
Canada also stopped at Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic and Slovakia) for 1 game which ended in a tie 3-3 at the Sportovní hala in Prague, Czechoslovakia (now in Czech Republic).
Roster for Canada: Phil Esposito, Paul Henderson, Bobby Clarke, Yvan Cournoyer, Brad Park, Dennis Hull, J. P. Parise, Rod Gilbert, Jean Ratelle, Gary Bergman, Ron Ellis, Gilbert Perreault, Bill Goldsworthy, Frank Mahovlich, Peter Mahovlich, Bill White,Wayne Cashman, Serge Savard, Stan Mikita, Red Berenson, Guy Lapointe, Mickey Redmond, Don Awrey, Vic Hadfield, Rod Seiling, Pat Stapleton, Tony Esposito, Ken Dryden, Eddie Johnston.
Roster for the Soviet Union: Boris Mikhailov, Vladimir Petrov, Yury Blinov, Valeri Kharlamov, Alexander Yakushev, Yevgeni Zimin, Vyacheslav Starshinov, Vladimir Vikulov, Yevgeni Mishakov, Alexander Maltsev,Vladimir Shadrin, Yuri Lebedev, Alexander Volchkov, Vyacheslav Anisin, Alexander Bodunov, Alexander Martynyuk, Viacheslav Solodukhin Valery Vasiliev, Alexander Ragulin, Viktor Kuzkin, Vladimir Lutchenko, Gennadiy Tsygankov, Yuri Lyapkin, Yuri Shatalov, Aleksander Gusev, Vitaly Davydov, Yevgeny Paladiev. Vladislav Tretiak, Victor Zinger, Alexander Sidelnikov, Alexander Pashkov.
Why this was an important event in Hockey?
This was an important event because it showed the rivalry between Canada and the Soviets Union to the fullest extreme. Soviets had a different kind of training methods and worked well for them. North America watched and learned these training methods and some NHL teams used them to train. Soviets also got respect from fans for there performance. Canada learned that even if you play in the highest league of hockey, you may not be the best in the world.
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