*1547. Холодная война на льду

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Boris Spremo / TORONTO STAR

Paul Henderson, left foreground, with helmet, and Guy Lapointe must've thought they were in woods as they battle in front of Soviet Union goalie Vladislav Tretiak, during Canada's 4-1 win at the Gardens in Game 2. There was some tough going as both teams engaged in strong physical game, with considerable amount of chippy infraction which the officials didn't penalize.

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http://www.cbc.ca/sports-content/hoc...supremacy.html

By Gord Stellick Posted: Saturday, September 1, 2012 | 01:00 PM
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With NHL stars like Phil Esposito, left, Peter Mahovlich, centre, and Paul Henderson, Team Canada was expected to walk over the
With NHL stars like Phil Esposito, left, Peter Mahovlich, centre, and Paul Henderson, Team Canada was expected to walk over the "amateur" Soviet players in September 1972. (Peter Bregg/Canadian Press)

Forty years ago, Canada was wrapped in the emotions of what we now know as the Summit Series, a battle against the Soviet Union for hockey supremacy.

CBCSports.ca is bringing back the original radio broadcasts of the legendary eight-game series, featuring the voices of Bob Cole and Fred Sgambati.

You can listen to the games as they were originally heard, and then hear Hockey Night in Canada Radio host Gord Stellick talk to some of the key Canadian players about each of the games.

The clips will be available here beginning Saturday at noon.

In our first written installment, Stellick sets up the series.

It was finally happening. A chance to prove what we had all had known for years: There was no hockey power in the world as strong as Canada.

We had suffered the indignity of watching our amateur players being shamed time after time by the top "amateurs" from the powerhouse Soviet Union, who we all knew were actually professional hockey players but were deemed by nefarious bureaucrats to be amateurs.

Then came the Summit Series. We had no doubt that we were going to prove once and for all that we were superior. The creme de la creme of the National Hockey League, the very best Canadian hockey players, the true NHL professionals, would take on the best of the Soviet Union. And teach them a lesson.

An "exhibition" of sorts was arranged for Team Canada and the Soviet Union to engage in an eight-game Summit Series in September, 1972. Team Canada would also play two games in Sweden before heading on to Moscow for the final four games of the series on Soviet soil. They would also play one game in Czechoslovakia after that and come back to a triumphant return.

Thirty-five of the best players in the NHL were selected to teach the Soviets how to play the game. But calling the group the "best" Canadian players would prove to be a misnomer. The upstart World Hockey Association was about to begin its first season as a rival professional hockey league in direct competition to the NHL. Four WHA players who had been slated to be on the 35-man roster were declared ineligible by virtue of their signing with the NHL's new bitter rival. Bobby Hull, J.C. Tremblay, Derek Sanderson and Gerry Cheevers were omitted as Team Canada became more of a Team Canada NHL.

Looking back, it's hard to believe that Harry Sinden was unemployed and looking for work. The perception now is that Sinden enjoyed a long uninterrupted executive career with the Boston Bruins. In fact, he had left the Bruins to work in private business and was back looking for work when his new company went bankrupt.

He was hired as the head coach who would have to work at getting all 35 players into games as Team Canada was expected to roll to an easy rout.

To put it in perspective, Team Canada '72 was expected to dominate the Soviet Union on the ice in the manner that the U.S. Olympic Basketball Dream Team would at the Olympics in 1992.

It didn't quite happen that way.

No 'friendly' exhibition

He'd later become one of the most controversial figures in hockey, exiled and shunned by many of those Team Canada players. But in 1972, Alan Eagleson was the unquestioned architect of the Summit Series and a pivotal and important individual throughout.

The pretense of a "friendly exhibition" would quickly unravel during the first game at the Montreal Forum on September 2, 1972. Canadian hockey fans would see their confidence and smugness shattered in one evening and it would never return to the same degree. They would ride a month-long rollercoaster of every emotion imaginable. In the end it would all be worth it, the many twists and turns making it an event that has stood the test of time and continues to be an incredible hockey benchmark event and memory.

Head coach Harry Sinden and his assistant, John Ferguson, would have to do some of their best coaching and handling of players both on and off the ice. All 35 players had been promised at least one game, but that wasn't to be the case. A few never hit the ice, including future Hall of Famer Marcel Dionne. Four disgruntled players would leave the team while in the Soviet Union and return to their NHL training camps.

While superstar Phil Esposito would play arguably the best hockey of his illustrious career, it wasn't the biggest stars that made the difference in Canada ultimately winning the series by the slimmest of margins. It was great team players like J.P. Parise, Peter Mahovlich, Gary Bergman, Bill White and the lesser-known line of Paul Henderson, Bobby Clarke and Ron Ellis that would shine. Serge Savard was hampered by injuries throughout the series, but he established a presence as a very underrated leader as well.

When it was all over, Canadian hockey fans were able to exhale in unison and thump our chests with pride once again as the greatest hockey nation in the world. But it was a different thump. We had gained an admiration for the Soviet players' abilities and their style. As they had with us. And the loathed and despised "commies" were actually humanized to a degree over the month. It would signal the start of greater things in the international world for "our" great game, as the following years would see an overall softening of the Cold War and Russian and other players would be joining "our" NHL.

But in September, 1972, it was simple for a teenage kid to figure out. It was Us vs. Them. Our "proper way of life" vs. their "oppressive society." Our "innovative" style of hockey vs. their "outdated and inferior" style of hockey.

And it would be much, much more than that.

To those now age 50 and over, the 40th anniversary of the Summit Series is a fabulous opportunity to relive being younger and all that passion that has been rarely repeated. For those under 50, hopefully this is a chance to enjoy and maybe understand why the series has retained such significance and why Team Canada '72 has been named Canada's Team of the Century.

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http://www.1972summitseries.com/index2.html


"Henderson Has Scored For Canada!"

Description: C:\Users\Joe Pelletier\Documents\Hockey -International\1972 Summit Series.com\photos\scoreboardfront.jpg

Almost any Canadian who is old enough can tell you exactly what he or she was doing on September 28, 1972, when Paul Henderson scored the 6-5 goal at 19:26 of the final period. For a moment, our world stood still, and then as the red light flickered behind Vladislav Tretiak, our hearts filled with joy, and relief.

"Here's a shot. Henderson makes a wild stab for it and falls," Foster Hewitt breathlessly described. "Here's another shot. Right in front. They Score!! Henderson has scored for Canada!"

As Foster Hewitt's ghostly words described "the goal heard around the world" millions of Canadians danced and hugged in a scene that was reminiscent of the celebrations at the end of World War II. Never has a single sporting moment meant so much to so many Canadians a sense of unparalleled nationalism.

Paul Henderson's goal sealed a remarkable comeback victory over a Soviet squad that had pushed Canada to the brink of defeat. Of course, none of this was supposed to happen. Team Canada was composed of the NHL's greatest stars, and were expected to easily defeat their communist counterparts. The success of the Soviets stunned Canadians, who had always unquestioningly believed in their country's hockey supremacy.

Team Canada restored the faith of fans by fighting back to win the final 3 games of the series, all on game winning goals by Paul Henderson. Henderson was a talented but unspectacular left winger who was the unlikeliest of heroes. Unlikely heroes have come to define Canadian hockey.

"I found myself with the puck in front of the net," remembers Henderson. "Tretiak made one stop and the puck came right back to me. There was room under him, so I poked the puck through."

"When I saw it go in, I just went bonkers." Millions of thrilled and extremely relieved Canadians went bonkers as well.

Thirty years later, Canadians are still going bonkers about the series. Russians too have equally fond although often different memories about the clash at the top of the hockey world three decades ago. MANY MORE ORIGINAL ARTICLES

www.1972summitseries.com

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http://www.1972summitseries.com/kharlamov.html

Valeri Kharlamov awed Canadian audiences. His slick foot and stick work and amazing speed and shot accuracy places him as perhaps the single most talented player in the entire tournament. It is arguable that Kharlamov was as talented as Gretzky or Lemieux. Kharlamov was
also feisty, leading the Soviets in penalty minutes with 16.

Kharlamov's effectiveness was limited in games 8 due to a fractured ankle courtesy of Bobby Clarke. Had he been healthy....who knows?

"I am convinced that Bobby Clarke was given the job of taking me out of the game," said Kharlamov. "Sometimes, I thought it was his only goal. I looked into his angry eyes, saw his stick which he wielded like a sword, and didn't understand what he was doing. It had nothing to do with hockey."

Aside from the goaltender Tretiak, it was Kharlamov who impressed the Canadians the most.

"He was fast, so hard to defend against out there," remembered Don Awrey, who was burned several times by #17. "I admired the way he used to come from behind and how he kept everyone on their toes. he was simply outstanding!"

SUMMIT STATISTICS

Pos. GP G A P PIM
--------------------------------------------
Valeri Kharlamov LW 7 3 4 7 16
--------------------------------------------

Career Profile

Russia and the former Soviet Union have an incredibly rich hockey history only bettered by that of Canada. But who is the greatest Russian ever?

It's a question that is hard to answer because of the Cold War and the communists Iron Curtain politics. While many of today's fans will claim Sergei Fedorov or Pavel Bure or maybe Alexander Mogilny is the greatest ever, it is almost impossible to determine Russia's greatest player from a Canadian's vantage point.

While the top Russian and eastern European stars are now allowed to come to North America and pursue a career in the NHL, this was not always so. Not until the late 1980's were the top older players given permission to leave. Prior to that point the only time we saw the Russians was in major tournaments such as the Canada Cup and the Olympics. What we did get to see of them left us in awe of the immense skill and team work.

While we have had a chance to watch such as Soviet superstars like Larionov, Makarov and Fetisov, their best years were all behind the Iron Curtain. Those three get much consideration when discussing the topic of the greatest Russian players. Vladislav Tretiak of course also gets high rankings. However very arguably the greatest Russian player was Valeri Kharlamov, and we were almost completely robbed of enjoying his immense package of skills.

Valeri Kharlamov played during the 1970's prior to the arrival of Larionov and Makarov and co. His skating was unequalled and his passing and shooting was simply uncanny. He perhaps had the greatest arsenal of skill of any player ever, maybe even more so than Gretzky or Lemieux, but we never had the chance to really determine that. One European hockey expert described Kharlamov as a combination of Mike Bossy and Pavel Bure.

How good are his credentials? He won 2 Olympic Gold Medals, 8 World Championships with the USSR National team and numerous USSR league championships with Moscow Central Red Army. Whenever an NHL team would have an exhibition game against the Red Army, Kharlamov was a target of cheap and dirty play. They would brutally dominate the small Russian because they feared his ability. Stop Kharlamov from scoring was half the battle against the Soviets, the other half of course was trying to score against Tretiak.

Valeri Kharlamov was taken from us far too soon however. On August 27, 1981 he died from injuries that occurred as a result of a terrible car crash as he and his wife were returning from a summer's vacation.

Kharlamov is survived by, among possibly others, his son Alexander. Alexander was a first round draft pick (1994) of the Washington Capitals. Alexander was once considered a decent prospect but more of a defensive minded winger than a skilled player. He has spent most of his career playing the lower North American pro leagues, but returned to Russia in 2000.

Career Statistics

Born: January 14, 1948 in Moscow
Died: August 27, 1981 in Moscow
Height: 5'8" Weight: 165lbs
Position: LW Shoots: L

Team Year GP G A Pts PIM
Zvezda Chebarkul (Division.3) 1967-68 STATISTICS UNAVAILABLE
CSKA Moscow 1967-68 15 2 3 5 6
CSKA Moscow 1968-69 42 37 12 49 24
CSKA Moscow 1969-70 33 33 10 43 16
CSKA Moscow 1970-71 34 40 12 52 18
CSKA Moscow 1971-72 31 26 16 42 22
CSKA Moscow 1972-73 27 19 13 32 22
CSKA Moscow 1973-74 26 20 10 30 28
CSKA Moscow 1974-75 31 15 24 39 35
CSKA Moscow 1975-76 34 18 18 36 6
CSKA Moscow 1976-77 21 18 8 26 16
CSKA Moscow 1977-78 29 18 24 42 35
CSKA Moscow 1978-79 41 22 26 48 36
CSKA Moscow 1979-80 42 16 22 38 40
CSKA Moscow 1980-81 30 9 16 25 14

Soviet League Totals 436 293 214 507 318

Hockey Card Notes:

#1 - Valeri Kharlamov - Hockey Card #108 Future Trends 1991 Canada Cup retrospective set.

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http://www.1972summitseries.com/clarke.html


Twenty two year old Bobby Clarke launched his career into the superstar stratosphere in these 8 games in September of 1972. Which may have been a surprise to some, as he was the last player to make the team.

The Philadelphia Flyer's infamous yet voracious leader made the team loaded with center icemen thanks largely to a great gelling with linemates Paul Henderson and Ron Ellis. Right from early on in the series, this surprising trio emerged as Canada's best line. Clarke is quick to credit the trio's status as borderline players as to whether or not they would make the team as their biggest advantage, as they took the training and preparations more seriously than many of the superstars who were all but guaranteed a spot on Team Canada.

Clarke earned the respect of many in the series for his determined play, his near-flawless faceoff ability and his solid two-way play.

"There were guys on Team Canada who took their game to new heights in that series. A perfect example would be Bobby Clarke," stated Wayne Cashman.

Paul Henderson, who benefited greatly from playing with Clarke, admired him greatly.

"Bobby Clarke turned out to be one of the most dedicated hockey players that ever played the game. The best thing that could have happened to Ronnie (linemate Ron Ellis) and me was to get this young kid making plays for us. He was terrific!" Henderson enthusiastically stated.

The "Flin Flon Bomber" also earned the despise of many as he is of course remembered for a vicious two handed slash on Soviet superstar Valeri Kharlamov's sore ankle, which caused him to miss the final game. Many have chastised Clarke for his dirty actions. It is a bit of a trademark image for Clarke, who was known as a gritty but sometimes dirty player who would do whatever it took for his team to win.

Clarke was once asked by famous hockey journalist Dick Beddoes about the slash. Clarke, in typical fashion, downplayed the "tap on his sore ankle" as a part of hockey. "If I hadn't learned to to lay on a two-hander once in a while, I'd never have left Flin Flon."

"Team Canada '72 is right at the very top of my hockey life. I always considered winning the Stanley Cup more important, but certainly, they're close to being equal," Clarke stated in Brian McFarlane's excellent book: Team Canada 1972 Where Are They Now?

1972 Summit Series.com Player Profile
Team Canada
#28 - Bobby Clarke - Center

Position: C
Shoots: Left
Height: 5-10
Weight: 185
Born: 8/13/1949 Flin Flon Manitoba
1972 NHL Team: Philadelphia Flyers

Summit Series Statistics
GP G A Pts PIM SOG SAG +/-
8 2 4 6 18 13 25 2

Other Team Canada Appearances -
Captain of the 1976 Canada Cup team that captured the inaugural Canada Cup championship. Scored 1 goal, 3 points in 6 games.

Also represented Canada in the 1982 World Championships and won a bronze medal.

NHL Career Notes - Clarke as one of the NHL's all time greats. His Hall of Fame career includes 2 Stanley Cups, 3 MVP awards (Hart Trophy), 4 All Star nods as well as the Masterton, Pearson, Patrick and Selke Trophies.

A great leader and playmaker, Clarke was as controversial through his career and in retirement as a general manager as he was in the 1972 Summit Series. Love him or hate him, he is a winner.
Career NHL Statistics
GP G A Pts PIM
Regular Season 1144 358 852 1210 1453
NHL Playoffs 136 42 77 119 152

Book Feature
Read Bobby Clarke's memories of the Summit Series in Team Canada 1972: Where Are They Now? By Brian McFarlane $21.26 Cdn

cover

Special Offers
1972 Summit Series Games

Game One
Game Two
Game Three
Game Four
Game Five
Game Six
Game Seven
Game Eight


Buy the DVD!
Canada's Team of the Century
cover

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http://www.1972summitseries.com/game1recap.html

It was supposed to be a cake walk for Canada. The Soviet amateurs would be crushed by Canada's top professionals. Oh, we'll show them just how good Canadian hockey really is. Sure, they could beat our amateur teams that were made up of mill workers and car salesmen, but this was going to be different.
Everything was going according to the script when Canada scored on the first scoring chance of the game just 30 seconds into the action. Phil Esposito, who seconds earlier enthusiastically won the ceremonial faceoff, potted a Frank Mahovlich rebound past a flopping Russian goalie named Vladislav Tretiak.

By the 6:32 mark Canada upped the score to 2-0 when Paul Henderson wired a hard, but seemingly harmless shot to Tretiak's far side. Tretiak looked awkward as he feebly attempted to knock down the puck.

The predicted rout was on. The party was on.

"When I got on the ice," remembered Rod Gilbert in Scott Morrison's excellent book The Days Canada Stood Still, "it was already 2-0. Before I played my first shift it was 2-0, so I'm sitting on the bench saying, 'Let me on. Let me score my goals.' I figured it was going to be 15, 17-0, and I wanted to score a few goals."

Gilbert's thoughts at that point were the common thoughts of almost every Canadian watching the game, and certainly of all the players playing in it. It was a feeling that Canadians not only shared during those opening minutes, but during the entire training camp and since the day the tournament was announced. For that matter, Canadians felt that confident about their hockey dominance ever since the Soviets arrived on the international hockey scene in the 1950s.

Those thoughts were abolished forever before the night was over.

The Soviets settled their nerves after falling behind early. They began to play their game of wonderful passing and skating. The overconfident Canadians eased up, and, as the initial awestruck feeling eased away, the Soviet players took full advantage.

Evgeny Zimin, a miniature speed demon, took a pass from gigantic Alexander Yakushev and bulged the twine behind Ken Dryden at 11:40. Before the period was over the Soviets scored a back-breaking goal while killing a Canadian power play. The great Vladimir Petrov scored as he easily tapped a Boris Mikhailov rebound past a hapless Dryden.

The score was tied at 2. The Soviets went on to simply dominate the second half of the period. They mesmerized the unsuspecting Canucks with their precision playmaking, effortless skating, and intricate and inventive offense.

"I remember walking into the dressing room after the first period and talking to Yvon Cournoyer," Marcel Dionne said in The Days Canada Stood Still. "He just looked at me and said, 'You can't believe their strength and conditioning.'"

1972 Summit Series.com: Game One Box Score
Sept. 2, 1972 - USSR 7 - Canada 3

First Period
1-Canada P. Esposito (F. Mahovlich, Bergman) :30
2-Canada Henderson (Clarke) 6:32
3-USSR Zimin (Yakushev, Shadrin) 11:40
4-USSR Petrov (Mikhailov) 17.28(SH)

Penalties: Henderson (tripping) 1:03, Yakushev (tripping) 7:04, Mikhailov (tripping), 15:11, Ragulin (tripping) 17:19

Second Period
5-USSR Kharlamov (Maltsev) 2:40
6-USSR Kharlamov (Maltsev) 10:18

Penalties: Clarke (slashing) 5:16, Lapointe (slashing) 12:53

Third Period
7- CANADA Clarke (Ellis, Henderson) 8:22
8-USSR Mikhailov (Blinov) 13:32
9-USSR Zimin 14:29
10-USSR Yakushev (Shadrin) 18:37

Penalties: Kharlamov (high sticking) 14:45, Lapointe (cross checking) 19:41

Shots on Goal:
Soviets 10 10 10 - 30
Canada 10 10 12 - 32

Goalies:
Tretiak (29/32) 60 minutes played, 3 goals
Dryden (23/30) 60 minutes played, 7 goals

Game MVPs:
USSR - Kharlamov
Canada - Clarke

Attendance 18,818 (Montreal, Quebec)

Players on ice:
Canada: Bergman, Park, Ellis, P. Esposito, Gilbert, Hadfield, Cournoyer, Berenson, Seiling, Ratelle, Henderson, P. Mahovlich, Redmond, Lapointe, Awrey, F. Mahovlich, Clarke

Soviet Union: Gusev, Lutchenko, Kuzkin, Ragulin, Vasiliev, Tsygankov, Blinov, Maltsev, Zimin, Mishakov, Mikhailov, Yakushev, Petrov, Kharlamov, Vikulov, Shadrin, Liapkin, Paladiev
Photo Feature

Valery Kharlamov made an everlasting impression on Canadian hockey fans with his explosive speed and awesome goal scoring theatrics in game one.
1972 Summit Series Games


Buy the DVD!
Canada's Team of the Century
cover

The Soviets continued to impress their opponents and the increasingly quiet Montreal Forum faithful in the second period. Specifically the electrifying Valeri Kharlamov impressed the most. Considered by many to be the greatest Soviet player of all time, Kharlamov scored twice in the middle frame. His explosive speed and scoring ability made him a household name in Canada after that fine period of play.

The rout was still on, but definitely not as predicted.

The Canadians had a brief moment of hope in the third period when Bobby Clarke, who was named Canada's best player in this historic game, scored to make it 4-3. The Canadians came out and played their best hockey in the opening 10 minutes of that third period, creating several scoring chances only to be foiled by the amazing Tretiak. The scouting reports were wrong about Tretiak -- not only could he stop the puck, but time would prove he was one of the all-time greats.

The Soviets were able to withstand the Canadian onslaught by playing a patient defensive game. They waited for good opportunities to counter attack against the tiring Canadians, and when they did arrive, they capitalized. Mikhailov and Zimin scored 57 seconds apart to put the game out of reach by the 14:29 mark. Yakushev added one final blow late in the period.

Everyone was surprised by how good the Soviets were -- including the Soviets themselves. They came to Canada largely believing all the hype about how Canada's professionals would easily defeat the "amateurs" from Russia

The Russians used their advantages to their fullest extent. They were a team in the truest sense of the word. They had been playing and practicing together for months, not weeks like the Canadian players, and it showed. They were also incredibly better conditioned -- they trained year round, while the Canadians enjoyed their summers of beer and golf and relied on training camp to get back into playing shape.

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http://www.1972summitseries.com/game2recap.html

Canada redeemed themselves nicely in Game 2, thanks largely to a couple of brother acts, and a radically different game plan.

Canada's arrogant thoughts of easily crushing their communist counterparts had backfired, meaning they simply had to win this game to restore confidence in the Canadian people and themselves. In that sense, Game 2 was the most important game of the series for Canada.

And win they did. They held the upper hand on the Soviets most of the night, but had significant trouble beating the skinny 20-year-old goalie Vladislav Tretiak.

After a scoreless first period, Phil Esposito, who was quickly establishing himself as the undisputable leader of Team Canada, opened the scoring in the second period. Yvan Cournoyer used his blazing speed to make the Russian defense look slow on an early power-play marker in the third period, but the Big Yak, Alexander Yakushev, pulled the Soviets to within one just 4 minutes later on the feared Russian power-play unit.

Yakushev's goal was the only one that would get by Chicago Blackhawks goaltending great Tony Esposito. Phil's brother had replaced Ken Dryden in the Canadian nets for this game. It was a good move as Esposito played well and adapted better to the Soviet's criss-crossing offense.

On the same power play, Pete Mahovlich scored on what was perhaps the most remarkable individual effort of the series. With Canada killing a penalty, the lanky "Little M" picked up a Phil Esposito clearing attempt just inside the center line. Faking his patented slapshot, Mahovlich deked a Soviet defender and drove in alone on Tretiak. He faked a forehand shot, went to his backhand, and while falling on top of Tretiak managed to slip the puck into the net by using his impressive long reach. To this day Tretiak is puzzled as to how the puck made it past him, as he knows he played the shot perfectly.

Mahovlich's Miracle Goal - TSN/ESPN Classic Canada

Peter's amazing solo rush awed the Soviets. Big brother Frank Mahovlich teamed up with Czechoslovakian-born Stan Mikita a little more than two minutes later to cement the win. Mikita stole the puck behind the goal and centered to the unchecked Big M, who one-timed a shot off of the post and behind Tretiak.

Led by Phil Esposito's inspiration and Tony Esposito's stellar goaltending, and Pete and Frank Mahovlich's heroic goal scoring, all was well in Canada again.

The Canadians were successful because they played the simplest of game plans. They dressed a more physical lineup and focussed on a fierce forechecking game as well as a tight defensive game. The players were willing to listen to their coaching staffs after being stunned and humiliated in game one. The arrogant NHLers didn't believe that what happened could happen in Game 1, and after it did they were all very attentive to their coaches advice. By doing so, they restored their pride.

"They were more respectful of us in the second game," said Soviet captain Boris Mikhailov. "They understood we could play good hockey. They played very well, a very physical game. We had not seen such a style of game."

1972 Summit Series.com: Game Two Box Score
Sept. 4, 1972 - Canada 4 - USSR 1
First Period
No Scoring
Penalties: Park (cross checking) 10:08, Henderson (tripping) 15:19

Second Period
1-Canada Phil Esposito (Park, Cashman) 7:14
Penalties: Gusev (tripping) 2:07, Soviet Union Bench Minor (served by Zimin) 4;13, Bergman (tripping) 15:16, Tsygankov (slashing) 19:54, Kharlamov (10 minute misconduct) 19:54

Third Period
2-CANADA Cournoyer (Park) 1:19 (PP)
3-USSR Yakushev (Liapkin, Zimin) 5:53 (PP)
4-CANADA P. Mahovlich (P. Esposito) 6:47 (SH)
5-CANADA F. Mahovlich (Mikita, Cournoyer) 8:59
Penalties: Clarke (slashing) 5:13, Stapleton (hooking) 6:14

Shots on goal:
Soviet Union: 7 5 9 - 21
Canada: 10 16 10 - 36

Goalies:
Tretiak (32/36) 60 minutes, 4 goals against
T. Esposito (20/21) 60 minutes, 1 goal against

Game MVPs:
USSR - Tretiak
Canada - P. Esposito & T. Esposito

Attendance 16,485 (Toronto)

Players on Ice:
Canada: Bergman, Stapleton, Park, Ellis, P. Esposito, Goldsworthy, Cournoyer, Cashman, White, Henderson, P.Mahovlich, Mikita, Parise, Savard, Lapointe, F. Mahovlich, Clarke

Soviet Union: Gusev, Lutchenko, Kuzkin, Ragulin, Tsygankov, Starshinov, Maltsev, Zimin, Mishakov, Mikhailov, Yakushev, Petrov, Kharlamov, Shadrin, Anisin, Liapkin, Paladiev
Photo Feature

Tony Esposito was instrumental in stopping Soviet shooters in game 2. At the other end of the ice brother Phil scored 1 goal and 1 assist en route to Canada's first victory of the series.
1972 Summit Series Games

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http://www.1972summitseries.com/game3recap.html

One of Canada's top players was deliberately left off the Team Canada roster for the 1972 Summit Series. Bobby Hull had jumped to the World Hockey Association, and the NHL decided there was no way he would be included on Team Canada.

Hull would be forced to watch in the stands in his new hometown of Winnipeg on September 6. He, like the rest of Canada, wondered which Team Canada would show up: The one that bombed in Montreal, or dominated in Toronto?

The answer was both. Canada probably should have won the game, but they blew two two-goal leads during this game. It became obvious that this team was not yet in good enough condition or playing as a cohesive unit.

Despite out-shooting the Russians 15-9 in the first period, Team Canada only led by a 2-1 margin. Canada played very well in the first period, led by Jean-Paul Parise's goal just 1:54 into the game. Vladimir Petrov answered back for the Soviets, but Jean Ratelle tapped in a wonderful pass from Yvan Cournoyer to give Canada the lead after one.

Canada was playing a very physical game, however Wayne Cashman was being watched closely. He made his presence felt in Game 2 so much that he was all the Russians would talk about after the game. They didn't appreciate the physical liberties he took on them, nor did they appreciate the referees failure to enforce the rules. In this game, he wasn't being allowed to use his usual tricks.

A wild second period saw the Soviet's secret weapon unveiled. In what amounted to the Russian version of the "Kid Line," the Russians dressed Yuri Lebedev, Alex Bodunov and Viacheslav Anisin for the first time. The trio represented the future of Soviet hockey, and they contributed hugely to the tie in Winnipeg.

Canada opened the second period scoring thanks to Phil Esposito. Valeri Kharlamov answered with a short handed goal only to have Paul Henderson restore the impressive 2 goal lead.

Cue the Kid Line.

At 14:59 of the second period, Yuri Lebedev deflected a Valeri Vasiliev point shot. Then at 18:28, the talented Alexander Bodunov took a nice centering pass from Viacheslav Anisin to tie the game at 4.

"They put out that young line we hadn't seen before and they dominated us," said coach Harry Sinden.

The third period featured no scoring and relatively few shots. But the period wasn't nearly as close in terms of territorial play. The Canadians tired noticeably in the third period and were lucky that the Soviets didn't display more of a killer instinct.

1972 Summit Series.com: Game Three Box Score
Sept. 6, 1972 - Canada 4 - USSR 4

First Period
1-Canada Parise (White, P. Esposito) 1:54
2-USSR Petrov 3:16 (SH)
3-Canada Ratelle (Cournoyer, Bergman) 18:25
Penalties: Vasiliev (elbowing) 3:02, Cashman (slashing) 8:01, Parise (interference) 15:47

Second Period
4-Canada P Esposito (Cashman, Parise) 4:19
5-USSR Kharlamov (Tsygankov) 12:56 (SH)
6-Canada Henderson (Clarke, Ellis) 13:47
7-USSR Lebedev (Anisin, Vasiliev) 14:59
8-USSR Bodunov (Anisin) 18:28
Penalties: Petrov (interference) 4:46, Lebedev (tripping) 11:00

Third Period
No Scoring
Penalites: White (slashing), Mishakov (slashing) 1:33, Cashman (minor, slashing and 10 minute misconduct) 10:44

Shots on goal:
Soviet Union: 9 8 8 - 25
Canada 15 17 6 - 38

Goalies:
Tretiak (34/38) 60 minutes, 4 goals
T. Esposito (21/25) 60 minutes, 4 goals

Game MVPs:
USSR - Tretiak
Canada - Henderson

Attendance 9,800 (Winnipeg)

Players on ice:
Canada: Bergman, Stapleton, Park, Ellis, P. Esposito, Cournoyer, Cashman, White, Ratelle, Henderson, P. Mahovlich, Mikita, Parise, Savard, Lapointe, F. Mahovlich, Clarke

Soviet Union: Gusev, Lutchenko, Kuzkin, Vasiliev, Tsygankov, Maltsev, Mishakov, Mikhailov, Shatalov, Yakushev, Petrov, Kharlamov, Shadrin, Solodukhin, Anisin, Lebedev, Bodunov
Photo Feature

The above issue of The Hockey News summed up the shock in Canada following the first four games in Canada..
1972 Summit Series Games

Buy the DVD!
Canada's Team of the Century

[Николай Озеров]

http://www.1972summitseries.com/game4recap.html

After a shocking loss in Montreal and a less than impressive effort in Winnipeg, it was becoming obvious that Canadian fans were becoming increasingly frustrated with the results. That would be hammered home by the end of the night. Vancouver's Pacific Coliseum played host to Game 4, but it would not be a friendly venue for Team Canada.

Canada, playing without defensive standouts Guy Lapointe and Serge Savard due to injury, got into penalty trouble early. Bill Goldsworthy, inserted into the lineup because of his energy and physical play, was too exuberant and was penalized twice in the opening six minutes. The Soviets made full advantage of their excellent special teams. Two power-play goals by Boris Mikhailov gave the powerful Soviets a commanding 2-0 lead early

From that point on it was the Vladislav Tretiak show. Tretiak, quickly becoming a hero in Canada even though he was the star of the enemy team, stopped 38 of 41 shots, including 21 in the final period.

Gilbert Perreault scored a beautiful goal to get Canada on the board. It was ironic that it was Perreault who scored such a wonderful goal in Vancouver, as Perreault almost became a Vancouver Canuck a couple years earlier.

But after Perreault's goal the Soviets answered with two second period goals of their own. Vladimir Petrov set up Yuri Blinov for a nice goal on a two-on-one break. Later in the period Vladimir Vikulov capitalized from the slot while Team Canada's defenders were hopelessly out of position.

Canada played pretty well in the third period, but most of their 21 third period shots were from far out. Two goals by Dennis Hull and the goat earlier in the game Bill Goldsworthy surrounded Vladimir Shadrin's mid-period tally.

The 5-3 score was actually flattering to Canada on this night. Alan Eagleson honestly admitted "We stunk the joint out."

A crowd of 15,570 Vancouver fans echoed the rest of Canada's sentiments as they routinely booed Team Canada. At the conclusion of the game, Team Canada was booed right off the ice, which led to Phil Esposito's famous emotional outburst on national television.

"To the people across Canada, we tried. We gave it our best. To the people who booed us, geez, all of us guys are really disheartened. We're disillusioned and disappointed. We cannot believe the bad press we've got, the booing we've got in our own building.

"I'm completely disappointed. I cannot believe it. Every one of us guys -- 35 guys -- we came out because we love our country. Not for any other reason. We came because we love Canada."

Espo was in disbelief that Canadians would boo their players and that he assured Canadians that the players were giving "150 percent" and acknowledge the Soviets as a great team with great players.

This speech seemed to light a fire under Team Canada and the whole country. It helped to jell a team of players who were together for only a few weeks, and who were enemies during the NHL season. Team Canada went to the Soviet Union as a team. And 3,000 boisterous and proud flag waving Canadian fans accompanied them.

1972 Summit Series.com: Game Four Box Score
Sept. 8, 1972 - USSR 5 - Canada 3
First Period
1-USSR Mikhailov (Lutchenko, Petrov) 2:01 (PP)
2-USSR Mikhailov (Lutchenko, Petrov) 7:29 (PP)
Penalties: Goldsworthy (cross checking) 1:24, Goldsworthy (elbowing) 5:58, P. Esposito (tripping) 19:29

Second Period
3-Canada Perreault 5:37
4-USSR Blinov (Petrov, Mikhailov) 6:34
5-USSR Vikulov (Kharlamov, Maltsev) 13:52
Penalties: Kuzkin (tripping) 8:39

Third Period
6-Canada Goldsworthy (P. Esposito, Bergman) 6.54
7-USSR Shadrin (Yakushev, Vasiliev) 11:05
8-Canada D. Hull (P. Esposito) 19:38
Penalties: Petrov (holding) 2:01

Shots on Goal:
Soviet Union: 11 14 6 - 31
Canada: 10 8 23 - 41

Goalies:
Tretiak (38/41) 60 minutes, 3 goals against
Dryden (26/31) 60 minutes, 5 goals against

Game MVPs:
USSR - Mikhailov
Canada - P. Esposito

Attendance 15,570 (Vancouver)

Players on ice
Canada: Bergman, Stapleton, Park, Ellis, P. Esposito, Gilbert, Goldsworthy, D. Hull, Hadfield, Cournoyer, Seiling, White, Henderson, Awrey, F. Mahovlich, Clarke, Perreault

Soviet Union: Lutchenko, Kuzkin, Ragulin, Vasiliev, Tsygankov, Blinov, Maltsev, Mikhailov, Yakushev, Petrov, Kharlamov, Vikukov, Shadrin, Anisin, Lebedev, Bodunov, Paladiev

Photo Feature

Phil Esposito's famous rant followed the disappointing performance in game 4 (Photo courtesy CNNSI.com).
1972 Summit Series Games

Buy the DVD!
Canada's Team of the Century

[Николай Озеров]

http://www.1972summitseries.com/game5recap.html

Team Canada nicknamed themselves as Team 50 once they arrived in the Soviet Union. After being unceremoniously booed off the ice in the final game in Canada, the team felt alone in the world. Seemingly it was just the 50 of them (players plus the coaches, trainers, doctors, etc.) behind the vaunted Iron Curtain, and they were taking on the mighty Soviet empire all by themselves.

Or so they thought.

It quickly became obvious that they did, in fact, have the support of the Canadian public, and that played a major role in Canada's successes in Russia.

Approximately 3,000 Canadian fans made the trip to Moscow. They cheered on their heroes from bad seats in Luzhniki Ice Palace, but they didn't care. They cheered and partied so enthusiastically that the usually calm and collected Russian spectators seemed to be taken aback by the Canadians' behaviour.

And tens of thousands of Canadians back home sent best wishes in the form of telegrams to the team. The team pasted these telegrams in their dressing room so that they would be reminded of the support that they did indeed have -- the support that they thought they had last after the first four games of the series.

Thirteen days separated Games 4 and 5. Canada prepared for the Moscow leg of the trip in Sweden where they would get used to the large ice surface by playing a couple of rough exhibition games.

Nearly everyone agreed that there was too much time between games, so everyone was relieved to drop the puck for Game 5. The Canadians were anxious and ready to get it back on.

Before the puck drop however there were some long pre-game ceremonies to go through. During the player introductions, Phil Esposito immediately made himself a crowd favorite in Russia as he slipped on the ice when he was introduced. The crowd chuckled while the blushing Esposito got up and bowed to the crowd with a huge smile on his face. That was just one of many memorable moments to come in Moscow.

Team Canada opened game 5 by playing the best first 40 minutes that they had played yet. They built a 3-0 lead, and were dominating the game. Jean-Paul Parise opened the scoring in the 1st period, making him the first Canadian professional to score a goal in Russia.

Paul Henderson was the star of this game. Already with one goal, he would crash heavily into the boards and lay motionless for sometime. He suffered a concussion, but refused to listen to doctor's advice and even the team's advice to sit for the rest of the game. He came back and scored on his very next shift. That goal gave Canada a commanding 4-1 lead in the third period.

Team Canada just seemed to stop skating in the third period and the Russians capitalized. It was just as if they flicked on a switch. Five third period goals on 11 shots had unthinkably given the Russians the 5-4 win.

The Russians had Team Canada backed into a corner. With a 3-1-1 lead, it now seemed next to impossible for Canada to win. The tides had turned. Team Soviet became complacent and arrogant. Canada was ready to fight back, and were coming together just at the right time.

CBC Radio Coverage Of Game Five - CBC Radio (3:04)

1972 Summit Series.com: Game Five Box Score
Sept. 22, 1972 - USSR 5 - Canada 4
Game 5 Moscow, Sept. 22, 1972. USSR 5 - Canada 4

First Period
1-Canada Parise (Perreault, Gilbert) 15:30
Penalties: Ellis (tripping) 3:49, Kharlamov (slashing) 12:25

Second Period
2-Canada Clarke (Henderson) 3:34
3-Canada Henderson (Lapointe, Clarke) 11:58
Penalties: Ellis (slashing) 5:38, Kharlamov (holding) 5:38, Bergman (roughing) 8:13, White (slashing) 20:00, Blinov (slashing) 20:00

Third Period
4-USSR Blinov (Petrov, Kuzkin) 3:34
5-Canada Henderson (Clarke) 4:56
6-USSR Anisin (Liapkin, Yakushev) 9:05
7-USSR Shadrin (Anisin) 9:13
8-USSR Gusev (Ragulin, Kharlamov) 11:41
9-USSR Vikulov (Kharlamov) 14:46
Penalties: Clarke (holding) 10:25, Tsygankov (high sticking) 10:25, Yakushev (hooking) 15:48

Shots on goal:
Canada: 12 13 12 - 37
Soviet Union: 9 13 11 - 33

Goalies:
Tretiak (33/37) 60 minutes, 4 goals against
T. Esposito (28/33) 60 minutes played, 5 goals against

Game MVPs:
USSR - Petrov - Yakushev
Canada - T. Esposito - Henderson

Attendance 15,000 (Moscow)

Players on ice:
Canada: Bergman, Stapleton, Park, Ellis, P. Esposito, Gilbert, Cournoyer, Seiling, White, Ratelle, Henderson, P. Mahovlich, Parise, Lapointe, F. Mahovlich, Clarke, Perreault

Soviet Union: Gusev, Lutchenko, Kuzkin, Ragulin, Tsygankov, Blinov, Maltsev, Misahkov, Mikhailov, Yakushev, Petrov, Kharlamov, Vikulov, Shadrin, Anisin, Liapkin, Martyniuk
Photo Feature

Alexander Maltsev's speed impressed North American fans, but those fans never really witnessed the true greatness of Maltsev in the '72 series as he never quite found his "A" game..
1972 Summit Series Games

Buy the DVD!
Canada's Team of the Century
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