The 1972 canadasoviet hockey series was perhaps the most dramatic sports event in canadian history. So many years later, game 8 and the goal remains freshest in the minds of canadians who watched it on television and even. Now, in titans of 72, bestselling author mike leonetti tells the stories behind each canadian on that fabled team canada, including those like bobby orr who didnt actually play. I think we had in our minds an idea that it had an effect on canada, but we. The first four games of the series were held in canada and the final four in moscow. The exhibition hockey series was considered a huge event in this country, our own personal moon landing.
The 40th anniversary of the 1972 canadarussia series is this month, and im not buying in. The canadians were convinced that the kgb had bugged their hotel. The first four games were played in canada montreal, toronto, winnipeg and vancouver. Why was the 1972 summit series significant to canada. At the time, soviets were dominant team in international hockey. Video of canadas greatest hockey triumph was dubbed a national treasure on monday. The reaction to canadas win in the summit series illustrates just how much the world has changed in the past 40 years. Sep 15, 2012 it was widely assumed that canadas pros would make short work of the soviet upstarts. Our battles with the soviets began as a proxy for war, and became a paradigm for. How did the 1972 summit series impact canadas national identity. When the cold war became hot the summit series between the. The exhibition hockey series was considered a huge event in.
But it was a more respectful canada that came out of the series, one that was less arrogant about their game but could still claim to the world that it was the best at it. In augusts training camp team canada had three junior players join the team. Bobby clarke, alexander ragulin, yevgeny poladjev, vladislav tretiak and an unknown official during game 2 of the summit series on 4 september 1972 at maple leaf gardens in toronto, ontario, canada. For more information on each player including his bio, career statistics and a brief overview of his performance in the 1972 summit, please click on the players name in the team roster above. Superseriya sssr canada, known at the time simply as the canadaussr series, was an eightgame series of ice hockey between the soviet union and canada, held in september 1972. Collectibles message to todd mcfarlane give us some 1972 figures. According to canadian experts it was a series that wasnt going to be much of a series.
For 27 days in september of 1972, there were no longer french canadians or. The flyers red army game, the roughest, most bizarre hockey game ever duration. Canada s changed position was fully shown in november 1989, when prime minister mulroney visited the soviet union, accompanied by more than 200 representatives of canadian business. Hockey hall of fame team canada 1972 tribute rosters and. The summit series healed a nation and gave respect to an enemy. Why hendersons 1972 winner is canadas most iconic sports. Sep 26, 2007 how politicians used the 1972 summit series trudeau, brezhnev used hockey for political gains pierre elliot trudeau and leonid brezhnev might not have had a lot in common, but a love of sports and a belief that sports, and in greater context culture, can play a vital role in the development of the nation. The reaction to canada s win in the summit series illustrates just how much the world has changed in the past 40 years. Canada needed to regroup for the soviet portion of the summit series and began by playing a pair of exhibition games against sweden. Players from legendary 1972 canadaussr summit series. Leisa lee, public relations for the 72 summit series tour, 5149462010, email protected. New listing paul henderson team canada 1972 summit series the goal toronto star autographed. The 1972 summit series between national hockey teams from canada and the ussr was the first time that canadian professional hockey players faced the soviet unions national team.
There are many contenders for canadas most iconic sports moment. Melanie alexandra ngai 0030880019 cold war during the 1970s how did the 1972 summit series affect international relations between canada and the. Media relations, parks canada agency, 8558621812, email protected. In hockeys 72 summit series between canada and soviet. How did the 1972 summit series impact canada s national identity. In hockeys 72 summit series between canada and soviet union. I told him that not only did i follow his career through his many years as a hab, but also during the 1972 summit series when he was a member of team canada. Sep 02, 2012 forty years later, it remains seared in the canadian consciousness. Hockey put canadas cold war perceptions on ice the. While dryden didnt feel the games against sweden did much to enhance canadas chances of. Sep 10, 2012 heres some other things you probably didnt know about the 1972 summit series.
Its become known as the summit series, though four decades ago it was simply called the canadau. The 1972 summit series between the best from russia and the best from canada turned out to be one of the most significant events, not only in hockey history, but also in canadian history. Im writing a history essay, and one of the topics is the 1972 summit series, and its significance to canada. The summit series, or super series known at the time simply as the canada ussr series, was an eightgame series of ice hockey between the soviet union and canada, held in september 1972. Team canadas phil esposito 7 and teammate yvan cournoyer battle with russian goalie vladislav tretiak and defenceman valery vasiliev 6 in moscow during the historic 1972 summit series.
The 1972 summit series, also known as the super series or simply the canadaussr series, was an eightgame hockey tournament between the soviet union and canada, held in the september of 1972. Was the 1972 summit series significant in terms of canadian history. This essay will firstly address the reasons on why the summit series was needed to cool tensions. Numerous agreements were signed during the visit, the most important of which was a political declaration calling for canadiansoviet cooperation in such areas as. If you thought youd heard everything there was to know about this historic event then this book will quickly dispel those thoughts. The story of the summit series, as its never been told. Bendell has achieved an unsurpassed level of detail in this investigative look at the 1972 summit series. The hockey hall of famer looks back on the epic meeting and canada and the soviet union in 1972.
The 1972 summit series recognized as an event of national. Like the old team canada of 1972, they started forming a tight bond again. The 1972 summit series, also known as the super series or simply the canada ussr series, was an eightgame hockey tournament between the soviet union and canada, held in the september of 1972. Dryden discussed his experience as a goalie on the canadian national hockey team during the 1972 summit series against the soviet national team. Kevin peters on the cold war politics of the 72 summit series. In 1972 when russia agreed to face canada on the ice in an eight game series, four in each country, the sports world came to a standstill. Surviving members of 1972 team canada pulling together to.
Hockey put canadas cold war perceptions on ice the globe. Hockey put canadas cold war perceptions on ice the globe and. A very entertaining and informative book about the canadaussr 1972 summit series that is easytoread, and the most comprehensive book ive ever come across on the series. Forty years later, it remains seared in the canadian consciousness. Though there were 3,000 canadian fans in moscow and national tv coverage. Aug 31, 2012 hockey put canadas cold war perceptions on ice. A madefortelevision movie on the 1972 summit series that aired recently in moscow focused on the allegedly bitter rivalry between tarasov and bobrov, almost ignoring the drama of the games with canada. Jun 06, 2009 why was the 1972 summit series significant to canada. But in moscow, after losing another match, team canada turned the tables on the soviets, winning an amazing three games in a row to take the summit series.
Things you did not know about 1972 summit series not everyone knows this. Paul henderson was reluctant to join team canada because he had a vacation on the rhine river planned with his wife. He noted that perhaps the greatest russian influence on professional sports was their ability to turn their weaknesses and limited resources into advantages. About team canada 1972 and 288 in 2014, team canada 1972 launched this initiative, which promotes the power of teamwork and acknowledges the team effort throughout the summit series all 28,800 seconds of it.
Extended essay how did the 1972 summit series affect. The soviets were determined to prove that their reputation as the best in the world was deserved, while the canadians believed that their day of redemption was close at hand. Plaque commemorates 72 summit series ahead of crosscanada tour the 1972 summit series was a defining moment that brought canadians together and many believed the special series changed hockey. Nbc sports network to air documentary on 1972 canadaussr.
What made the games so compelling was the fact they. This essay examines the question, how did the 1972 summit series affect international relations between canada and the soviet union in the 1970s. The punchup in piestany was a benchclearing brawl between the canadian and soviet national junior teams during the final game of the 1987 world junior ice hockey championships in. Were playing hockey like they did in the 70s now in canada, and theyre. Both countries competed in the sport of ice hockey such as the 1972 summit series and its sequel in 1974. Unlike americas feelgood miracle on ice in 1980, the 1972 canadasoviet summit series was not a david vs. While dryden didnt feel the games against sweden did much to enhance canadas chances of beating the soviets, his teammates disagreed. Canada won the first game 41, and tied the second game at 4. Sep 27, 2012 a madefortelevision movie on the 1972 summit series that aired recently in moscow focused on the allegedly bitter rivalry between tarasov and bobrov, almost ignoring the drama of the games with canada. Sep 21, 2012 the heartbreak of losing the 1972 summit series to team canada in the final minute of the last game was devastating for members of the soviet national team and their fans.
Whether you are a hockey fan, a sports fan in general, or just love a great story, the 1972 summit series canada vs ussr is a great read. Many believe this special series changed hockey forever. When the cold war became hot the summit series between. The soviet union competed in the rendezvous 87 against the nhl allstar team only to win game 2 53. Paul henderson 1972 summit series game 8, goal 11 youtube.
In 20, the team formed an entity called 1972 summit series hockey team inc. It was widely assumed that canadas pros would make short work of the soviet upstarts. The final game of the 1972 summit series, a bright idea forged by hockey executives to bring together some of canadas best players to play against soviet. The reaction to canadas win in the summit series illustrates just how much the. The heartbreak of losing the 1972 summit series to team canada in the final minute of the last game was devastating for members of the soviet national team and their fans. How politicians used the 1972 summit series trudeau, brezhnev used hockey for political gains pierre elliot trudeau and leonid brezhnev might not have had a lot in common, but a love of sports and a belief that sports, and in greater context culture. Hockey hall of fame team canada 1972 tribute rosters. World of hockey the olympics, canada cup, world cup, world championships, and more. The russian influence on american sport wilson center. Its hard to picture a summit series without phil esposito, yet thats nearly what happened. Sep 20, 2012 the 40th anniversary of the 1972 canada russia series is this month, and im not buying in. Apr 30, 2011 was the 1972 summit series significant in terms of canadian history.
En route to moscow for their 4 famous games against the soviets, team canada 1972 stopped over in stockholm for a two game set against team sweden. Our battles with the soviets began as a proxy for war, and became a. Canada initially dominated in the 1920s when ice hockey was first introduced however by the late 1950s canadian teams were regularly losing to. It was not something alyosha tarasov enjoyed watching. The summit series, or super series known at the time simply as the canadaussr series, was an eightgame series of ice hockey between the soviet union and canada, held in september 1972. Instead, the 1972 summit series morphed into an epic struggle between rival philosophies, inside the rink. Unfollow 1972 summit series to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. Many might view the 1972 summit series with a singular meaning, but there is so much more to be taken away from the events that unfolded in the fall of 1972. Heres the case for paul hendersons 1972 summit serieswinning goal. Cbc s broadcast of decisive game 8 of the 1972 summit series between canada and russia was designated one of 12.
The story of their rivalry was more exaggeration than truth, his grandson said. I know how it helped prove dominance over the soviet union and all that, but i need some strong points. Goliath story unless you cast canada in the role of goliath. Back in 1972, a group of nhl allstars took on the powerful national team from the soviet union in an eight game series that was known as the summit series.
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