Understanding Canadian History Through Hockey
Many people point to the 1972 Series as a turning point in Canadian Hockey and indeed the Canadian identity. Read the following article from CBC Sports Online, follow some of the links.
"Hockey Hall of Fame honours Team Canada '72
WebPosted Tue Dec 5 11:38:39 2000
CBC SPORTS ONLINE - It's been 28 years since Paul Henderson scored his historic Game 8 goal in the Summit Series, and he still doesn't tire of talking about it.
"It's such a positive time in Canadians' lives," he said. "Someone comes up to you and they have a sparkle in their eye and they say, 'I remember?' it's kind of tough to get tired of that. "When you stop to think about it, it was the sports moment of the century. You see, that's the only thing Wayne Gretzky didn't do in the last century."
Henderson and most of the Team Canada 1972 was on hand to help unveil a monument dedicated to Canadian Press' team of the century.
The two-sided monument is made of back-to-back maple leaves with a plated circular image featuring Henderson's winning goal. The names of all the players are engraved on the front side.
While Henderson's goal solidified Canada's place as the greatest hockey nation at the time, many players said that it was the intensity and support from the Canadians that made the trip to the Soviet Union that made the tournament so memorable.
"If we had won eight straight games, nobody would even remember the series at all," said Ken Dryden, who tended goal in four games. "It was what everybody went through and when you have a country of about that time 20 million people, everybody is going through it together and nobody is going to know where it's going to end up."
One of the surprise appearances at the ceremony was the appearance of team captain, leading scorer and inspirational leader Phil Esposito and his brother, Tony. Until the unveiling, Esposito and Tony shunned all appearances involving Team Canada 1972.
"It was a very emotional time. I don't think I've ever reached that peak emotionally before that, and I never reached it after," said Esposito, alluding that he was upset with the way the media and team was treated in the first three games of the series.
"The two of us, we screwed up. We should have been here earlier."
Esposito is credited with turning the tide of the series and showing Canadians that the USSR was an almost-invincible foe with an impassioned post-game television interview after Team Canada's 5-3 loss in Vancouver in Game 4 to give the Russians a 2-1-1 series lead.
"In Vancouver, it was just a disaster," said Esposito. "We didn't play well and we got booed and that's why I did what I did.
"I remember telling Paul Henderson, 'I've been picked the star of the game and I'm going out there and I'm going to tell them what I think.'
"To people across Canada, we're trying out best," he said in the interview. "We're all disappointed, disenchanted. I can't believe people are booing us.
After losing the first game in Russia, the Canadians came back thanks to what would be a career-defining performance from Henderson. The longshot from Kincardine, Ont. not only scored his historic goal in the final game of the Summit Series, but scored all three game-winning goals as the Canadians came from behind to defeat the Russians.
With the exception of hundreds of telegrams that littered the walls of the dressing room, he and other members of Team Canada weren't aware that the entire country was captivated by the series.
It wasn't until they flew home and received a tremendous reception that they realized the significance of what they accomplished in Russia."
Related Link: What happened to the puck Henderson scored with in Moscow?
Related Link: '72 Team Canada - where are they now?
Related Link: Russians agree Summit series changed the face of hockey
Related Link: Hear Foster Hewitt's coverage of Henderson's goal
Questions for discussion or personal reflection