An epic struggle unfolds. A communist nation called the Soviet Union desires to prove to the world that they have the best players in hockey and can take on Canada's NHL best. Canada, representing the free world, laughed themselves silly. They had the NHL talent, and the Soviets were unknown. They surely would sweep them in 8 straight games. Well...
the Canadians were wrong. In game 1 at the Montreal Forum, the Soviets came out strong and speedy, and crushed Canada 7-3. The Soviets had been grossly underestimated and Canada knew it. Onto game 2...
at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. Canada was much better as a team, winning 4-1 and restored faith among the Canadian hockey fans. Maybe they would win yet. Onward...
to Game 3 in Winnipeg at the Winnipeg Arena. Sadly, this game was anticlimactic with the score being a 4-4 tie. So, the standings stood at
Soviets - 1
Canada - 1
Game 4...what a scene at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver. Before the game, the Soviets received more cheers than the Canadians, and the home team was repeatedly booed, especially off the ice at the end of the game. The score: Soviet Union 5, Canada 3. Of special note was a famous speech by forward Phil Esposito, reminding Canadians that the team was playing for the country and that it truly was just a hockey series and NOT a do or die situation. Some Vancouver spectators though were extremely anti-Canadian and yelled to Phil Esposito that "commmunism was better." Pure idiocy if you ask me. For most fans however, this seemed to inject common sense, national pride and energy into the team and its fans from that point on. Good thing, because two weeks later...
they went to Moscow in the Soviet Union to finish out the series at the Luzniki Ice Palace. With the team travelled a strong army of 3,000 Canadian fans who were LOUD and literally drowned out the Soviet fans at times. As for the game, Canada lost again with a 5-4 score. However, both teams were more aggressive and passionate and this was bound to work well for Canada. Even with the loss, Canada felt as though they were playing better and that the tide was finally turning. Reality soon set in however: Canada now had to win the last 3 games to win the series! Of special note was the injury to Toronto Maple Leafs star Paul Henderson during the game. He slid into the boards head-first. The injury was so bad that the doctors didn't want Paul to play again in the series, but Paul refused to give up. Onto game 6...
Canada entered the game in a do or die situation, needing a win to stay alive vs the Soviets. Canada was unfairly treated by the refs, being assessed 31 minutes of penalty time vs only FOUR for the Soviet Union. The Soviets scored early, but Canada hung on and eventually won on a winner from Paul Henderson to win the game 3-2. The series now stood at Soviets 3, Canada 2 (minus the Game 3 tie). Controversy broke out in this game with Soviet star Valeri Kharlamov the victim of a truly dirty play from Bobby Clarke who slashed the player's already tremendously sore ankle. Reports on the injury ranged from the ankle being fractured while others claimed that it was broken. With Kharlamov injured, the Soviet Union was a bit disadvantaged. Next up, Game 7...
which was a dirty and grinding 4-3 victory for Canada. A horrific fight broke out between Gary Bergman and Boris Mikhailov. According to Wikipedia,
"During the third period, a small scuffle broke out between Canada's Gary Bergman, and the USSR's Boris Mikhailov, in which the future Soviet captain used his skate as a weapon, kicking Bergman two times before the fight ended. Czech referee Rudy Bata and Swede referee Ove Dahlberg officiated the match, and it was announced that the German referee pair of Josef Kompalla and Franz Baader had been sent home and Bata and Dahlberg would referee the final match, in exchange for a promise that Bergman would not publicly berate the Soviets' coach Bobrov."
Finally, Game 8: the final game in the long series. Each team had won 3 games and had also experienced a tie but the Soviets were ahead by way of goal differential. In Canada, most people enjoyed a mini-holiday and stopped to watch the game on television. Many schoolkids even had the opportunity to watch the game at school in their classrooms. Bad penalties plagued Canada early on, but they kept playing, but not before controversy ensued Canada's J.P. Parise. Team Canada coach Harry Sinden of course, didn't help matters at all because he threw a chair on the ice. Enough silliness, let's get to the end...of special note is the end of the game when Paul Henderson, in a strange move, called out Peter Mahavolich off the ice. Mahavolich of course, thought that Sinden had called him, but came off anyways. Bobby Clarke meanwhile was supposed to replace Phil Esposito but Phil was stubborn and wanted to play. This of course all led to Paul Henderson's "most famous goal in hockey" and broadcaster Foster Hewitt exclaiming, "Paul Henderson has scored for Canada!" Canada had won the game 6-5 and the series 4-3. All in all, it was a great series for Canadian hockey history and we proved that heart matters more than skill and talent.
Here are the games:
Game 1 part 1
Game 1 Part 2
Game 2 Part 1
Game 2 Part 2
Game 3 Part 1
Game 3 Part 2
Game 4 Part 1
Game 4 Part 2
Game 5 Part 1
Game 5 Part 2
Game 6 Part 1
Game 6 Part 2
Game 7 Part 1
Game 7 Part 2
Game 8 Part 1
Game 8 Part 2
Phil Esposito's famous post-game-4 rant
Later!
