Summit Series

The 1972 Summit Series was the first competition between Soviet and Canadian professional ice hockey players (at that time it was at the Olympics only amateur players to compete and allows the amateur status of the Soviet players was a constant point of contention ). The series went through eight games, including four in Canada ( host cities: Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver ) and four games in the Soviet Union (all in Moscow).

Course

In the first game, on September 2, 1972 in Montreal, Phil Esposito scored 30 seconds after the game 's first goal for Canada, six minutes led Canada 2-0. However, the Soviets came back into play. After the first third, it was 2-2, in the second third shot Valeri Kharlamov scored twice and the Soviet Union led 4-2. Bobby Clarke managed the first goal for Canada, however, the Soviets put three more goals after and won with 7:3. This defeat, especially in height, had the Canadian public by surprise. The Hockey - level in Europe and also the in the Soviet Union, so each outside the National Hockey League, had been underestimated by the North Americans.

The second game won Canada 4-1 in the third game, it was enough for a 4-4 draw. In the fourth game Canada lost with 3:5 and was booed for this service from the 15,570 fans in attendance. After two weeks off the Canadian team went to the Soviet Union to the games to complete five to eight. On September 22, Canada lost the fifth game in Moscow with 4:5 and came with two games behind.

Game number six was won by the Canadians 3-2 and was the most controversial of the whole series. In the second period, Bobby Clarke attacked with a slashing the ankle of Valeri Kharlamov, to hurt them. Although Kharlamov was able to continue, he had to sit in the seventh game and was ineffective in the eighth game. Canada also won the seventh game and then play eight became the all-important game.

Before the eighth game, both teams had three wins, three defeats and a draw. However, the Soviet Union had scored one more goal, so that Canada had to win. On September 28, it was time. After the first third, it was 2-2, but after the second period led the Soviet Union 5-3. Phil Esposito and Yvan Cournoyer succeeded in the last third of the connecting or equalizer. 34 seconds before the end of the match, Paul Henderson scored the winning goal for Canada. Thus, Canada had the Summit Series in 1972 just decided in the final itself.

Others

Bobby Orr, at that time one of the major players in the Canadian squad was indeed nominated but could not participate due to a knee injury. The success of the Summit Series in 1972 should contribute significantly to the development of the Canada Cup tournament. In the past, the importance of this event and the term " Summit Series " grew became the unofficial but accepted by all designation.

The teams

Canadian ice hockey team

Head Coach: Harry Sinden Assistant Coach: John Ferguson

Soviet national ice hockey team

Head Coach: Vsevolod Bobrov Assistant Coach: Boris Kulagin ( Krylia Sovetov Moscow)

G = clearance; D = defender; C = center; LW / RW = Winger