Rookies
09-28-2012, 11:07 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMf2fAXPS1Q (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMf2fAXPS1Q)
This was not simply the greatest goal in Canadian Hockey history, it was symbolic of the world's two economic systems: Capitalism v.s. Communism. This was the height of the cold war and both sides were heavily invested and fully prepared to use every propaganda advantage once they clinched victory to prove one side was better than its alternative.
In fact, it only came to pass through the outreach of Allan Eagleson, a Con lawyer and head of the NHL Player’s Association at the time. The Soviets had been smoking all opposition for years: They were the most dominant team of all time in international play.They won nearly every world championship (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_Hockey_World_Championships) and Olympic tournament (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_hockey_at_the_Olympic_Games) between 1954 and 1991 held by the International Ice Hockey Federation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Ice_Hockey_Federation)(IIHF). Their record was 62-6-2, but largely due to the fact that they were considered “ amateurs” and the mostly Canadian pros of the NHL were barred bythe IIHF. Many were members of the Red Army, but the only "army" time they spent was on the ice for that team.
When Eagleson(now a disbarred lawyer and ex felon, reviled and despised by these same NHL playersdue to fraud & collusion with the owners) arranged the series, Team Canada was expected to spank the Soviets in the 7 game series. The NHL was thought of, at the time, as vastly superior against a bunch of rank amateurs.
Some amateurs! Some rank!
Although Team Canada scored in the first few seconds of Game 1, they lost that one 7-3 and left Canada down 1-2-1 in games, headed for Moscow after being booed at home. Canadians have always thought of Hockey as their game, it being a combo of talent, skill, artistry and violence.
An old owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs once said: “ If you can’t beat 'em in the alley, you’ll never beat 'em on the ice!” And Team Canada teed that up when Bobby Clarke two handed Soviet star Valeri Kharlamov and broke his ankle in Game 6.
Canada lost game 5 tothe Soviets, but roared back in the next 3 to edge the Soviets 4-3-1 in this, the first Summit Series. Paul Henderson scored all 3 game winners. In game 8, it is estimated that 50 million Russians watched the finale and Canada simply shut down the entire country! Like some of the memorable moments of history, EVERY Canadian alive at the time,knows where he was when Henderson scored! I was watching in a University residence.
Today, Henderson is a born again Christian preacher and presently fighting leukemia. He is ever upbeat, even with his condition, and is still revered for all time by Canadians. :ThmbUp: :jump:
This was not simply the greatest goal in Canadian Hockey history, it was symbolic of the world's two economic systems: Capitalism v.s. Communism. This was the height of the cold war and both sides were heavily invested and fully prepared to use every propaganda advantage once they clinched victory to prove one side was better than its alternative.
In fact, it only came to pass through the outreach of Allan Eagleson, a Con lawyer and head of the NHL Player’s Association at the time. The Soviets had been smoking all opposition for years: They were the most dominant team of all time in international play.They won nearly every world championship (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_Hockey_World_Championships) and Olympic tournament (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_hockey_at_the_Olympic_Games) between 1954 and 1991 held by the International Ice Hockey Federation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Ice_Hockey_Federation)(IIHF). Their record was 62-6-2, but largely due to the fact that they were considered “ amateurs” and the mostly Canadian pros of the NHL were barred bythe IIHF. Many were members of the Red Army, but the only "army" time they spent was on the ice for that team.
When Eagleson(now a disbarred lawyer and ex felon, reviled and despised by these same NHL playersdue to fraud & collusion with the owners) arranged the series, Team Canada was expected to spank the Soviets in the 7 game series. The NHL was thought of, at the time, as vastly superior against a bunch of rank amateurs.
Some amateurs! Some rank!
Although Team Canada scored in the first few seconds of Game 1, they lost that one 7-3 and left Canada down 1-2-1 in games, headed for Moscow after being booed at home. Canadians have always thought of Hockey as their game, it being a combo of talent, skill, artistry and violence.
An old owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs once said: “ If you can’t beat 'em in the alley, you’ll never beat 'em on the ice!” And Team Canada teed that up when Bobby Clarke two handed Soviet star Valeri Kharlamov and broke his ankle in Game 6.
Canada lost game 5 tothe Soviets, but roared back in the next 3 to edge the Soviets 4-3-1 in this, the first Summit Series. Paul Henderson scored all 3 game winners. In game 8, it is estimated that 50 million Russians watched the finale and Canada simply shut down the entire country! Like some of the memorable moments of history, EVERY Canadian alive at the time,knows where he was when Henderson scored! I was watching in a University residence.
Today, Henderson is a born again Christian preacher and presently fighting leukemia. He is ever upbeat, even with his condition, and is still revered for all time by Canadians. :ThmbUp: :jump: