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Wednesday, September 28, 2022 | Sasktoday.ca | Yorkton This Week
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The Summit Series remembered after 50 years Today marks the 50th anniversary of Paul Henderson’s historic goal to give Team Canada the edge in the 1972 Summit Series over Russia. The entire series created a lasting memory for a nation, with many recalling it as the greatest sports moment in Canadian history. So here, a few local fans and a couple of added ‘friends’ who were old enough in 1972 to remember the series look back with their memories. Randy Atkinson, local radio broadcaster
I could Google the Summit Series and a ga-billion sites would pop up. But since there was no social media in 1972 - I’ll go by memory. I had just graduated from the YRHS that summer. Everyone knew the Summit Series was coming. But, no one knew what that meant. The Russians consistently won the World Championships and Olympics. They were considered amateurs - so we could never have our very best pros play them - until the Summit Series. Getting information wasn’t like it is today - TV (2 channels), radio and newspaper. They called it Team Canada - but as a Bobby Hull fan since 1961, I was choked when they left him off the team. Hull had just finished 3rd in scoring - but had signed with the Winnipeg Jets of the WHL - the pol-
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itics of sports. And Bobby Orr - his Bruins won the Stanley Cup that year missed the entire series - it was the beginning of serious knee problems for him. Two real difference-makers though - Hull & Orr. Most were unsure what to make of this. NHL’ers should clobber these guys - shouldn’t they? But, the likes of Ken Dryden, Frank Mahovolich and Dave King (and some others), all said these guys are really good. We’ll see and we did. We scored in the 1st minute of game 1 - and then to quote Vince Lombardi - “WHAT THE HELL’S GOING ON OUT HERE? With the Canadian portion of the series done - it’s 1 win, 2 losses and a tie. And we were introduced to Yakashev, Kharlmov and this 20-year-old goalie Vladislav Tretiak - playing brilliantly! Now to Russia and - lose the first one - need the last 3!! I think most of us were stunned. At times it had also been a very vicious and dirty series. Bobby Clarke’s two hander on Kharlamov would have gotten him a big time suspension today. JP Parise, angry over the barrage of Canadian penalties, skated by the officials with his stick poised to swing at someone’s head. But, the Canadians had been taking a lot of slashes and high sticks from the Russians too they didn’t play physical. And there was no getting back at these guys - “I’ll wait until we play them again” - there was no again - no Russians
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were in the NHL. Then I think Canadian players began to put all the other crap behind them - we can’t go out like this - let’s play hockey. Win game 6 & game 7 - WOW - still in it.!! Paul Henderson gets the game winner in both games. Paul Henderson!! Wasn’t even sure he was good enough to make the team. I’m sure those that can remember that far back (50 years) - for us Canadians - we know where we watched the game and who we were with. Then, complete agony and anguish when we trailed by 2 going into the 3rd. Really!! Battle all the way back, and then fall short. But I believe this is also the beginning of our ability to raise our game by playing with emotion never quit - work harder - will yourself to greatness. Third period - we tie the game - then, with less than a minute to go, Phil Esposito takes a desperate swipe at the puck and it gets through to Henderson (who had fallen behind the play). First shot - Tretiak save - rebound - shot - HE SCORES!! Paul “Freakin” Henderson again - an instant Canadian hero!! Absolute bedlam where I was - and across Canada. A comeback for the ages. It wasn’t Canada’s best team - or the best Canada-Russia series or games. But this was the first - and there’s never another first! To have been able to watch it - and think back - you reflect on a real exciting and lasting memory. Gord Brewerton, Vice-President and Group Publisher Prairie Newspaper Group
On September 28th, 1972, I was a fresh-faced 11 year-old attending Beaconsfield High School, in Montreal, Quebec. Classes were cancelled that day, and televisions were wheeled in to the school auditorium and cafeteria so that we, students and teachers alike, could cheer on Team Canada. Being from Montreal, I was a Habs fan through and through, and Toronto was our despised rival. Despite the hatred that my friends and I held for the enemy just six hours east on the 401, We all became Leafs fans that day, albeit for just a few short days. Reflecting on it now, I realize that my pride in Canada, and being Canadian reached its zenith that day. Henderson succeeded in uniting the country in a way never experienced before. In spite of language issues, politics, and regional differences, we cheered together as a united nation that day. Today, Canada needs another hero like Henderson. Ken Chyz: Yorkton Councillor
As you are aware, I am a die hard Blue Jays fan. I remember exactly where I was in 1992 and 1993 when the Jays won the World Series. I also know exactly where I was when Paul Henderson scored the winning goal in 1972. When the series started and Canada came out flying and scored a quick goal, I thought the series was going to be a blowout for Canada. Obviously as
the game and the series went on my thoughts certainly changed. In the fall of 1972 I was working in Hay River Northwest Territories. I made a point to watch every game. It is still one of the most exciting sports events I have ever watched. When the goal was scored, the people I was with and the house I was at went absolutely nuts. Calvin Daniels, Editor, Yorkton This Week
It is a touch mindbending to just realize the famed ’72 Summit Series happened five decades ago. That’s a half century, and that seems like such a big chunk of time. It was 12, an age I can’t say I remember with a great deal of specific clarity, but the ‘series’ is a sharp memory. To be fair the highlights have been on television through past anniversary coverage and documentaries, so that perhaps has kept the memory sharper than most from 1972, but let’s face it, as a kid growing up in Saskatchewan at the time it was a two channel TV world and hockey was a huge part of viewing. Hockey Night In Canada was a Saturday night treat watching with dad, and like youngsters across the nation I loved the show. I collected hockey cards, and Esso hockey stamps, and shot an orange ball against the barn dreaming I was in the NHL. Continued on Page A11
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