Defining Moments Essay: 1972 Canada USSR Summit Series. October 12, 2005 CHC2D1 01 Meaghan Uyede Miss Chong

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1 Defining Moments Essay: 1972 Canada USSR Summit Series October 12, 2005 CHC2D1 01 Meaghan Uyede Miss Chong

2 Henderson! Henderson scores for Canada! 1 Foster Hewitt s famous words still echo in the hearts of Canadians. At a time when the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) was considered unbeatable and their amateurs dominated the world hockey stage, Canada put together a team to defend their national sport. Was this series just another event that wasted Canada s time and money? The 1972 Canada USSR summit series is a vital part of Canadian history because it was like a war simulation, the victory was proof that Canada and democracy could prevail, and it unified Canada in a way all its own. The eight games were like a war, not only to the players fighting the battle, but to the spectators as well. One of the players was quoted saying, This isn t a game, this is a war, and we d better get ourselves together. 2 Each player involved felt the pressure of representing their country, and of striving to come out victorious. Like a real war, there were casualties. During exhibition games with Sweden, four Canadians left the team and headed back. Into the second half of the series assistant coach, John Ferguson, told Bobby Clarke to do anything to stop the Russian star, Valeri Kharlamov. Even go to such extreme measures as breaking his ankle. Clarke got the message, and with a well-placed hit, broke his ankle. Clarke said later, At the time, it seemed like a good thing to do. Later, maybe it seemed like a bad thing to do. But I was never ashamed of doing it. 3 This showed how the players expected casualties. A parallel has been drawn between the series and the Cold War. The Cold War at the time seemed neverending, the USSR seeming unstoppable. Spectators considered this a battle in the war, putting Canada s democracy against the Communist ways of the USSR. Any war, no matter the type or size is an important part of history because it shapes the people of the involved countries. 1 Brian Mcfarlane, Team Canada 1972: Where Are They Now? (Etobicoke: Stewart Hose Publishing inc., 2001) 7. 2 Brian Mcfarlane, Team Canada 1972: Where Are They Now? (Etobicoke: Stewart Hose Publishing inc., 2001) Brian Mcfarlane, Team Canada 1972: Where Are They Now? (Etobicoke: Stewart Hose Publishing inc., 2001) 10.

Was this series just another event that wasted Canada s time and money?

3 The series, although close, ended in a Canadian victory, proving to the USSR that democracy and Canada were still capable of winning. The Soviets domination of the political field extended to a domination on the ice. Their players were full time amateurs 4 that no one could seem to beat. The series was incredibly close, the teams evenly matched. In the eighth tiebreaking game, the score remained tied at five - five late into the third period. With 34 seconds remaining, Paul Henderson scored for a Canadian victory. 5 Overall, Canada won four, lost two and tied one to take the series. 6 Just as on the political field, each team underestimated the other, eventually realizing they were evenly matched. The series dragging on one game longer than expected, (most series are seven games long) Just as the Cold War dragged on for years. Even though the series was long, there was a victor. That victor was Canada and the democracy it represented. The victory allowed Canada to defend their national sport, and also acted as a victory in the Cold War. This was a victory that unified a nation. Televisions were brought in and set up in gymnasiums and class rooms for students to watch the game. Some college and university professors even went so far as to cancel classes to see it. A myriad of office employees called in sick to stay home as well. The entire nation waited by their television sets and their radios with bated breath, praying for a victory. That victory came, but not until fifty nine minutes and twenty six seconds of play had been completed. This victory was greeted with an outpouring of pride and relief. The closeness of the series had threatened Canada s national sport, a loss may have caused a national identity crisis. Paul Henderson said it best: 4 Bradley Cruxton, Spotlight Canada 4 th Ed., (Ontario: Oxford Press, 2000) Joe Pelletier, 1972 Summitseries.com: A September To Remember, (September 19, 2005) 6 Arthur Chidlovski, The Summit in 1972, (September 11, 2005)

The series was incredibly close, the teams evenly matched. In the eighth tiebreaking game, the score remained tied at five - five late into the third period.

4 "There was no such thing as a Francophone or a Westerner, or anything else. We were all Canadians. The series brought us all together. It brought an entire country together. It was Canada playing, not Team Canada. It was us against them and every Canadian somehow seemed to have a sense of ownership of that team. I guess war is the only thing that could bring a country together like that series did." 7 Any event that can unite a country to that extent deserves a place in the peoples history, and in their hearts. The series was more than just a simulation of war, the victory proved Canada and the democracy it stood for could win, and it brought all Canadians together, uniting them with each other over their national sport. The 1972 Canada USSR summit series is an unforgettable part of Canadian history. From any war, a lesson can be learned. The lesson from this one was simple: Never give up hope, always stand by your country. Only then can victory be achieved. 7 Arthur Chidlovski, The Summit in 1972, Players Info (September 11, 2005)

I guess war is the only thing that could bring a country together like that series did.

5 Bibliography Chidlovski, Arthur. The Summit In (September 11, 2005) Cruxton, Bradley. Spotlight Canada 4 th Ed. Ontario: Oxford University Press, 2000 Marsh, James H. Canada-Soviet Hockey Series, 1972 The Canadian Encyclopedia 1988 Ed. (Volume 2) Marsh, James H. Hockey, Ice. The Canadian Enyclopedia 1988 Ed. (Volume 1) McFarlane, Brian. Team Canada 1972: Where Are They Now? Etobicoke: Stewart House Publishing Inc., 2001 No Author. The Cold War Museum-Museum Features (September 19, 2005) No Author. Timeline Cold War, 1970 s (September 19, 2005) Pelletier, Joe Sumitseries.com: A September To Remember (September 19, 2005)

(Volume 1) McFarlane, Brian. Team Canada 1972: Where Are They Now? Etobicoke: Stewart House Publishing Inc., 2001 No Author. The Cold War Museum-Museum Features http://www.coldwar.org/index.

THEME: God desires for us to demonstrate His love!

Devotion NT320 CHILDREN S DEVOTIONS FOR THE WEEK OF: LESSON TITLE: The Gift of Love THEME: God desires for us to demonstrate His love! SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 Dear Parents Welcome to Bible Time