1972: The Series That Changed Hockey Forever

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The legacy of the greatest hockey series ever played, fifty years later, with stories from the players that shed new light on those incredible games and times.

"Cournoyer has it on that wing. Here's a shot. Henderson made a wild stab for it and fell. Here's another shot. Right in front...they score! Henderson has scored for Canada!"

These immortal words, spoken to hockey fans around the world by the legendary broadcaster Foster Hewitt, capture the historic final-seconds goal scored by Paul Henderson that won the 1972 Summit Series against the Soviet Union. Hockey fans know the moment well, but the story of those amazing eight games has never been fully told--until now.

The series was the first of its kind, and one of the most dramatic sporting showdowns in history. With the Soviets dominating international hockey, this series was meant to settle the debate, once and for all, of who owned the game. It was Canada's best against the Soviets for the first time. And in the shadow of the Cold War, this was about more than eight games of hockey.

Expectations were high as the series began. This was supposed to be easy for Team Canada, but after the disappointing first four games on home ice with only one win, victory seemed out of reach. With the final four games in Moscow, Canada got a rare glimpse behind the iron curtain as the team, as well as three thousand raucous fans, arrived in the USSR. Amid the culture shock and strained relations, what followed was a tug-of-war battle that lasted to the dying seconds of game 8.

Now, five decades after this historic event, it's time to reflect on the greatest hockey series ever played. Veteran journalist and hockey analyst Scott Morrison uses a storyteller's voice to reveal what it meant to hockey then, and what it means now. Filled with the memories of the players and others involved with the series, he shows how it changed the game, and challenged a nation's sense of identity and place in the world.

ISBN-13: 9781982154141

Media Type: Hardcover

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Publication Date: 05-03-2022

Pages: 352

Product Dimensions: 6.40(w) x 9.40(h) x 1.40(d)

Scott Morrison has provided cogent and colourful hockey analysis since his start in 1979, covering the Maple Leafs and NHL for the Toronto Sun. He has reported and provided analysis for Sportsnet, Hockey Night in Canada, and CBC Television and Radio, while making regular appearances across the sports-radio dial. A trusted and measured voice in the hockey-media landscape, he has twice served as president of the Professional Hockey Writers Association. He has written numerous books, including the #1 bestseller 1972: The Hockey Series that Changed the Game Forever. In 2006 he received the Hockey Hall of Fame Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award. He lives in Toronto with his son, Mark.

Table of Contents

Foreword Phil Esposito vii

Introduction 1

Chapter 1 A Super Series Is Born 11

Chapter 2 A Dream Team and Nightmare 11

Chapter 3 Willing, but Not Ready 43

Chapter 4 Game 1-A Shocking Start 57

Chapter 5 Shock and Awe 73

Chapter 6 Game 2-A Must-Win Scenario 83

Chapter 7 Game 3-To Hull with Russia 97

Chapter 8 Game 4-"To the People Across Canada-We Tried" 111

Chapter 9 A Stop in Sweden 121

Chapter 10 To Russia with Beer 133

Chapter 11 Deserters 145

Chapter 12 Game 5-Ready, Willing, and Unable 155

Chapter 13 Fans 169

Chapter 14 Game B-Win, or Else 179

Chapter 15 Game 7-Nothing Short of a Win 193

Chapter 16 Game Might Until the Last Second 213

Chapter 11 Celebration and One More Game in Prague 243

Chapter 18 Calling the Shots 253

Chapter 19 O Canada 261

Epilogue 269

Acknowledgments 287

Appendix A In Memoriam 291

Appendix B Team Stats 323

Photo Credits 329

Index 333

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