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Game
8 Moscow, Sept. 28, 1972 - Canada 6 - Soviet Union 5 |
"Henderson Has Scored For
Canada!"
Almost any Canadian who is old
enough can tell you exactly what he or she was doing on September 28, 1972,
when Paul Henderson
scored the 6-5 goal at 19:26 of the final period. For a moment, our world
stood still, and then as the red light flickered behind Vladislav
Tretiak, our hearts filled with joy, and relief.
"Here's
a shot. Henderson makes a wild stab for it and falls," Foster
Hewitt breathlessly described. "Here's
another shot. Right in front. They Score!! Henderson has scored for
Canada!"
As Foster Hewitt's ghostly words
described "the
goal heard around the world" millions of Canadians danced and hugged in
a scene that was reminiscent of the celebrations at the end of World War II.
Never has a single sporting moment meant so much to so many Canadians a sense of
unparalleled nationalism.
Paul Henderson's goal sealed a
remarkable comeback victory over a Soviet squad that had pushed Canada to the
brink of defeat. Of course, none of this was supposed to happen. Team Canada was
composed of the NHL's greatest stars, and were expected to easily defeat their
communist counterparts. The success of the Soviets stunned Canadians, who had
always unquestioningly believed in their country's hockey supremacy.
Team Canada restored the faith of
fans by fighting back to win the final 3 games of the series, all on game
winning goals by Paul Henderson. Henderson was a talented but unspectacular left
winger who was the unlikeliest of heroes. Unlikely heroes have come to define
Canadian hockey.
"I found myself with the puck
in front of the net," remembers Henderson. "Tretiak made one stop and
the puck came right back to me. There was room under him, so I poked the puck
through."
"When I saw it go in, I just
went bonkers." Millions of thrilled and extremely relieved Canadians went
bonkers as well.
Thirty years later, Canadians
are still going bonkers about the series. Russians too have equally fond
although often different memories about the clash at the top of the hockey
world three decades ago. MANY
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