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Game 8 Moscow, Sept. 28,
1972 - Canada 6 - Soviet Union 5
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"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.
Forty 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 four decades ago. MANY MORE ORIGINAL ARTICLES
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