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The 1972 Summit Series SUMMIT
PART 2: Clash of the Titans Labor
Day weekend in Montreal in 1972 was unseasonably hot, with temperatures
in the 80s. All of Canada was ready for the start of its historic
series. On game day, the Ontario-based McGuinness distillery took out a
full-page ad in all the Toronto newspapers for "The Capitalist
Vodka." Below read in bold type: "If they can play hockey, we
can make vodka." Under
prior agreement, the series would be played under international rules.
Two referees, rather than the NHL's system of one official and
two linesmen would be used. In addition, there would be an additional
end change, at the 10-minute mark of the third period (a European
tradition dating back to outdoor games because the ice surface would be
mucked). The Soviets demanded and received a concession from Hockey
Canada that the officials for the games in Canada would come from the
International Ice Hockey Federation and not the NHL. At
the time, Canadians never thought twice about complying with Soviet
demands. They responded in the spirit of good sportsmanship and felt
their team could win under any conditions. In truth, the Russians were
employing gamesmanship and knew that the alien system of rules would
give them the advantage for at least the first two games. The
pre-series speculation ended and the time to play the games had arrived. Coach
Harry Sinden, battle-scarred veteran of many Stanley Cup playoff wars,
entered his team's dressing room at 7 p.m., an hour prior to opening
face-off. To his own surprise, he was sweating profusely from nerves; at
least during the NHL playoffs he could keep his composure until opening
face-off. In his mind, he analyzed Team Canada's game plan to barrage
the Soviet net early and to try and grab a quick lead and found no
problems with that. Yet he had taken some of the dissenting voices'
warnings about better Soviet fitness to heart and was worried. Other
than putting lines out on the ice, there was nothing more he could do. At
the same time, in the opposite dressing room, Vladislav Tretiak sat on
the pine bench and reflected as he put on his equipment. He was well
aware of the Canadians' superior firepower and was worried about getting
buried early. As he was bent over, lacing up a skate, footsteps were
heard and a figure could be seen. Looking up, Tretiak was startled to
recognize his childhood idol Jacques Plante standing before him, decked
out in the blazer of CBC TV's French Canadian Network. Plante,
who had predicted an eight-game route for Team Canada, knew Tretiak was
aware of his prediction and felt sorry that he might have jinxed the
young man. He led the Russian goalie to a chalkboard and proceeded to
diagram a number of plays that the Canadians would be using against him.
It would turn out to be sage advice.
1972 Summit Series Part
2 - The Clash Of The Titans |
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