Still Learning New Things About The Summit Series

Posted May 28, 2003.

It's amazing how much I'm still learning about the 1972 Summit Series. I mean, its nearing the 31st anniversary, mind you I've only seriously researched it for maybe a year and a half (keeping in mind I wasn't born until nearly two full years after the actual event).

Just recently I learned an interesting new twist to the J.P. Parise incident. You know, the game 8, stick swinging, almost decapitating the referee incident.

The new twist, if you believe the source, definitely gives more evidence to the conspiracy theory that the Russians had paid off referee Josef Kompalla to do whatever it took to help the Russians win.

According to Eagleson, West German referee Josef Kompalla wanted a player in the box for the entire 10 minute misconduct Parise received. Of course Parise couldn't serve it, as he was also given a game misconduct (rightfully so, one of Kompalla's few legitimate calls). Kompalla apparently said that in international hockey, not only does a player who was on the ice at the time of the incident have to serve the penalty, but it is a player of the referees choosing.

And Kompalla picked, of all people, you guessed it, Phil Esposito!

Can you imagine Esposito in the box for 10 minutes, that would have killed any Canadian hopes right there. This definitely adds more fuel to the Kompalla was in bed with the Russians conspiracy debate.

Anyways, according to Eagleson, Eagleson left his seat in the stands, went down to the bench, had a copy of the rule book in his hand, argued with Kompalla that he can't find this odd rule anywhere, so Kompalla backed off and Eagleson saved the day, and we should all thank him for it.

By the way, no one ever did sit in the box for the 10 minute penalty.

This is the first I've heard of this new twist to an old story. Given the source, take it for what it is worth.

By the way, I do recommend checking out the book War On Ice. Scott Young is a good writer, and I've learned a lot about the Canadian world championship entries such as the East York Lyndhursts, Penticton Vees, and Trail Smoke Eaters, as well as the 1972 and 1974 Summit Series.