As Canada continues to honour the 50th anniversary of the historic 1972 Summit Series, we remember those who are not here to celebrate their epic achievement.
That series brought Canada together as a country like nothing before it or after it. We, as a country, will never be as together as we were back then. It was awesome to live it. We had tv's brought into the class room to watch the final game 8. It was all anyone could talk about.
Sideburns and haircuts, what a wonderful time to be Canadian. We were just pulling for something great to happen. Esposito left his heart on that ice and his temper on the straighten up talk he gave. Henderson grew 10 feet just like the grinch on that day. Thanks gents for everything you did each and every one of you.
I was working for an Irish bricklayer. We went to a local bar for lunch and I stayed to watch the first game. I said I would work late to make it up but he fired me. Apparently his Canadian wife changed his mind because he called me that night to come back to work with time off to watch the rest of the series.
This American, who was 15 at the time of this event watched as much as I could of this series of games. I remember the elation I felt as the final game was one in the last moments by Team Canada. I, and my best friend loved playing hockey and many of the players on that team were heroes of ours. Wow, 50 years ago and today my best friend ever is gone also. RIP, Morgan Hurley.
We must be the same age. I watched the first 4 games played in Canada when I was 15, but the games in Moscow were not televised where I lived in Portland. I could not believe what I was seeing from the Soviets. Team Canada shot itself in the foot several ways. Their scouting of the Soviets was terrible. They weren't in shape. They stupidly refused to allow Bobby Hull to play. In the end the players, especially Phil Esposito and Paul Henderson, were able to overcome the stupidity of the coaches and management.
I was in the military at the time and they allowed us to stand down and watch the games when they came on. Greatest series of all time. I didn't realize so many had passed, though. Sad.
Great tribute... but they really should've included the Soviet players from 1972 who are no longer with us (like their superstar Kharlamov who died in a car crash in 1981 at only 33 y.o.) The Soviet opposition and talent has as much to do with the greatness of this series as the Canadian team does. They all have been sharing the greatness of the series for the past 50 years now and they will always be linked by it.
Completely agree with you. It was an epic event with two extremely talented teams. Rather fitting the margin of victory was one goal, and yes the deceased Russian players should be highlighted also.
Agreed - Soviets had nothing but class and talent - they deserve to go down as one the greatest teams in history - in my lifetime, it was the 1971 Canadiens and Bruins, 1982 Islanders and the 1990 Oilers
@@roberttaggart5330 Kharlamov might have shown more except for rat in human form Bobby Clarke, often found hiding behind the Hammer and the Hound Dog later in his career. And of course he blamed it on John Ferguson.
He isn't there???? THE BIGGEST goal of all time and he is not there?! God often uses ordinary people to deliver the miracle. I believe he had a big hand in that win, that day
@@hippy1002 You bet he did but the even bigger picture was he not only scored the the series winning goal in game 8, he also score the game winning goals in game 6 and 7as well! He's a Hall of famer no doubt about it. People don't realize this was not a hockey series it was a WAR fought on ice to the players and the fans.
@@hippy1002 and in truth he wasn't that ordinary. He scored 38 goals for Leafs the season before. And it was much more physical in those days. And he was one of the fastest skaters in the league. His nickname was Bullet. Met him on 2 occasions, a real gentleman
Thank you Each and All. RIP Each and All of you Canadian Players, Coaches and Trainers who were there with the Team! You're contribution will never be forgotten. Also RIP to Valeri Kharlamov, Vladimir Petrov and Members of the USSR Team no longer with us!
When he heard about Gary Bergman's death, Phil Esposito said that Bergman never had a bad shift in that entire series. After watching the series on DVD at least five times, I believe Esposito was right.
I remember all these athletes.....no matter what great shape you are in, father time takes us all down the same path......I remember in September 1972 in my final year of elementary school, we would all watch the game played in Russia on a 26" B/W TV in the auditorium during the day. Little did I know at the time, the impact this series would have on Canadian Culture. That being said, I always rooted for the Canadians to win but the Soviets played like elegant ballet dancers....their skating and passing was an art form.......Yes Canada did win but always thought the Soviets were a better team......50 yrs later we can all look back and realize both teams won........they won the admiration of those who love the sport of Hockey.....especially the mutual respect they have for one another today! How sweet is that?
Didn't know Rod Gilbert died. Not sure I knew White had died. May have forgotten both deaths. Found out about Glennie by accident. 50 years ago! Hard to believe. I was in grade five and we had a pretty and cool teacher who drove a yellow Corvette and let us watch the Moscow games that came on in the afternoon(our time in Halifax). She was a fan too. I remember getting home in time to watch the last of games seven and eight. Great memories.
It’s hard to say if this was the proudest moment to be a Canadian, we’ve always been proud of our country, and the people who built it. Unfortunately today the so called prime minister has single handily destroyed that pride. I’m glad as a young man I was there in that time to be part of such a proud, proud moment for all Canadians . God bless all the men on that team.
And others like Bobby Hull excluded. All because of NHL cronies being jerks about the WHA. Rogie Vachon and Roger Crozier could have made a difference in goal too.
It wasn't that long ago I could ask the trivia question, "Which two members of Team Canada '72 have died?" The answer was Bill Goldsworthy and Gary Bergman. Now the deaths are coming very quickly.
Awesome. Loved Tony Esposito as a kid. So sad he passed. Italians put up with a lot of racism that often goes ignored. The way my grandparents were treated and subsequently my parents, when they came to this country, made me sick! Even how I was treated. Seeing guys like Tony and Phil make it to the bug time was huge for us. May Tony rest in peace. Condolences to his family as well and to all the others in the video and their families.
I am 77 y.o. and have never forgotten that series. I believe there was a lot more riding on it than we will ever imagine. I saw the uncut movie, and it exposes what the Russians were like, back in the day.. Movie kind of peppery with the Lord's name used the wrong way, but if you can handle it, the story is well told. I remember Henderson's goal so well. As for Guervremont, YOU ARE A QUITTER... and to the Vancouver fans who boo'd Team Canada in the warmup, and then cheered for the Russians.. THIS IS WHY VANCOUVER will NEVER win the Stanley Cup. You don't deserve it. and I live there
I remember our entire school being down in school gym watching the last game of the series on the old high stand black and white television and going nuts when Paul Henderson scored the final goal to win the series for Canada. I was 11 years old then and it was in September 1972, the same month that the Munich Olympic massacre of the Israeli athletes occurred. Munich 1972 was the first Olympics that I can remember growing up in school. I can remember seeing on the news and reading about it when it happened. Has it really been 50 years since all of this happened. Where did the time go. ie. ( I jumped a little bit when heard the voice of Foster Hewitt in the video announcing the game. I know he is long dead but Foster Hewitt is an absolute legend among hockey and sports broadcasters. His hockey broadcasts go way back to the beginning of NHL hockey games being broadcast on radio in the 1920's. He still stands almost head and shoulders above many hockey and sports announcers even today).
If Bobby Clarke doesn't intentionally injure Kharmalov I'm not sure the Canadians win that series. Kharmalov was the best player on the ice for either side that series. It was a dirty play by Clarke. I remember seeing some of those games when I was 12
Did you ever watch a Stanley Cup finals game from that era? Those guys played to take other guys out. There are tons of examples. Clarke played that way all the time so it shouldn’t be a shocker. He didn’t need to be told. By the way he won three Hart trophies also. And to further this, had Orr, Hull, Cheevers, Keon, Howe (retired), and Sanderson played for Canada as was originally planned, it wouldn’t have taken 8 games. Quite pitiful that all you can remember about the greatest series is one play.
@@drock8505 I was 12. But I've seen some of the games subsequently. The Series was indeed great. It's still my contention that the Soviets would have won one of the last two games with a full tilt Kharmalov in the lineup. And yes they hit harder in those days but intention to injure is, was and will be in my mind a dirty play. I don't mind rough play but that's beyond the pale.
@@drock8505 He didn't need to be told?!? I beg to differ. He WAS told by John Ferguson to slash and break Kharlamov's ankle. Quit deflecting. It doesn't matter what happened in the NHL playoffs at the time or who was left out of the Canadian team, it was dirty to the core.
That series brought Canada together as a country like nothing before it or after it. We, as a country, will never be as together as we were back then. It was awesome to live it. We had tv's brought into the class room to watch the final game 8. It was all anyone could talk about.
Tony Esposito. One of the greatest goalies that ever lived. He saved our ass in 72. RIP.
IMO one of the most under rated g.t. in NHL history
Yes, he did. Dryden was shaky but came through in the clutch in Moscow.
He and his brother Phil saved our ass.
Sideburns and haircuts, what a wonderful time to be Canadian. We were just pulling for something great to happen. Esposito left his heart on that ice and his temper on the straighten up talk he gave. Henderson grew 10 feet just like the grinch on that day. Thanks gents for everything you did each and every one of you.
I was working for an Irish bricklayer. We went to a local bar for lunch and I stayed to watch the first game. I said I would work late to make it up but he fired me. Apparently his Canadian wife changed his mind because he called me that night to come back to work with time off to watch the rest of the series.
I'm an American who is very proud of that team and the fact that it was played in my lifetime.
Tony Esposito was my childhood hero. RIP
Well done... So many of my childhood heroes are gone.
This American, who was 15 at the time of this event watched as much as I could of this series of games. I remember the elation I felt as the final game was one in the last moments by Team Canada.
I, and my best friend loved playing hockey and many of the players on that team were heroes of ours.
Wow, 50 years ago and today my best friend ever is gone also.
RIP, Morgan Hurley.
We must be the same age. I watched the first 4 games played in Canada when I was 15, but the games in Moscow were not televised where I lived in Portland. I could not believe what I was seeing from the Soviets.
Team Canada shot itself in the foot several ways. Their scouting of the Soviets was terrible. They weren't in shape. They stupidly refused to allow Bobby Hull to play. In the end the players, especially Phil Esposito and Paul Henderson, were able to overcome the stupidity of the coaches and management.
@@deanschulze3129 absolutely correct. The NHL took a lesson from that series and it was, conditioning.
Very nice tribute. These player’s contributions to the series will never be forgotten. They all represented Canada with their dedication. May they RIP
Didn’t realize many of them
had passed away 😢
I was in the military at the time and they allowed us to stand down and watch the games when they came on. Greatest series of all time. I didn't realize so many had passed, though. Sad.
Remember watching that last game in grade school. I know; that's how important it was back then! RIP
Great tribute... but they really should've included the Soviet players from 1972 who are no longer with us (like their superstar Kharlamov who died in a car crash in 1981 at only 33 y.o.) The Soviet opposition and talent has as much to do with the greatness of this series as the Canadian team does. They all have been sharing the greatness of the series for the past 50 years now and they will always be linked by it.
I agree, their players left as much as an impression as did the Canadians
Completely agree with you. It was an epic event with two extremely talented teams. Rather fitting the margin of victory was one goal, and yes the deceased Russian players should be highlighted also.
Agreed - Soviets had nothing but class and talent - they deserve to go down as one the greatest teams in history - in my lifetime, it was the 1971 Canadiens and Bruins, 1982 Islanders and the 1990 Oilers
@@roberttaggart5330 Kharlamov might have shown more except for rat in human form Bobby Clarke, often found hiding behind the Hammer and the Hound Dog later in his career. And of course he blamed it on John Ferguson.
There is always a "It is great, but..." person out there. You, should do your own tribute to the Soviets.
Paul Henderson SHOULD be in the HHOF!! He was the most important player to ever wear a Canadian jersey!
He isn't there???? THE BIGGEST goal of all time and he is not there?! God often uses ordinary people to deliver the miracle. I believe he had a big hand in that win, that day
@@hippy1002 You bet he did but the even bigger picture was he not only scored the the series winning goal in game 8, he also score the game winning goals in game 6 and 7as well! He's a Hall of famer no doubt about it. People don't realize this was not a hockey series it was a WAR fought on ice to the players and the fans.
@@hippy1002 and in truth he wasn't that ordinary. He scored 38 goals for Leafs the season before. And it was much more physical in those days. And he was one of the fastest skaters in the league. His nickname was Bullet. Met him on 2 occasions, a real gentleman
Thank you Each and All. RIP Each and All of you Canadian Players, Coaches and Trainers who were there with the Team! You're contribution will never be forgotten. Also RIP to Valeri Kharlamov, Vladimir Petrov and Members of the USSR Team no longer with us!
Best hockey I have ever watched.
Watching that puts the number of years that have passed since totally into perspective when you see how many have passed on.
Many all our hockey soldiers rest in peace. Amen!
When he heard about Gary Bergman's death, Phil Esposito said that Bergman never had a bad shift in that entire series. After watching the series on DVD at least five times, I believe Esposito was right.
I think there were 13 of those valiant Canadian soldiers that I counted. You served your country well. Rest in peace guys, we love you.
You said it best
Beautifully produced. God bless all those men. Thank you.
I remember all these athletes.....no matter what great shape you are in, father time takes us all down the same path......I remember in September 1972 in my final year of elementary school, we would all watch the game played in Russia on a 26" B/W TV in the auditorium during the day. Little did I know at the time, the impact this series would have on Canadian Culture. That being said, I always rooted for the Canadians to win but the Soviets played like elegant ballet dancers....their skating and passing was an art form.......Yes Canada did win but always thought the Soviets were a better team......50 yrs later we can all look back and realize both teams won........they won the admiration of those who love the sport of Hockey.....especially the mutual respect they have for one another today! How sweet is that?
Canada won on sheer heart, courage, and will to win. Like the Sutter clan' there is no quit in those guys
Game 8 was unbelievable
Beautifully done...thank you!
Didn't know Rod Gilbert died. Not sure I knew White had died. May have forgotten both deaths. Found out about Glennie by accident. 50 years ago! Hard to believe. I was in grade five and we had a pretty and cool teacher who drove a yellow Corvette and let us watch the Moscow games that came on in the afternoon(our time in Halifax). She was a fan too. I remember getting home in time to watch the last of games seven and eight. Great memories.
Very well done a respectful tribute. Thanks for this.
Beautiful
Fergy had class- told Clarke to break an ankle to win
It’s hard to say if this was the proudest moment to be a Canadian, we’ve always been proud of our country, and the people who built it. Unfortunately today the so called prime minister has single handily destroyed that pride. I’m glad as a young man I was there in that time to be part of such a proud, proud moment for all Canadians . God bless all the men on that team.
Amazing how many are gone already.
Some great players
Frosty Foristall?
The Best Player in the world was not able to play because of injury Bobby Orr
And others like Bobby Hull excluded. All because of NHL cronies being jerks about the WHA. Rogie Vachon and Roger Crozier could have made a difference in goal too.
History will remember that the Soviet Union lost the Cold War in September of 1972
I think you are right, More than just a hockey series
It wasn't that long ago I could ask the trivia question, "Which two members of Team Canada '72 have died?" The answer was Bill Goldsworthy and Gary Bergman. Now the deaths are coming very quickly.
Awesome. Loved Tony Esposito as a kid. So sad he passed. Italians put up with a lot of racism that often goes ignored. The way my grandparents were treated and subsequently my parents, when they came to this country, made me sick! Even how I was treated. Seeing guys like Tony and Phil make it to the bug time was huge for us. May Tony rest in peace. Condolences to his family as well and to all the others in the video and their families.
Proud Italian Canadian hockey players.
Sault Ste Marie hometown of the two brothers.
I am 77 y.o. and have never forgotten that series. I believe there was a lot more riding on it than we will ever imagine. I saw the uncut movie, and it exposes what the Russians were like, back in the day.. Movie kind of peppery with the Lord's name used the wrong way, but if you can handle it, the story is well told. I remember Henderson's goal so well. As for Guervremont, YOU ARE A QUITTER... and to the Vancouver fans who boo'd Team Canada in the warmup, and then cheered for the Russians.. THIS IS WHY VANCOUVER will NEVER win the Stanley Cup. You don't deserve it. and I live there
i live near Vancouver too and totally agree with you, Vancouver fans are clowns
No Orr, No Howe, No Hull.
Exactly. Russia played the best available Canadians, not the best possible.
all those great names will never be forgootten
They were all hockey heroes to me eh!
Lest we forget.
Summit 72 Memoriam with no Russians? You know some of those heroic players died as well.
Guess Russia should have made a special too eh?
Weren’t all four games played in Canada and then four in ussr
Yes, but they played some exhibition games as well.
I remember our entire school being down in school gym watching the last game of the series on the old high stand black and white television and going nuts when Paul Henderson scored the final goal to win the series for Canada. I was 11 years old then and it was in September 1972, the same month that the Munich Olympic massacre of the Israeli athletes occurred. Munich 1972 was the first Olympics that I can remember growing up in school. I can remember seeing on the news and reading about it when it happened. Has it really been 50 years since all of this happened. Where did the time go.
ie. ( I jumped a little bit when heard the voice of Foster Hewitt in the video announcing the game. I know he is long dead but Foster Hewitt is an absolute legend among hockey and sports broadcasters. His hockey broadcasts go way back to the beginning of NHL hockey games being broadcast on radio in the 1920's. He still stands almost head and shoulders above many hockey and sports announcers even today).
Disappointing not to see Valeri Kharlamov and many of the great Russian players who are no longer here. Takes two to tango.
Yes I agree. The greatest thing about the series's were the incredible players that played on both sides
Al Eagleson?
Still alive and living in Collingwood last I heard.
If Bobby Clarke doesn't intentionally injure Kharmalov I'm not sure the Canadians win that series. Kharmalov was the best player on the ice for either side that series. It was a dirty play by Clarke. I remember seeing some of those games when I was 12
I agree. Ferguson gave Clarke the orders to slash Kharlamov though.
Did you ever watch a Stanley Cup finals game from that era? Those guys played to take other guys out. There are tons of examples. Clarke played that way all the time so it shouldn’t be a shocker. He didn’t need to be told. By the way he won three Hart trophies also. And to further this, had Orr, Hull, Cheevers, Keon, Howe (retired), and Sanderson played for Canada as was originally planned, it wouldn’t have taken 8 games. Quite pitiful that all you can remember about the greatest series is one play.
@@drock8505 I was 12. But I've seen some of the games subsequently. The Series was indeed great. It's still my contention that the Soviets would have won one of the last two games with a full tilt Kharmalov in the lineup. And yes they hit harder in those days but intention to injure is, was and will be in my mind a dirty play. I don't mind rough play but that's beyond the pale.
True, but not a tenth as dirty as were the referees, and the country of Russia. Good cheap shot Bobby
@@drock8505 He didn't need to be told?!? I beg to differ. He WAS told by John Ferguson to slash and break Kharlamov's ankle. Quit deflecting. It doesn't matter what happened in the NHL playoffs at the time or who was left out of the Canadian team, it was dirty to the core.
I believe Bobby Clark took out the Russian's best player with a two hander to the ankles, very dirty hockey.
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