Canada Russia '72
Encyclopedia
Canada Russia '72 is a 2006 Canadian documentary
-style miniseries
about the 1972 Summit Series
. The two-part miniseries was directed by T. W. Peacocke
and written by Barrie Dunn
and Malcolm MacRury. Canada Russia '72 first aired on consecutive nights on CBC
between April 9 and 10, 2006.
on September 8, 1972, as Team Canada takes to the ice for game 4 in Vancouver
, in which the team is shocked from the round of boos they receive from the crowd and then cheers for the Soviet team. The film then cuts back five months earlier to April 1972 in Prague
, Czechoslovakia
with Alan Eagleson
meeting with Gabrielle Fournier, an official with External Affairs Canada, and the heads of the Soviet (headed by Alexander Gresko) and Canadian hockey programmes (headed by Joe Kryczka and Charles Hay
). It is there that they iron out the deal for an eight game hockey series between the USSR and a team compiled of the best Canadian NHLers.
Eagleson then travels to Rochester
to seek out former Boston Bruins
coach Harry Sinden
. Sinden struggles in his interview with the Hockey Canada
brass because of Joe Kryczka's doubt of his capabilities, but Eagleson convinces them to hire Sinden. Sinden, Eagleson and assistant coach John Ferguson
then pick out the Canadian uniforms and Sinden, seemingly by accident, comes up with the name "Team Canada". Sinden announces the Team Canada roster in July at a press conference in Toronto
. The roster includes Phil Esposito
, Paul Henderson
, Ken Dryden
, Vic Hadfield
, Bobby Clarke
, Gary Bergman
, Frank
and Peter Mahovlich
and many others.
Team Canada's training camp begins in August. Most of the players arrive out of shape and overweight, not taking the camp seriously. Sinden even shows the team a video of his 1958 team winning the World Championships, which the team treats as a joke. In the weeks before the series begins, it becomes increasingly clear that most Canadians expect an eight game sweep. Just prior to game 1, Sinden privately confesses to Eagleson that he doesn't think the team is ready. Team Canada's scout reports to Sinden and Ferguson that the Soviets are a slow, poorly skilled team with the exception of one player, Valeri Kharlamov ("Karla-something") and that their goalie, Vladislav Tretiak
(mispronounced "Tet-tri-ak"), couldn't stop a bus. The Canadian players attend a Soviet practice and spend it laughing at the Soviets, until Kharlamov fires a puck at Wayne Cashman
's head, causing instant hostility between the teams.
Game 1 in Montreal
starts out as expected. Esposito hacks the puck past Tretiak less than 30 seconds into the game. Five minutes later, Bobby Clarke wins a faceoff clean back to Paul Henderson who fires a slapshot past Tretiak to lead the Soviets 2-0. The Soviets, though, quickly respond back and tie the game 2-2 before the first period is over. The temperature in the Montreal Forum
is rising as the game progresses, making it continuously harder for the fatigued pros to play. Valeri Kharlamov, the same player who took a shot at Cashman, scores twice on Ken Dryden in the second period, giving the Soviets a 4-2 lead. Throughout the game, Tretiak proves to be impregnable as a goalie, and the fatigue of the Canadian players is noticeably shown. The Soviets upset the Canadians 7-3 in game 1.
With Team Canada and the country left in shock after their defeat, the team begins to receive large criticism. For game 2 in Toronto
, Sinden takes Vic Hadfield
and his line out of the lineup and put in their grinders (Cashman, J.P Parise and Bill Goldsworthy
). Hadfield does not take this decision lightly and invades Sinden's dressing room to show his disapproval, who has none of it. Tony Esposito
also takes over for Dryden in net. During the practice, Frank Mahovlich notices politician Robert Stanfield
in the stands wearing a Team Canada jersey with Alan Eagleson. Frank protests to Sinden, claiming they're not playing this series for the politicians. Frank than leaves the practice out of frustration. Before the 2nd game, Frank privately confesses to Pete his fear of losing the series to Communists.
During Game 2, Team Canada build up a 2-1 lead before taking a penalty in the 3rd period. While killing the penalty, Pete Mahovlich gets possession of the puck and breaks in on the Soviet defence. He slips in behind the defenceman, cuts in front of Tretiak and dangles the puck past him for an incredible shorthanded goal and a 3-1 Canadian lead. Canada takes game two 4-1, tying the series 1-1.
Much to his frustration, Vic Hadfield sits out game 3 in Winnipeg
too. This game focuses entirely on the players in the press box. At one point, Hadfield's wife asks Ken Dryden about how hard it is to sit out and Gabrielle Fournier asks him if he's on the wrong team, to which Dryden simply stares her down and says no. Paul Henderson scores to give Canada a 3-1 lead, but the Soviets come back and the game ends in a 4-4 tie. While sitting in the airport on the way to Vancouver, Frank expresses his paranoia about the Soviets even further to Serge Savard
.
As they prepare for game 4 in Vancouver, Sinden and Ferguson decide to put Dryden and the Hadfield line back in. When Team Canada takes the ice, they are booed by the Vancouver fans. Seconds later, the Soviets take to the ice and are cheered by the Vancouver fans, leaving the team shocked and frustrated. In the first five minutes of the game, Goldsworthy takes 2 penalties, both resulting in goals for the Soviets. Trailing after the second period, Esposito tells Henderson that he wants to give the fans a piece of his mind. Canada loses the game 5-3, falling behind 2 games to 1 (with one tied) with the series going to Moscow
. As the team is booed off the ice, Esposito stays back for an interview. Esposito emotionally remarks on his disappointment from the Canadian crowd, and claims that they're only playing because they love Canada.
TV show Front Page Challenge
. Eagleson comments on his disapproval of the Vancouver fans in this interview. While waiting in the Vancouver airport, Eagleson receives the news that Frank Mahovlich will not be travelling to Sweden
for an exhibition game due to allergies. At a reception with the Canadian ambassador at Canada's Embassy in Stockholm, Sinden promises it will just be "a friendly game of shinny" against the Swedish national team. However, the game quickly turns into a brutal one. Sinden and Ferguson become aggravated by the horrible officiating of Josef Kompalla
and Franz Baader. During the game, a Swedish player slashes Wayne Cashman in the mouth and slices his tongue, in which no call is made and a fight ensues. After the game, an argument between the two referees and Sinden and Ferguson occurs in the hallway of the officials dressing room. At the same time in the hallway, a brawl ensues between both teams until they are broken up by the police. Swedish fans swarm the Team Canada bus as they leave the rink, throwing eggs and even a brick at the team bus. While in Sweden, Hadfield begins to question Sinden's ability to coach the team. The next day, Frank Mahovlich rejoins the team, which Hadfield takes as a sign that he's not getting anymore ice time. It is also there that Eagleson informs the team that there will be no place in the hotel in Moscow for the players' wives. Esposito, angered at all the bad press, ridicule and contempt that the team has received since the start of the series, leads them to threaten that they won't go to Russia
if their wives don't.
As they arrive at the hotel in Moscow, Gabrielle Fournier warns the team about getting in trouble in Russia. Before practice, Hadfield sees that he is not playing in game 5. A frustrated Hadfield has a heated argument with Sinden during practice, which results in Hadfield leaving the team and going back to Canada, along with a few other players.
During the ceremony before game 5 in Moscow, Phil Esposito falls on the ice, breaking a lot of the pre-game tension. During the game, Henderson slips past the Soviet defence and takes a shot. Just after Tretiak stops the shot, Henderson is tripped and slides head-first into the boards. He is helped off the ice where the doctor tells Ferguson that Henderson has a concussion and can't play. Despite that, Henderson returns to the ice and almost immediately scores on Tretiak, giving Canada a 4-1 lead in the 3rd. During the celebration in the crowd, a Soviet soldier pulls a Canadian fan who was blowing into a plastic horn out of the crowd and drags him into a backroom. Ms. Fournier runs after them and gets Gresko to go talk to the police. Gresko tells her that he is being arrested for assault. As Ms. Fournier waits for the police to come out, she hears the crowd start to roar several times. She finally goes back in to check the score and it's 4-4. The Soviets then add another goal to win the game 5-4, scoring 4 unanswered goals in the third period. As the game ends, Sinden immediately leaves the bench and destroys his dressing room in frustration. With Team Canada now staring down seemingly overwhelming odds, down 3 games to one with only 3 must win games remaining in Moscow. The next morning, Fournier makes a deal with the Soviet police to free the Canadian fan on the condition that he leaves the country immediately. The fan confesses to Fournier that the police shaved off his hair and beard, took his clothes, hung him by his ankles and tattooed his heels.
Back at the hotel, Cashman, Esposito and Bergman decide to search Bergman's room for bugs. Thinking they have found something under the carpet, they unscrew a box. As it turns out, what they unscrewed was the system that was holding up a chandelier in the lobby.
For game 6, Sinden goes with a hunch and puts Dryden back in net. During the warm-ups for the game, Sinden and Ferguson notice that Baader and Kompalla, the "two clowns" from Sweden are officiating. The two referees call penalties against the Canadians all game long. At one point, Esposito collides with Soviet Boris Mikhialov
, cutting him below his eye. Although no penalty is called, Bobrov tells Mikhialov to show Kompalla the blood. After seeing Mikhialov's cut, Kompalla gives Esposito a 5-minute major penalty. Sinden angrily objects, claiming it a penalty for bleeding. As Kharlamov continues to skate circles around the Canadians, Ferguson leans over and whispers something in Bobby Clarke's ear. Henderson, who was sitting next to Clarke, is shocked and disgusted at what he hears, although he says nothing. On his next shift, Clarke comes up behind Kharlamov and aggressively slashs him on the ankle, breaking it. Henderson scores later in the game and the Canadians hold on for a 3-2 win, their first victory since Game 2. After the game, Gresko and Bobrov show their anger about Clarke's slash. Fournier also confronts Ferguson about the slash, to which Ferguson replies he doesn't care how his team wins, just as long as they win.
The next day Sinden, Ferguson and Eagleson confront Gresko about Baader and Kompalla. Gresko agrees that they will not officiate again in the series on several conditions that Sinden objects to, but they accept anyway. For Game 7, Valeri Kharlamov sits out due to his ankle injury. During the game, a fight breaks out between the teams. During the fight, Boris Mikhailov kicks Gary Bergman with his skate, causing him to bleed. Late in the game, Paul Henderson dekes several defensemen and scores, giving Team Canada a 4-3 lead and the win. In the dressing room after the game, Bergman shows the team his blooded shin pad as a result of Mikhailov's kick. Ferguson takes the shin pad and shows it to Fournier, who earlier criticized the team for their violent play.
The next day, Gresko goes back on his promise and says Badder and Kompalla will officiate Game 8. Ferguson threatens they will not play if they do. Eagleson and the coaches hold out their decision to not play, until the next day when Fournier suggests a deal in which both teams pick one referee. The teams agree to the compromise. The Russians choose Kompalla. However, the referee the Canadians choose surprisingly is sick, so the Canadians go with another referee.
Before the game, the Canadian dressing room is silent. Ken Dryden (who was told he will be starting earlier) cannot stop shaking. Sinden tells the team winning is now the only thing that matters, and that by winning the series they will vindicate themselves. The Canadian team is surprised to see Kharlamov is playing despite his severe injury. Immediately after the game begins, the Canadians receive questionable penalties from Kompalla. With the advantage the Russians score a quick powerplay goal to give them a 1-0 lead. Not soon after, J.P. Parise is given a penalty on what appeared to be an obvious dive. The Canadians' emotions quickly boil over, and Parise nearly swings his stick at Kompalla. As a result, Parise is given a game misconduct and a match penalty. Highly-tempered Sinden and Ferguson throw a stick and a chair onto the ice in frustration. Esposito later scores to tie the game. However, the Russians hold a 5-3 lead at the 2nd intermission. In the dressing room, as the players seem to be losing hope, a determined Esposito claims they will not lose. Esposito then goes to Sinden and suggests he make a change to his line. Sinden has Peter Mahovlich take his brother's place on the line.
The Canadians quickly score in the 3rd period to make it 5-4. Later in the game, Yvan Cournoyer scores to tie the game. Eagleson notices the goal light doesn't go on from the stands. He then storms to the timekeeper's box to make sure the Russians don't cheat them out of a goal. However, Eagleson is subdued by the Russian guards and appear to be arresting him. Team Canada, led by Pete Mahovlich, storm the area and rescue Eagleson from the guards, with Mahovlich actually going over the boards. As he's being walked backed to the Canadian bench, an angered Eagleson shoves his fist to the crowd. Late during the game, Gresko comes to the Canadian bench and informs Eagleson that if the game ends in a tie, the Russians will win the series based on goal differential (the Russians had two more goals than the Canadians). Esposito overhears the conversation, and becomes more determined to win the game, even refusing to get off the ice despite being tired. In the last minute of the game, Henderson calls Pete Mahovlich off the ice and storms to the net. Though he doesn't score, Esposito shoots the puck at Tretiak. Henderson picks up the rebound and scores to give the Canadians a 6-5 lead and thus winning the series. The Canadians clear the bench and crowd Henderson in celebration. As the game ends, one of the Canadian players picks up the game-winning puck (the camera does not show the player's face, therefore leaving it unknown).
As the Canadians proudly celebrate in the dressing room, Alexander Yakushev
awards the team a trophy from the Russians. Esposito accepts the trophy, and gives Yakushev a stick and a beer in return on behalf of the team. Pete Mahovlich names the trophy the "Commie Cup". As the team continues celebrating, Sinden and Ferguson quietly sit in their room. Ferguson asks Sinden if they want to join them. Sinden declines, saying he needs a couple minutes to "take this all in". A handshake between the two follows, as they continue to sit silently in their room (In the extended version, Sinden leaves and Ferguson breaks down in tears).
The miniseries ends with the team going on to the ice one more time. The team stand and sit on the ice in silence, absorbing the series and their experience as a whole. This concluding moment was the one scene in the mini-series that liberally interpreted the truth and perhaps was the most dramatized. The players did not go back on the ice, but this coda was based on an interview with defenseman Gary Bergman
, who said that he stopped before leaving the ice for the final time and took in the "old barn" (Luzhniki Ice Palace).
. Most of these songs are heard more than once throughout the miniseries.
In order of appearance:
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
-style miniseries
Miniseries
A miniseries , in a serial storytelling medium, is a television show production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. The exact number is open to interpretation; however, they are usually limited to fewer than a whole season. The term "miniseries" is generally a North American term...
about the 1972 Summit Series
Summit Series
The Summit Series was the first competition between the Soviet and an NHL-inclusive Canadian national ice hockey teams, an eight-game series held in September 1972...
. The two-part miniseries was directed by T. W. Peacocke
T. W. Peacocke
TW Peacocke is an award-winning Canadian television and film director. Raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, he studied painting at the Banff Centre, French civilization at the Université de Caen in France, and then went on to Yale University, from which he graduated in 1983...
and written by Barrie Dunn
Barrie Dunn
Barrie Dunn is a Canadian actor, film and television producer best known for his character Ray on the Canadian mockumentary television program Trailer Park Boys....
and Malcolm MacRury. Canada Russia '72 first aired on consecutive nights on CBC
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
between April 9 and 10, 2006.
Part 1
The miniseries begins in medias resIn medias res
In medias res or medias in res is a Latin phrase denoting the literary and artistic narrative technique wherein the relation of a story begins either at the mid-point or at the conclusion, rather than at the beginning In medias res or medias in res (into the middle of things) is a Latin phrase...
on September 8, 1972, as Team Canada takes to the ice for game 4 in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, in which the team is shocked from the round of boos they receive from the crowd and then cheers for the Soviet team. The film then cuts back five months earlier to April 1972 in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
with Alan Eagleson
Alan Eagleson
Robert Alan Eagleson is a disbarred Canadian lawyer, convicted felon in two countries, former politician, hockey agent and promoter...
meeting with Gabrielle Fournier, an official with External Affairs Canada, and the heads of the Soviet (headed by Alexander Gresko) and Canadian hockey programmes (headed by Joe Kryczka and Charles Hay
Charles Hay
Charles Cecil Hay was a Canadian ice hockey player, organizer, and administrator. A member of the Hockey Hall of Fame in the "Builder" category, Hay is best known for his work with Hockey Canada and his efforts to organize the 1972 Summit Series...
). It is there that they iron out the deal for an eight game hockey series between the USSR and a team compiled of the best Canadian NHLers.
Eagleson then travels to Rochester
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
to seek out former Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
coach Harry Sinden
Harry Sinden
Harry James Sinden was the long-time general manager, coach, and president for the Boston Bruins NHL hockey team, and was the coach of Team Canada during the 1972 Summit Series...
. Sinden struggles in his interview with the Hockey Canada
Hockey Canada
Hockey Canada, formally known as the Canadian Hockey Association, is the national governing body of ice hockey in Canada and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. Hockey Canada controls a vast majority of ice hockey in Canada, with a few exceptions...
brass because of Joe Kryczka's doubt of his capabilities, but Eagleson convinces them to hire Sinden. Sinden, Eagleson and assistant coach John Ferguson
John Ferguson, Sr.
John Bowie "Fergy" Ferguson Sr. was a professional ice hockey player. Ferguson played as a left-winger for the Montreal Canadiens from 1963 to 1971.-Early years:...
then pick out the Canadian uniforms and Sinden, seemingly by accident, comes up with the name "Team Canada". Sinden announces the Team Canada roster in July at a press conference in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. The roster includes Phil Esposito
Phil Esposito
Philip Anthony Esposito, OC is a former Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Black Hawks, Boston Bruins and New York Rangers. He is an Honoured Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame and is considered to be one of the best to have...
, Paul Henderson
Paul Henderson
Paul Henderson is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. A left winger, Henderson played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs and Atlanta Flames...
, Ken Dryden
Ken Dryden
Kenneth Wayne Dryden, PC, is a Canadian politician, lawyer, businessman, author, and former NHL goaltender. Dryden is married with two children and four grandchildren and is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame...
, Vic Hadfield
Vic Hadfield
Victor Edward Hadfield is a retired professional ice hockey player. One of the most popular players in New York Rangers history, Hadfield had a sixteen-year career in the NHL, tallying 323 goals and 389 assists with 1154 penalty minutes in 1002 career games with the Rangers and the Pittsburgh...
, Bobby Clarke
Bobby Clarke
Robert Earle Clarke, OC , better known as Bobby Clarke or, in later life, Bob Clarke, is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played his entire National Hockey League career with the Philadelphia Flyers and is currently an executive with the team...
, Gary Bergman
Gary Bergman
Gary Gunnar Bergman was a professional ice hockey defenceman playing in the NHL mostly for the Detroit Red Wings...
, Frank
Frank Mahovlich
Francis William "The Big M" Mahovlich, CM is a Canadian Senator, and a retired NHL ice hockey player, nicknamed the "Big M." He played on six Stanley Cup-winning teams and is an inductee of the Hockey Hall of Fame.-Playing career:...
and Peter Mahovlich
Peter Mahovlich
Peter Joseph "Little M" Mahovlich , known in his playing years as "Little M", is a retired Canadian professional hockey forward and head coach.-Playing career:...
and many others.
Team Canada's training camp begins in August. Most of the players arrive out of shape and overweight, not taking the camp seriously. Sinden even shows the team a video of his 1958 team winning the World Championships, which the team treats as a joke. In the weeks before the series begins, it becomes increasingly clear that most Canadians expect an eight game sweep. Just prior to game 1, Sinden privately confesses to Eagleson that he doesn't think the team is ready. Team Canada's scout reports to Sinden and Ferguson that the Soviets are a slow, poorly skilled team with the exception of one player, Valeri Kharlamov ("Karla-something") and that their goalie, Vladislav Tretiak
Vladislav Tretiak
Vladislav Aleksandrovich Tretiak, MSM is a former goaltender for the Soviet Union's national ice hockey team. Considered to be one of the greatest goaltenders in the history of the sport, he was voted one of six players to the International Ice Hockey Federation's Centennial All-Star Team in a...
(mispronounced "Tet-tri-ak"), couldn't stop a bus. The Canadian players attend a Soviet practice and spend it laughing at the Soviets, until Kharlamov fires a puck at Wayne Cashman
Wayne Cashman
Wayne Cashman is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player and a former NHL head coach.-Playing career:Cashman played his junior hockey as a teammate of Bobby Orr's on the Oshawa Generals of the OHA...
's head, causing instant hostility between the teams.
Game 1 in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
starts out as expected. Esposito hacks the puck past Tretiak less than 30 seconds into the game. Five minutes later, Bobby Clarke wins a faceoff clean back to Paul Henderson who fires a slapshot past Tretiak to lead the Soviets 2-0. The Soviets, though, quickly respond back and tie the game 2-2 before the first period is over. The temperature in the Montreal Forum
Montreal Forum
The Montreal Forum was an indoor arena located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Called "the most storied building in hockey history" by Sporting News, it was home of the National Hockey League's Montreal Maroons from 1924 to 1938 and the Montreal Canadiens from 1926 to 1996...
is rising as the game progresses, making it continuously harder for the fatigued pros to play. Valeri Kharlamov, the same player who took a shot at Cashman, scores twice on Ken Dryden in the second period, giving the Soviets a 4-2 lead. Throughout the game, Tretiak proves to be impregnable as a goalie, and the fatigue of the Canadian players is noticeably shown. The Soviets upset the Canadians 7-3 in game 1.
With Team Canada and the country left in shock after their defeat, the team begins to receive large criticism. For game 2 in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Sinden takes Vic Hadfield
Vic Hadfield
Victor Edward Hadfield is a retired professional ice hockey player. One of the most popular players in New York Rangers history, Hadfield had a sixteen-year career in the NHL, tallying 323 goals and 389 assists with 1154 penalty minutes in 1002 career games with the Rangers and the Pittsburgh...
and his line out of the lineup and put in their grinders (Cashman, J.P Parise and Bill Goldsworthy
Bill Goldsworthy
William Alfred Goldsworthy was a professional ice hockey right winger who played in the National Hockey League for 14 seasons between 1964 and 1978, most notably for the Minnesota North Stars.-Playing career:...
). Hadfield does not take this decision lightly and invades Sinden's dressing room to show his disapproval, who has none of it. Tony Esposito
Tony Esposito
For the Italian musician, please see Tony Esposito .Anthony James "Tony O" Esposito is a retired Canadian-American professional ice hockey goaltender, who played in the National Hockey League, most notably for the Chicago Black Hawks. He was one of the pioneers of the now popular butterfly style....
also takes over for Dryden in net. During the practice, Frank Mahovlich notices politician Robert Stanfield
Robert Stanfield
Robert Lorne Stanfield, PC, QC was the 17th Premier of Nova Scotia and leader of the federal Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. He is sometimes referred to as "the greatest prime minister Canada never had", and earned the nickname "Honest Bob"...
in the stands wearing a Team Canada jersey with Alan Eagleson. Frank protests to Sinden, claiming they're not playing this series for the politicians. Frank than leaves the practice out of frustration. Before the 2nd game, Frank privately confesses to Pete his fear of losing the series to Communists.
During Game 2, Team Canada build up a 2-1 lead before taking a penalty in the 3rd period. While killing the penalty, Pete Mahovlich gets possession of the puck and breaks in on the Soviet defence. He slips in behind the defenceman, cuts in front of Tretiak and dangles the puck past him for an incredible shorthanded goal and a 3-1 Canadian lead. Canada takes game two 4-1, tying the series 1-1.
Much to his frustration, Vic Hadfield sits out game 3 in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
too. This game focuses entirely on the players in the press box. At one point, Hadfield's wife asks Ken Dryden about how hard it is to sit out and Gabrielle Fournier asks him if he's on the wrong team, to which Dryden simply stares her down and says no. Paul Henderson scores to give Canada a 3-1 lead, but the Soviets come back and the game ends in a 4-4 tie. While sitting in the airport on the way to Vancouver, Frank expresses his paranoia about the Soviets even further to Serge Savard
Serge Savard
Serge Aubrey "The Senator" Savard, OC, CQ is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman, most famously with the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League . He is also a local businessman in Montreal, and is nicknamed the Senator.-Playing career:Savard played minor league hockey with the...
.
As they prepare for game 4 in Vancouver, Sinden and Ferguson decide to put Dryden and the Hadfield line back in. When Team Canada takes the ice, they are booed by the Vancouver fans. Seconds later, the Soviets take to the ice and are cheered by the Vancouver fans, leaving the team shocked and frustrated. In the first five minutes of the game, Goldsworthy takes 2 penalties, both resulting in goals for the Soviets. Trailing after the second period, Esposito tells Henderson that he wants to give the fans a piece of his mind. Canada loses the game 5-3, falling behind 2 games to 1 (with one tied) with the series going to Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. As the team is booed off the ice, Esposito stays back for an interview. Esposito emotionally remarks on his disappointment from the Canadian crowd, and claims that they're only playing because they love Canada.
Part 2
Part 2 begins with Alan Eagleson being interviewed on the CBCCanadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
TV show Front Page Challenge
Front Page Challenge
Front Page Challenge was a long-running Canadian panel game about current events and history. Created by comedy writer/performer John Aylesworth and produced and aired by CBC Television, the series ran from 1957 to 1995.-Synopsis:The series featured notable journalists attempting to guess the...
. Eagleson comments on his disapproval of the Vancouver fans in this interview. While waiting in the Vancouver airport, Eagleson receives the news that Frank Mahovlich will not be travelling to Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
for an exhibition game due to allergies. At a reception with the Canadian ambassador at Canada's Embassy in Stockholm, Sinden promises it will just be "a friendly game of shinny" against the Swedish national team. However, the game quickly turns into a brutal one. Sinden and Ferguson become aggravated by the horrible officiating of Josef Kompalla
Josef Kompalla
Josef Jupp Kompalla is a retired German ice hockey referee.He is best known for his officiating of the 1972 Summit Series between the Soviet Union and Canada. His officiating partner during this series was Franz Baader. He also officiated in several IIHF World Championships and Canada Cup...
and Franz Baader. During the game, a Swedish player slashes Wayne Cashman in the mouth and slices his tongue, in which no call is made and a fight ensues. After the game, an argument between the two referees and Sinden and Ferguson occurs in the hallway of the officials dressing room. At the same time in the hallway, a brawl ensues between both teams until they are broken up by the police. Swedish fans swarm the Team Canada bus as they leave the rink, throwing eggs and even a brick at the team bus. While in Sweden, Hadfield begins to question Sinden's ability to coach the team. The next day, Frank Mahovlich rejoins the team, which Hadfield takes as a sign that he's not getting anymore ice time. It is also there that Eagleson informs the team that there will be no place in the hotel in Moscow for the players' wives. Esposito, angered at all the bad press, ridicule and contempt that the team has received since the start of the series, leads them to threaten that they won't go to Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
if their wives don't.
As they arrive at the hotel in Moscow, Gabrielle Fournier warns the team about getting in trouble in Russia. Before practice, Hadfield sees that he is not playing in game 5. A frustrated Hadfield has a heated argument with Sinden during practice, which results in Hadfield leaving the team and going back to Canada, along with a few other players.
During the ceremony before game 5 in Moscow, Phil Esposito falls on the ice, breaking a lot of the pre-game tension. During the game, Henderson slips past the Soviet defence and takes a shot. Just after Tretiak stops the shot, Henderson is tripped and slides head-first into the boards. He is helped off the ice where the doctor tells Ferguson that Henderson has a concussion and can't play. Despite that, Henderson returns to the ice and almost immediately scores on Tretiak, giving Canada a 4-1 lead in the 3rd. During the celebration in the crowd, a Soviet soldier pulls a Canadian fan who was blowing into a plastic horn out of the crowd and drags him into a backroom. Ms. Fournier runs after them and gets Gresko to go talk to the police. Gresko tells her that he is being arrested for assault. As Ms. Fournier waits for the police to come out, she hears the crowd start to roar several times. She finally goes back in to check the score and it's 4-4. The Soviets then add another goal to win the game 5-4, scoring 4 unanswered goals in the third period. As the game ends, Sinden immediately leaves the bench and destroys his dressing room in frustration. With Team Canada now staring down seemingly overwhelming odds, down 3 games to one with only 3 must win games remaining in Moscow. The next morning, Fournier makes a deal with the Soviet police to free the Canadian fan on the condition that he leaves the country immediately. The fan confesses to Fournier that the police shaved off his hair and beard, took his clothes, hung him by his ankles and tattooed his heels.
Back at the hotel, Cashman, Esposito and Bergman decide to search Bergman's room for bugs. Thinking they have found something under the carpet, they unscrew a box. As it turns out, what they unscrewed was the system that was holding up a chandelier in the lobby.
For game 6, Sinden goes with a hunch and puts Dryden back in net. During the warm-ups for the game, Sinden and Ferguson notice that Baader and Kompalla, the "two clowns" from Sweden are officiating. The two referees call penalties against the Canadians all game long. At one point, Esposito collides with Soviet Boris Mikhialov
Boris Mikhailov (ice hockey)
Boris Petrovich Mikhailov is a former Soviet ice hockey player. He played for Kristall Saratov from 1962–65, Lokomotiv Moscow from 1965–67, and CSKA Moscow from 1967-1981...
, cutting him below his eye. Although no penalty is called, Bobrov tells Mikhialov to show Kompalla the blood. After seeing Mikhialov's cut, Kompalla gives Esposito a 5-minute major penalty. Sinden angrily objects, claiming it a penalty for bleeding. As Kharlamov continues to skate circles around the Canadians, Ferguson leans over and whispers something in Bobby Clarke's ear. Henderson, who was sitting next to Clarke, is shocked and disgusted at what he hears, although he says nothing. On his next shift, Clarke comes up behind Kharlamov and aggressively slashs him on the ankle, breaking it. Henderson scores later in the game and the Canadians hold on for a 3-2 win, their first victory since Game 2. After the game, Gresko and Bobrov show their anger about Clarke's slash. Fournier also confronts Ferguson about the slash, to which Ferguson replies he doesn't care how his team wins, just as long as they win.
The next day Sinden, Ferguson and Eagleson confront Gresko about Baader and Kompalla. Gresko agrees that they will not officiate again in the series on several conditions that Sinden objects to, but they accept anyway. For Game 7, Valeri Kharlamov sits out due to his ankle injury. During the game, a fight breaks out between the teams. During the fight, Boris Mikhailov kicks Gary Bergman with his skate, causing him to bleed. Late in the game, Paul Henderson dekes several defensemen and scores, giving Team Canada a 4-3 lead and the win. In the dressing room after the game, Bergman shows the team his blooded shin pad as a result of Mikhailov's kick. Ferguson takes the shin pad and shows it to Fournier, who earlier criticized the team for their violent play.
The next day, Gresko goes back on his promise and says Badder and Kompalla will officiate Game 8. Ferguson threatens they will not play if they do. Eagleson and the coaches hold out their decision to not play, until the next day when Fournier suggests a deal in which both teams pick one referee. The teams agree to the compromise. The Russians choose Kompalla. However, the referee the Canadians choose surprisingly is sick, so the Canadians go with another referee.
Before the game, the Canadian dressing room is silent. Ken Dryden (who was told he will be starting earlier) cannot stop shaking. Sinden tells the team winning is now the only thing that matters, and that by winning the series they will vindicate themselves. The Canadian team is surprised to see Kharlamov is playing despite his severe injury. Immediately after the game begins, the Canadians receive questionable penalties from Kompalla. With the advantage the Russians score a quick powerplay goal to give them a 1-0 lead. Not soon after, J.P. Parise is given a penalty on what appeared to be an obvious dive. The Canadians' emotions quickly boil over, and Parise nearly swings his stick at Kompalla. As a result, Parise is given a game misconduct and a match penalty. Highly-tempered Sinden and Ferguson throw a stick and a chair onto the ice in frustration. Esposito later scores to tie the game. However, the Russians hold a 5-3 lead at the 2nd intermission. In the dressing room, as the players seem to be losing hope, a determined Esposito claims they will not lose. Esposito then goes to Sinden and suggests he make a change to his line. Sinden has Peter Mahovlich take his brother's place on the line.
The Canadians quickly score in the 3rd period to make it 5-4. Later in the game, Yvan Cournoyer scores to tie the game. Eagleson notices the goal light doesn't go on from the stands. He then storms to the timekeeper's box to make sure the Russians don't cheat them out of a goal. However, Eagleson is subdued by the Russian guards and appear to be arresting him. Team Canada, led by Pete Mahovlich, storm the area and rescue Eagleson from the guards, with Mahovlich actually going over the boards. As he's being walked backed to the Canadian bench, an angered Eagleson shoves his fist to the crowd. Late during the game, Gresko comes to the Canadian bench and informs Eagleson that if the game ends in a tie, the Russians will win the series based on goal differential (the Russians had two more goals than the Canadians). Esposito overhears the conversation, and becomes more determined to win the game, even refusing to get off the ice despite being tired. In the last minute of the game, Henderson calls Pete Mahovlich off the ice and storms to the net. Though he doesn't score, Esposito shoots the puck at Tretiak. Henderson picks up the rebound and scores to give the Canadians a 6-5 lead and thus winning the series. The Canadians clear the bench and crowd Henderson in celebration. As the game ends, one of the Canadian players picks up the game-winning puck (the camera does not show the player's face, therefore leaving it unknown).
As the Canadians proudly celebrate in the dressing room, Alexander Yakushev
Alexander Yakushev
Alexander Sergeyevich Yakushev was an ice hockey player for the Soviet Union.Born in Moscow, Soviet Union, Alexander Yakushev is best known to North American hockey fans as one of the stars for the Soviet team that played Team Canada in the famous 1972 Summit Series...
awards the team a trophy from the Russians. Esposito accepts the trophy, and gives Yakushev a stick and a beer in return on behalf of the team. Pete Mahovlich names the trophy the "Commie Cup". As the team continues celebrating, Sinden and Ferguson quietly sit in their room. Ferguson asks Sinden if they want to join them. Sinden declines, saying he needs a couple minutes to "take this all in". A handshake between the two follows, as they continue to sit silently in their room (In the extended version, Sinden leaves and Ferguson breaks down in tears).
The miniseries ends with the team going on to the ice one more time. The team stand and sit on the ice in silence, absorbing the series and their experience as a whole. This concluding moment was the one scene in the mini-series that liberally interpreted the truth and perhaps was the most dramatized. The players did not go back on the ice, but this coda was based on an interview with defenseman Gary Bergman
Gary Bergman
Gary Gunnar Bergman was a professional ice hockey defenceman playing in the NHL mostly for the Detroit Red Wings...
, who said that he stopped before leaving the ice for the final time and took in the "old barn" (Luzhniki Ice Palace).
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Booth Savage Booth Savage Booth Savage is a Canadian film, stage, and television actor. He graduated with an MFA from York University in 1992. He is in the Canadore College Theatre program faculty. He is best known to Canadian TV viewers for his role as Team Canada head coach Harry Sinden in the 2006 CBC miniseries... |
Harry Sinden Harry Sinden Harry James Sinden was the long-time general manager, coach, and president for the Boston Bruins NHL hockey team, and was the coach of Team Canada during the 1972 Summit Series... |
| Judah Katz | Alan Eagleson Alan Eagleson Robert Alan Eagleson is a disbarred Canadian lawyer, convicted felon in two countries, former politician, hockey agent and promoter... |
| Mark Owen | John Ferguson John Ferguson, Sr. John Bowie "Fergy" Ferguson Sr. was a professional ice hockey player. Ferguson played as a left-winger for the Montreal Canadiens from 1963 to 1971.-Early years:... |
| Sonia Laplante | Gabrielle Fournier |
| David Berni David Berni David Berni is a Canadian actor and voice actor. He was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is currently the voice of Duck on Almost Naked Animals and Paddy on Scaredy Squirrel... |
Phil Esposito Phil Esposito Philip Anthony Esposito, OC is a former Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Black Hawks, Boston Bruins and New York Rangers. He is an Honoured Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame and is considered to be one of the best to have... |
| Gabriel Hogan Gabriel Hogan Gabriel Hogan is a Canadian actor.Hogan is best known for his continuing roles on Canadian hit dramas Traders and The Associates.- Background :... |
Ken Dryden Ken Dryden Kenneth Wayne Dryden, PC, is a Canadian politician, lawyer, businessman, author, and former NHL goaltender. Dryden is married with two children and four grandchildren and is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame... |
| Mike Dopud Mike Dopud Mike Dopud is a Canadian-born film actor, television actor, voice actor, stuntman, stage actor and athlete. He is best known for playing Detective Smits in White Noise the 2005 action-horror film, Agent Turner in Alone In The Dark a 2005 action-horror film, playing Vic Hadfield in the Canadian... |
Vic Hadfield Vic Hadfield Victor Edward Hadfield is a retired professional ice hockey player. One of the most popular players in New York Rangers history, Hadfield had a sixteen-year career in the NHL, tallying 323 goals and 389 assists with 1154 penalty minutes in 1002 career games with the Rangers and the Pittsburgh... |
| Tyson Waye | Red Berenson |
| Sebastien Roberts Sebastien Roberts Sebastien Roberts is a French-Canadian actor of television and film, working in both French and English since the mid 1990s.... |
Rod Gilbert Rod Gilbert Rodrigue Gabriel Gilbert is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played for the New York Rangers in the National Hockey League. He played right wing on the GAG line that also featured Vic Hadfield and Jean Ratelle... |
| Louis Philippe Dandenault | Yvan Cournoyer Yvan Cournoyer Yvan Serge "The Roadrunner" Cournoyer is a retired Canadian hockey right winger who played in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens from 1963 to 1979. Cournoyer was born in Drummondville, Quebec. He was nicknamed "The Roadrunner" due to his small size and blazing speed, which he... |
| Jeff Roop Jeff Roop Jeff Roop is a Canadian television, film and theatre actor born August 21, 1973 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He attended school at the Moscow Art Theatre and Carnegie Mellon University. In Montreal, Jeff founded the Arbat Theatre Company, as well as appearing in off-Broadway plays... |
Frank Mahovlich Frank Mahovlich Francis William "The Big M" Mahovlich, CM is a Canadian Senator, and a retired NHL ice hockey player, nicknamed the "Big M." He played on six Stanley Cup-winning teams and is an inductee of the Hockey Hall of Fame.-Playing career:... |
| Hugh Thompson | Gary Bergman Gary Bergman Gary Gunnar Bergman was a professional ice hockey defenceman playing in the NHL mostly for the Detroit Red Wings... |
| David Alexander Miller | Paul Henderson Paul Henderson Paul Henderson is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. A left winger, Henderson played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs and Atlanta Flames... |
| Gerry Dee Gerry Dee Gerry Dee is a Canadian stand-up comedian. Prior to his comic career, he was a physical education teacher and hockey coach at De La Salle College "Oaklands", a private co-ed high school in Toronto... |
Wayne Cashman Wayne Cashman Wayne Cashman is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player and a former NHL head coach.-Playing career:Cashman played his junior hockey as a teammate of Bobby Orr's on the Oshawa Generals of the OHA... |
| Chris Szarka | Peter Mahovlich Peter Mahovlich Peter Joseph "Little M" Mahovlich , known in his playing years as "Little M", is a retired Canadian professional hockey forward and head coach.-Playing career:... |
| John Bregar John Bregar John Francis Bregar is a Canadian actor best known for his role as Dylan Michalchuk on Degrassi: The Next Generation. He also plays Cody Flowers in Family Biz.... |
Bobby Clarke Bobby Clarke Robert Earle Clarke, OC , better known as Bobby Clarke or, in later life, Bob Clarke, is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played his entire National Hockey League career with the Philadelphia Flyers and is currently an executive with the team... |
| Marc Savard | Serge Savard Serge Savard Serge Aubrey "The Senator" Savard, OC, CQ is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman, most famously with the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League . He is also a local businessman in Montreal, and is nicknamed the Senator.-Playing career:Savard played minor league hockey with the... |
| Jason Thibodeau | Jean-Paul Parise |
| Rob Brydges | Bill Goldsworthy Bill Goldsworthy William Alfred Goldsworthy was a professional ice hockey right winger who played in the National Hockey League for 14 seasons between 1964 and 1978, most notably for the Minnesota North Stars.-Playing career:... |
| Yuriy Sobeshchakov | Vsevolod Bobrov Vsevolod Bobrov Vsevolod Mikhailovich Bobrov was a Soviet athlete, who excelled in both football , bandy, and ice hockey. He is considered one of the best Russians ever in all of those sports.- Biography :... |
| Daniel Matmor | Alexander Gresko |
| Leo Vernik | Vladislav Tretiak Vladislav Tretiak Vladislav Aleksandrovich Tretiak, MSM is a former goaltender for the Soviet Union's national ice hockey team. Considered to be one of the greatest goaltenders in the history of the sport, he was voted one of six players to the International Ice Hockey Federation's Centennial All-Star Team in a... |
| Joel Cousins | Valeri Kharlamov |
| Gary Levert | Joe Kryczka |
| Walter Learning Walter Learning Walter John Learning is a Canadian theatre director, actor, and founder of Theatre New Brunswick.-Biography:Walter Learning was born in 1938 in the small village of Quidi Vidi in Newfoundland. Learning attended Bishop Feild College in St. John's and the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton,... |
Charlie Hay Charles Hay Charles Cecil Hay was a Canadian ice hockey player, organizer, and administrator. A member of the Hockey Hall of Fame in the "Builder" category, Hay is best known for his work with Hockey Canada and his efforts to organize the 1972 Summit Series... |
| Eugene Lipinski | Anatoly Tarasov |
Soundtrack
There is no official soundtrack or musical score for the miniseries. However, this is a list of all the songs that appear in the series. All of these songs are early 1970s songs from Canadian musicians, which appear to fit the proper setting of music during the 1972 Summit SeriesSummit Series
The Summit Series was the first competition between the Soviet and an NHL-inclusive Canadian national ice hockey teams, an eight-game series held in September 1972...
. Most of these songs are heard more than once throughout the miniseries.
In order of appearance:
- "No Sugar Tonight" - The Guess WhoThe Guess WhoThe Guess Who are a Canadian rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Initially gaining recognition in Canada, they also found international success from the late 1960s through the mid-1970s with numerous hit singles, including "American Woman", "These Eyes" and "Share the Land"...
(appears twice) - "Oh, What a Feeling" - CrowbarCrowbar (Canadian band)Crowbar was a Canadian rock band based in Hamilton, Ontario, probably best known for their 1971 hit "Oh, What a Feeling".- History :From 1969 to 1970, most of the members of the group had been a backup band for Ronnie Hawkins under the name "And Many Others"...
(appears twice) - "Runnin' Back to SaskatoonRunnin' Back to Saskatoon"Runnin' Back to Saskatoon" is a popular rock and roll song written by Burton Cummings and Kurt Winter.The song was recorded by the Canadian rock group The Guess Who on May 22, 1972 for the album Live at the Paramount, and is also included on the 1974 album The Best of the Guess Who, Vol...
" - The Guess WhoThe Guess WhoThe Guess Who are a Canadian rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Initially gaining recognition in Canada, they also found international success from the late 1960s through the mid-1970s with numerous hit singles, including "American Woman", "These Eyes" and "Share the Land"...
(appears twice) - "No Time" - The Guess WhoThe Guess WhoThe Guess Who are a Canadian rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Initially gaining recognition in Canada, they also found international success from the late 1960s through the mid-1970s with numerous hit singles, including "American Woman", "These Eyes" and "Share the Land"...
(appears twice) - "One Fine Morning" - LighthouseLighthouse (band)Lighthouse is a Canadian rock band formed in 1968 in Toronto which included horns, string instruments, and vibraphone; their music reflected elements of rock music, jazz, classical music and swing...
(appears twice) - "Absolutely Right" - Five Man Electrical BandFive Man Electrical BandThe Five Man Electrical Band was a rock group from Canada's capital city of Ottawa, best known for their 1971 hit single "Signs"....
(appears twice) - "Signs" - Five Man Electrical BandFive Man Electrical BandThe Five Man Electrical Band was a rock group from Canada's capital city of Ottawa, best known for their 1971 hit single "Signs"....
(appears four times) - "The WeightThe Weight"The Weight" is a song written by Robbie Robertson. It was released by The Band as Capitol Records single 2269 in 1968, and appeared one week later on the group's debut album Music from Big Pink. The song is listed as #41 on Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Songs of All Time published in 2004, and...
" - The BandThe BandThe Band was an acclaimed and influential roots rock group. The original group consisted of Rick Danko , Garth Hudson , Richard Manuel , and Robbie Robertson , and Levon Helm... - "Where Evil Grows" - The Poppy FamilyThe Poppy FamilyThe Poppy Family was a late 1960s and early 1970s Canadian pop music group, based in Vancouver, British Columbia.-Career:Seventeen year old Susan Pesklevits met Terry Jacks in the middle 1960s while she was a regular performer on a national teen TV show called Music Hop as well as many other...
- "AvalancheAvalanche (song)"Avalanche" is a song by Leonard Cohen. It appears on his third album, Songs of Love and Hate, released in 1971.The lyrics are based on a poem he had previously written...
" - Leonard CohenLeonard CohenLeonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...