Hockey Calgary Magazine Fall 2012 Issue

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TABLE OF

CONTENTS 12

10

6

16

24

19

5.

Publisher’s Message

14.

Wendy’s Arena Locator Map

6.

Chestermere Lake: Home of the World Record

By Jeremy Freeborn

16.

Stand Up for Exercise

By Terry Skidnuk

19.

40 Years Ago: The ‘72 Summit Series

By Rob Suggitt

24.

Spotlight on an Official

10.

Body Checking in PeeWee Hockey

By Jeremy Freeborn

12.

Players Learn That Size Matters

By Peter Cheney: The Globe and Mail

Cover Photo (Courtesy of Maros Hana of Hanafoto photography): Lyall Marshall, and his daughter Diamond, are featured on our cover.

Lyall Marshall played for “Team Hope” in the Marathon Hockey Game, which took place earlier this year.. Diamond Marshall received treatments at the Alberta Children’s Hospital this past yearl to treat an adrenal form of cancer.

Hockey Calgary Magazine

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PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE Welcome back to another hockey season!

In this issue of the magazine, we have a special feature on a very controversial subject matter – bodychecking in minor hockey.

It is an important subject matter, for which all stakeholders deserve a voice. If you have a point of view (as a coach, parent, player, hockey administrator, etc.), we would like to hear from you.

We have a terrific “feel good” story about a 246-hour hockey game which took place earlier this year. The 10-day plus game is recognized as the longest hockey game in the world by Guinness World Records. And while over 8,000 goals were scored in this marathon hockey game, the biggest goal was achieved by raising over $1.5 million for the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation.

In wrapping up this edition of the Hockey Magazine, we have a retro piece on the 1972 Summit Series, which took place 40 years ago. For those old enough to remember, it was the most significant hockey event of the 20th century.

With the NHL lockout in place (as it is at press-time), hockey fans have been able to relive the experience (or see it for the first time), with TSN replaying many of the games which took place between the Soviet Union and Canada in 1972.

Whether or not we have NHL hockey this season, there are many options for hockey fans who want to watch (and support) hockey. The Calgary Hitmen are off to a great start, and there’s no better bang-for-the-buck than junior hockey.

Credits President and Publisher Rob Suggitt Vice President Stephen Kathnelson Art Director Christine Kucher Graphic Designers Terah Jans | Cole Mckelvie

Contributing Writers

Jeremy Freeborn I Jon Hagan Peter Cheney / The Globe & Mail | Rob Suggitt | Terry Skidnuk

Copy Editing Shari Narine

Photography Credits

Jon Hagan | Maros Hana of Hanafoto photography

Administration Amber Grmek

#950, Bell Tower, 10104 - 103 Ave., Edmonton, AB T5J 0H8 Ph: 780-423-5834 • Fax: 780-413-6185 The Hockey Magazine is a product of Playhouse Publications Ltd., an affiliate of Suggitt Group Ltd.

President & CEO Tom Suggitt President & CFO Rob Suggitt All rights reserved. The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed within do not necessarily represent the opinions of the publisher.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher. www.Suggitt.com

And if you’re still “suffering” the absence of pro hockey, why not take in some AJHL action, featuring the Calgary Canucks or Mustangs. A number of former Junior “A” players graduated from the AJHL to the NHL, including Mike Commodore, Curtis Glencross, Mike Vernon, Lanny McDonald, and all six Sutter brothers!

Printed by: R.R. Donnelley

There’s also college and university hockey worth checking out, with men’s and women’s divisions in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference, and of course, the Dinos at the University of Calgary. Hayley Wickenheiser has laced up for the Dinos this season, and in our next edition of the Hockey Magazine, we will have a special feature article on Wickenheiser.

Until next time, we wish everyone all the best this hockey season!

DO YOU

HAVE A

MINOR

HOCKEY Sincerely, Rob Suggitt Publisher,

STORY

We are always open to suggestions for articles and stories, and in particular, at the minor hockey level.

If you have a suggestion for a story, please pass it along to publisher@hockeymagazine.net.

TO TELL?

HOCKEY MAGAZINE CALGARY

Hockey Calgary Magazine

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By Jeremy Freeborn

Photos by: Maros Hana of Hanafoto photography.

During the Stanley Cup playoffs on an annual basis hockey fans just might see a hockey marathon. The game may go into triple or sometimes quadruple overtime. But what took place in Chestermere Lake, just east of Calgary, this past spring was simply phenomenal.

In an attempt to break the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest hockey game ever played, a courageous group of 40 hockey players from southern Alberta came together to make history. Team Cure played Team Hope for over 246 straight hours, with Team Cure being victorious 4,178-3,845 in a 10 day marathon.

The most significant winner of the game was the Alberta Children’s Hospital, which received approximately $1.6 million in donations from the event.

“It was very, very exciting,” saids Liz Ballendine, director, community initiatives and events of the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation. “We are fully aware of all the blood, sweat and tears that went into reaching this incredible amount. It’s a testimony to their heart-felt commitment to the kids, and the wonderful generosity of this community. We were so grateful for all they did.”

The Alberta Children’s Hospital will be directing the funds to the childhood cancer program and the pediatric intensive care unit, specifically, but not limited to, oncology research, cardiac respiratory monitors and emergency transport equipment.

David Shillington, who at one time played in the Alberta Junior Hockey League and the CIS, scored an amazing 524 goals. Shillington’s stick will soon be in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

Playing for the Alberta Children’s Hospital was meaningful for Shillington.

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“You could see the money in action,” said Shillington. “The Alberta Children’s Hospital makes you proud to be a Calgarian. The Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation is phenomenal.”

This has been the third time in the last two years in western Canada that a Guinness record has been set for the world’s longest hockey game. In January 2011, a group of Edmonton-based players played 242 hours in Sherwood Park and then last summer, 40 female hockey players from British Columbia played 243 hours. The Edmontonbased players played for the Alberta Cancer Foundation, while the beneficiary from the Vancouver hockey game was cystic fibrosis.

The game in Chestermere Lake was originally organized by Alex Halat, who once played for St. Mary’s University in Nova Scotia. Halat was inspired by two key people-- his brother Moe and local patient Diamond Marshall, who made headlines a year ago when she met the Duchess of Cambridge at the Calgary International Airport.

Moe Halat, who once starred for the Mount Royal Cougars about a decade ago, had a cancerous tumour removed from his chest a year ago. Diamond meanwhile has an adrenal form of cancer that needs to be treated at the Alberta Children’s Hospital. Alex Halat is good friends with Diamond’s father Lyall, who played in the game.

During the 10 days, players from Team Hope and Team Cure could step outside of the arena, but could not leave a specified gated area around the arena.

“We were like hockey prisoners,” laughed Shillington.

A major reason for the event’s success was the location. The game generated significant interest in the community of Chestermere Lake, and put the town on the map. Chestermere Lake will now be synonymous with the location of the world’s longest hockey game played.

In order for an event of this magnitude to take place, there needs to be an enormous amount of volunteers, local backing and community support. Food was regularly donated to players, two chefs worked daily eight - hour shifts, locals made frequent trips to Tim Horton’s on the players’ behalf and medical volunteers were nearby to look after various injuries.

“We nearly had 600 volunteers,” said Halat.

“They filled in every little crack that needed to be filled. They were amazing.”

The most common injury among the players was blisters on the feet. In

“We had people in the stands at 3:30 in the morning,” explained Chestermere Lake town mayor Patricia Matthews. “We had firefighters drop by. The game really brought the community together.”

“It exceeded our expectations,” said Alex Halat. “We didn’t fathom a simple hockey game would generate so much attention and bring a community together like it did. The town was abuzz and downtown Calgary was talking about it.”

Hockey Calgary Magazine

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fact, Brad Neufeld of Team Hope, needed to miss two days because he had staff infections in both feet. But amazingly he came back to play.

To have Chestermere Lake in the Guinness Book of World Records also makes Matthews smile.

“You can’t pay for that type of advertising,” she said. “We are immensely and eternally grateful to Alex Halat and all of his supporters for picking Chestermere Lake as the location of the world’s longest hockey game.”

The game also had some star power. Former Calgary Flame Brendan Morrison refereed a portion of the game, and the game was also attended by Lanny McDonald, Jarome Iginla, Charlie Simmer and singer Paul Brandt.

“With them showing up generated more of a buzz in the community,” said Halat. “You know you’re starting to do something right when you’re starting to get the attention of the celebrities.”

Each and every day players would be on the ice for 12 hours. The mental focus of the players was truly amazing. You would think that by playing over 10 consecutive days, players would lose their enthusiasm for hockey (at least a little). But that was simply not the case.

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“Hockey has done so much for me,” said Shillington. “It teaches you so much. It is the best game in the entire world and nothing can beat it.”

Efforts are already being made to duplicate the event. Plans are underway to play another game in 2014.

“I want to raise more money for the Alberta Children’s Hospital”, said Shillington, who has already confirmed to Halat that he’ll be back. “I want to raise as much money as possible and to help organizations like the Alberta Children’s Hospital get put on the map and be recognized for the amazing work that they do.”

Matthews is excited to embrace the same group of players again.

“Honestly, I think they are the greatest guys on the planet to go back and attempt to reorganize another game after having coming off a physically and mentally draining event.”

For more information about the game please go to www.hockeymarathon.com.

Hockey Calgary Magazine

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By Jeremy Freeborn

One of the most controversial topics regarding minor hockey in Calgary is whether or not bodychecking should be allowed at the pee wee level. In June, Hockey Calgary membership rejected a proposal initiated by Hockey Calgary executives that would ban bodychecking for hockey players at 11 and 12 years of age.

epidemiologist at the University of Calgary who specializes in injury prevention in sport, disagrees with allowing bodychecking in games at such a young age group.

“Bodychecking is the number one mechanism for concussion as well as all other types of injury in pee wee ice hockey players,” she said.

“Bodychecking is the number one mechanism for concussion as well as all other types of injury in pee wee ice hockey players.”

The topic is contentious at the moment and is generating constant debate among hockey players, parents, coaches and administrators. The decision to allow bodychecking at the pee wee level for the 2012-13 season has led to a strong division within the entire Calgary hockey community.

In Emery’s 2010 research study which was later published in the Journal of American Medical Association, it was concluded that 400 concussions and 1,000 hockey related injuries annually would be prevented in Alberta if bodychecking at the pee wee level was delayed until bantam.

The bottom line is bodychecking at the pee wee level has significant health risks for hockey players in their pre-adolescent years.

According to CBC News, the vote to reject the ban “came even though medical evidence suggested checking does increase the chance of major injuries.”

It was also stated that pee wee hockey players in Alberta were three times more likely to be injured than pee wee hockey players in Quebec where bodychecking is not allowed, and that players who were in the lowest quarter by body weight in the pee wee age group, were also at greater risk of suffering an injury.

For pee wee hockey players, the health risks directly related to bodychecking are significant. Dr. Carolyn Emery, a sport

The health risks of a concussion sustained in pee wee hockey can last a considerable period of time and go beyond the realm of sport.

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“Often a player who sustains multiple concussions will lead to a player not participating in ice hockey. About eight percent of kids in sport in general drop out of organized sport each year because of injury that can lead to potentially other health risks. About 14 percent of kids who suffer a concussion will have long term problems associated with that concussion beyond three months. They may have symptoms or neurocognitive deficits which may not only limit their participation in sport but may also limit school activities. Seeing any child with a concussion that has long term consequences that impact their daily life is pretty significant,” said Emery.

The impact of a concussion can have serious effects on people, no matter the age of the individual.

“Our study shows that the incidence of concussions in 11 and 12 year olds is quite similar to the incidence of concussion in the National Hockey League. Kids who are 11 and 12 have developing brains, and this may affect their response to a concussion,” said Emery.

According to CTV News, the ban on bodychecking for many of the pee wee hockey teams in Ontario is popular and could lead to greater participation in minor hockey among youth. York University health professor Alison Macpherson believes that Ontario Hockey Federation’s decision might lead to the prevention of the “obesity epidemic” that children are currently facing.

If there is significant evidence related to medical science about the dangers of bodychecking at the pee wee level, one needs to question why it is allowed at all levels of play at the bantam levels and beyond as well?

Remarkably, bodychecking is not allowed in most men’s beer hockey leagues and all female hockey leagues, but is allowed in hockey leagues for boys prior to them becoming teenagers. One needs to question the reasons why those who support bodychecking at all levels of play in pee wee are against it at the recreational level when they are adults?

“The impact of a concussion can have serious effects on people, no matter the age of the individual.”

Defining “elite” versus “non-elite” can be extremely difficult and somewhat challenging, especially at the minor hockey league level, where some parents want their children to play at the highest level possible on a regular basis.

Concussions are not the only injury related to bodychecking at the pee wee level.

“We also see a lot of musculoskeletal injuries, including fractures, which can have an effect on bone growth development,” stated Emery.

The major argument among those who support bodychecking in pee wee hockey is that it is important for youth hockey players to learn how to take a hit at an early age, so they will be better prepared to take a bodycheck once they reach a higher level in the sport.

Emery says the argument is not based on evidence.

“The evidence around concussion and injury risk outweighs the developmental argument, based on the evidence. Arguably lots of professional players have come from the province of Quebec, where bodychecking is introduced at age 13, and only at the most elite levels of play,” she said.

Quebec is not the only province that does not allow bodychecking in pee wee hockey. In Ontario, players in provincial house leagues as of 2011 cannot bodycheck at the pee wee level, but are allowed at the higher levels of rep pee wee hockey.

The Calgary Adult Hockey League, formed in 2004, even states on its website the league is “a non-bodychecking competitive adult recreational ice hockey league”. It is ironic that nonbodychecking leagues are available for adults in Alberta, but not for children who are 11 and 12 years old.

“The question is when is it ethical to introduce,” said Emery. “If we are seeing the number of kids who are suffering concussions at age 11 and 12 who are impacted by this injury, it is perhaps not the appropriate decision to allow kids that age to bodycheck. Likely, there should be reconsideration about the level of play where it (bodychecking) is introduced.”

From a financial perspective, banning bodychecking at the pee wee age level can have immense benefits too.

“If there were no bodychecking in just 11 and 12 year olds, we can save significant health care dollars as well,” said Emery. “There’s an economic impact as well as regarding the wellness of the child.”

Even though Hockey Calgary continues to be divided, their executive is committed to sharing a significant amount of knowledge from the medical community about the risks involved with bodychecking, and receives praise from Emery in delivering accurate knowledge about the issue to its membership.

In conclusion, as long as bodychecking continues to be allowed in pee wee hockey in Calgary, there will be those who support the status quo regardless of the overwhelming medical arguments that state there is simply no place for it in the game. As published reports like those written by Dr. Emery increase, the overall public opinion about bodychecking has an opportunity to change.

Hockey Calgary Magazine

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By Peter Cheney The Globe & Mail (re-printed with permission) Illustration by Ryan Lupul

Not long ago, I watched an 11-year-old boy dismantle my son Willie’s hockey team almost single-handedly. For his first goal, he deked out both of our defencemen and flicked in a backhander.

The next was a wrist shot that went into the net like a round from a gun.

I squinted and imagined that I was watching Mario Lemieux or Joe Sakic. It wasn’t much of a stretch. I turned to my friend John, a hockey coach and connoisseur of the game. “Wow, that kid could be in the NHL some day.”

John shook his head and pointed to the stands. “No way,” he said.

“Look at his dad.”

The boy’s father was on his feet, celebrating the latest goal. The top of his head was about level with the shoulder of a woman standing next to him. I saw what John meant - there aren’t many little guys in the National Hockey League. “Unless his wife is seven feet tall, his kid’s not going anywhere,” John said.

Even before they hit puberty, children leave behind the innocent game of their childhood to play a new, physical brand of hockey in which skill is only part of the equation. I still remember the first time my son was judged for his ability to intimidate. He was 9, and he’d decided to move up from house league to the Greater Toronto Hockey League - the coach who signed him told us he wanted Willie for his size.

“He’s a big kid,” the coach said. “That’s what we’re looking for.”

I was glad he’d made the team, but a part of me cringed. I felt like Willie was being picked through a process similar to the one that overseers once used to grade a buck slave. What was next? Would they feel his biceps and check his teeth?

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For Willie, and for us, that was the beginning of the age of hitting. In the house league, he’d been told to get the puck and score. Now, he was being told to bodycheck and to let the other team know who was boss. He took to it like a fish to water. My wife and I could hardly watch. We didn’t want Willie to get hurt. We didn’t want him to hurt someone else. And we didn’t want our son to get a reputation as a goon.

I’d heard the hockey cliches about the need for physical play, most of them variations on Conn Smythe’s famous line “If you can’t beat ‘em in the alley, you can’t beat ‘em on the ice.” I wondered about that.

Wayne Gretzky was the greatest player in the history of the game, and he never seemed to hit anybody. But the game’s violence had surrounded him - that’s why he often had enforcers, such as Dave Semenko or Marty McSorley, riding shotgun with him.

Could Willie play hockey without hitting? After two years of watching him in the GTHL, I realize that the answer is no. I may not like hitting, but I have been gradually forced to accept it.

But there are judgments to be made. The difference between a clean hit and a dirty one can be a tough call - in the middle of

the scale, there is a blurred area, similar to the one that defines the boundary between art and pornography. But as a judge once said of porn, you know it when you see it.

hitting led, I wanted no more of it. I had more or less accepted hitting. Sometimes I even applauded a well-executed hit. But at that moment, I was ready to join the ranks of those who would ban bodychecking outright.

“He’s a big kid,”the coach said.

“That’s what we’re looking for.”

When it comes to dirty hits, a recent Friday night comes to mind. Willie’s team, the Leaside Flames, was playing a squad from the suburbs that has a reputation similar to the one that the Visigoths once had in Europe. Many of their players seemed to have been picked purely because of their size. At 11, some of them were just a few inches shorter than I am. One of them was reputed to weigh 175 pounds.

That was easy to believe - in his equipment, the boy had the looming presence of Luca Brasi, Don Corleone’s favourite enforcer. By the third period, the boy had demonstrated a veritable catalogue of ugly tricks - trips, hits from behind, slewfooting and furtive punches to the face shield when the ref was looking the other way. But then he pulled a move that lowered the bar yet again.

I’ve thought about it since then. I wish there could be hockey without hitting. It’s one of the most skilled games in the world, but its violence acts as a filter, excluding everyone who wasn’t born with the sheer mass or homicidal fury to deal with it. At the moment, my son is in the upper-size range for boys his age, giving him a bit of an advantage. What if that changes? Will he have to give up the game?

Hockey has been dominated by hitting for so long that it’s hard for us to imagine the game without it. But I think it’s time we tried.

The whistle had just blown. Willie was skating to the bench. So was the giant kid. As Willie skated up next to him, the boy suddenly elbowed him in the face, knocking him off his feet. Willie landed on his back, flat on the ice. He didn’t move for a few seconds. Quite a few people saw the hit, but the refs weren’t among them. The giant kid’s coach laughed, and slapped him on the back.

Something in me snapped. I jumped to my feet and yelled.

I wanted to take Willie and go home. If this was where

Hockey Calgary Magazine

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WENDY’S LOCATIONS Calgary 1. 475 - 36 St. NE 2. 3311 - 26th St. NE 3. 1181 - 49th Ave. NE 4. 3232 Sunridge Blvd. NE 5. 105, 3660 Westwinds Dr. NE 6. 1927 Uxbridge Dr. NW 7. 8435 Bowfort Rd. NW 8. 4122 Brentwood Rd. NW 9. 121, 150 Crowfoot Cres NW 10. 900, 388 Country Hills Blvd.

11. 7109 MacLeod Trail S. 12. 1304 - 17th Ave. SW 13. 1720 - 37th St. SW 14. 5929 Signal Hill Ctr. SW 15. 111 - 5th Ave. SW(Petro Can) 16. 424, 1st St. SW(Esso) 17. 401 - 9th Ave. SW(Gulf) 18. 410, 303 Shawville Blvd. SE 19. 444 - 58th Ave. SE 20. 240 Midpark Way SE 21. 8911 Bonaventure Dr. SE 22. 4307 - 130th Ave. SE 23. 5303 - 68th Ave. SE 24. 4605 - 25th St. SE 25. #2, 5 Heritage Gate SE

273-4740 250-6698 730-5250 250-8990 280-3411 282-5831 286-6660 282-5216 239-2620 226-5882 253-5333 245-0252 246-0065 246-2846 290-0489 264-7809 266-3855 254-4540 259-5668 254-5120 252-5494 257-3719 279-2257 272-7333 258-2570

Airdrie 26. 180 East Lake Cres. NE

948-2108

Okotoks 27. 18 Southridge Dr.

995-2552

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ARENA LOCATOR 1. Acadia Recreation Complex 240 90 Ave. SE 2. Bowness Sportsplex 7809 43 Ave. NW 3. Brentwood Sportsplex Northmount Drive & 35 St. NW 4. Calgary Centennial Arenas - Blue Calgary Centennial Arenas - Gold 2390 47 Ave. SW 5. Cardel Place - East Cardel Place -West 11950 Country Village Link NE 6. Crowchild - Blue Crowchild - Red 185 Scenic Acres Dr. NW 7. Crowfoot 8080 John Laurie Blvd. NW 8. East Calgary - Blue East Calgary - Red 299 Erinwoods Dr. SE 9. Ed Whalen Joe Kryczka 2000 Southland Dr. SW 10. Ernie Starr 4808 14 Ave. SE 11. Family Leisure Centre 11150 Bonaventure Dr. SE 12. Father David Bauer Norma Bush 2424 University Dr. NW 13. Frank McCool 1900 Lake Bonavista Dr. SE 14. George Blundun Optimist 5020 26 Ave. SW 15. Henry Viney Renfrew / Stew Hendry 810 13 Ave. NE 16. Huntington Hills 520 78 Ave. NW

17. Jack Setters 69 Ave. & 20 A St. 18. Lake Bonavista 1401 Acadia Dr. SE 19. Max Bell Centre 1001 Barlow Trail S 20. Murray Copot 6715 Centre St. N 21. Northeast Sportsp Northeast Sportsp 5206 68 St. NE 22. Oakridge 9504 Oakfield Dr 23. Rose Kohn Jimmie Condon 502 Heritage Dr. S 24. Sarcee Seven Chief 3700 Anderson Rd 25. Shouldice 1515 Home Rd. N 26 South Fish Creek - N South Fish Creek 100, 333 Shawville 27. Stu Peppard 5300 19 St. SW 28.Thorncliffe / Greenv 5600 Centre St. N 29.Triwood 2244 Chicoutimi D 30.Village Square - 1 Village Square - 2 2623 56 St. NE 31.West Hillhurst 1940 6 Ave. NW 32.West Mount Pleasa 610 23 Ave. NW 33.Westside Recreation 2000 69 St. SW

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Hockey Calgary Magazine

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Hockey Calgary Magazine

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Look no further than the calgary Hockey Magazine • distributed in all Edmonton arenas • 10,000 copies printed per issue • targeted to hockey parents, fans, coaches, etc. (an ideal target market) Our next issue comes out in January (Minor Hockey Week Edition).

The booking deadline is November 30th, 2012 Please contact us at publisher@hockeymagazine.net for further details.

Want to reach a

HockEy AUdIEncE?

18

don’t miss out!

By Rob Suggitt

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Summit Series, a series between Canada and the Soviet Union, which took place in September 1972.

For those old enough to remember, it was a monumental and memorable series, and most people still recall exactly where they were when the deciding game took place on September 28, 1972.

The series was more than just a hockey tournament. For many people, it was our system against theirs. The Soviets were considered the “evil empire,” and the Cold War was at its peak.

Canada, and other democratic nations around the world, viewed the Soviets as a threat to world peace, a communist country who was building up an arsenal of nuclear weapons, which was leading the world closer and closer to global warfare.

At the same time, the Soviet Union was considered by hockey fans outside of North America as the best in the world at ice hockey.

Leading up to the 1972 series, the Soviets won the World Ice Hockey Championships nine of the previous 10 years, and with the exception of U.S.’s gold medal in 1960, they captured the gold medal in each of the Winter Olympic Games from 1956 – 1972.

No matter that Canada’s best players were not allowed to play in these “amateur” events, there was uncertainty about which nation was the best in the world at ice hockey. It was time to put “our” best against their best to prove which hockey nation was supreme – Canada or the Soviet Union.

It was decided that an 8-game series would take place, four games held in Canada, and four games held in the Soviet Union.

Most media sources and pundits predicted an 8-game sweep for Canada. It was pros vs. amateurs after all, or so they thought.

The first game was held in Montreal, and Canada jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the game. The rout was on! Or was it? The Soviets rebounded to win the first game by a score of 7-3. Canadian fans were shocked, as surely the players were, with this result.

Canada redeemed itself, winning game two (in Toronto) by a score of 4-1. Game three (held in Winnipeg) ended in a 4-4 tie.

Canada lost game four by a score of 5-3, but the most memorable part of this game was the booing the Vancouver fans gave to the Canadian side. After the game, Phil Esposito delivered a passionate speech (he was interviewed by CBC’s Johnny Essaw), and delivered these famous words, “For the people across Canada, we tried. We

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gave it our best. For the people who booed us, jeez, all of us guys are really disheartened and we’re disillusioned and we’re disappointed in some of the people. We cannot believe the bad press we’ve got, the booing we’ve gotten in our own buildings.”

Esposito went on to say more, but his message was clearly sent, and fans were moved by his passion.

With a 15 day break between games four and five, the Canadians had lots of time to prepare themselves (and acclimatize) for the next four games held on Soviet soil, all in Moscow.

Three thousand Canadian fans made the trek (some who made the decision after hearing Phil Esposito’s inspiring speech), turning Moscow’s Luzhniki’s Palace of Sports into a bit of a home team barn for the Canadian team. The Canadian fans were definitely louder than the roughly 12,000 Soviet fans who attended all four games.

Early in game five, the series seemed to be turning towards the Canadians’ favour.

Canada led 3-0 heading into the third, but the Soviets scored five times in the third period, beating the Canadian side 5-4.

Canada now needed to win the next three games (no ties) to win the series.

Canada won games six and seven by one goal (4-3 and 3-2), so it came down to Game 8.

Heading into Game 8, Canada was abuzz. While some fans watched the earlier games live (noon eastern time starts), most people watched the Moscow games on tape-delay when they got home from work or school that day.

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For Game 8, Canadians only wanted to watch the game live. With the time zone difference, they either took time off work to watch the game, or for kids in school, they watched the game on a black-and-white t.v. set brought into the classroom.

And what a game! The Soviet team scored first, but the Canadian team responded.

The Soviets scored again, and once again, Canada tied it up. It was 2-2 after one period.

The Soviets jumped out to another lead, but Canada tied the game 3-3. The Soviets then scored twice, and led 5-3 at the end of the second period.

The Canadian team knew they needed to score early in the third period, and they did exactly that. Phil Esposito scored around the two minute mark to make it a 5-4 deficit, and Yvan Cournoyer scored with seven minutes left in the third period to tie the game 5-5.

The action was intense. And things intensified further when Soviet officials announced that if the game ended in a tie, the Soviets would be considered the victors because they scored more goals than the Canadians in the tournament.

Canada needed to win! A tie was not an option. For the next six minutes, Canada pushed hard for the victory. With a minute left in the game, Paul Henderson did something he had never done before

“Phil Esposito was the heart and soul of the Canadian team.”

TSN replayed the deciding game recently (Game 8), and left the tape intact, just as one would have watched the game 40 years ago, Including all of the technical difficulties and fluttering screens, etc. It was very interesting to see the speed of the game, (not bad really, but not like today obviously), the style of play, players time on ice, etc.

Most people remember that Canada won the series, and that Paul Henderson scored “the goal of the century,” but Phil Esposito was the heart and soul of the Canadian team. Esposito led the tournament with 13 points (seven goals and six assists), and in the deciding game, he played over 28 minutes, tallying two goals and two assists (including an assist on the game winner) in the deciding game.

Phil Esposito nearly missed out in being on the ice for 10 key minutes of the game. Early in the first period, J.P. Parise was given a game misconduct (for threatening an official with his stick), and he was also given a 10-minute misconduct. A player on the ice was supposed to serve the 10-minute misconduct and the referee selected Esposito to serve the penalty. Esposito actually refused to go to the penalty box and the referee let it go. (For those too young too remember, J.P. Parise is Zach Parise’s dad.)

In watching the game again, a lot of things stood out as interesting.

All the Russian players wore helmets. Only one Canadian player (Paul Henderson) wore a helmet.

There was only one offside face-off dot, which was just outside the blue-line in the middle of the ice.

There was advertising on the boards (there wasn’t in the NHL in 1972), and the ads featured North American companies such as Ford, CCM, etc.

Most people remember that Bobby Orr, Bobby Hull and Gordie Howe were not in Canada’s lineup, and while Howe was getting up in age, Orr and Hull were definitely in their prime. Orr missed due to injury, and Hull and Howe were deemed ineligible to play because they joined the upstart WHA.

(or ever since). He called a teammate off the ice. Henderson coaxed Peter Mahovlich to make the switch, and Henderson went on to score the most famous goal in Canadian hockey history.

Here’s how Hockey Hall of Fame announcer Foster Hewitt called the goal. “Here’s a shot. Henderson makes a wild stab for it and falls.

Here’s another shot. Right in front. They score! Henderson scores for Canada!”

In addition to Orr and Hull, there were a few other key players missing from Canada’s lineup, star defenseman J.C. Tremblay and Gerry Cheevers were also not allowed to play, because they signed to play in the WHA. Tremblay was a great puck-moving defenseman – his style would have been great for playing the Russians. And Cheevers was one of the top three goalies in the NHL. He just came off a Stanley Cup victory with the Bruins, and earlier in the 1971-72 season, he went 33 consecutive games without a loss, a record which still stands today.

Cheevers’ style of play was more suited to playing against a puckmoving team like the Soviets. Ken Dryden was more of a stand-up goalie and the Russians exploited this weakness. Canada’s other

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goalie, Tony Esposito, was a very good stand-up goaltender, but not as good as Cheevers.

While Tretiak was great in net for the Russians, it was not a goaltender’s series. Tretiak’s save percentage was .882, which is the same as Tony Esposito’s. Esposito and Dryden each played four games. While Dryden played the all-important Game Eight, his save percentage was a dismal .838 over the four games he played for Team Canada.

And what can you say about Henderson! Everyone knows that he scored the game winner in Game 8. But he also had the game winners in games 6 & 7. He almost had the game winner in game 5, but the Russians came back to win game 5 (they were down 3-0 after two periods) with four goals in the third period.

What a series!

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CHECKING FROM BEHIND

For this edition of the magazine, we selected 17-year-old Jonathan Kikuchi who has been officiating minor hockey for the past four seasons.

BOARDING If a player is checked into the boards in a violent pen-manner, then the ref may call a boarding pen alty. A two-minute penalty will be assessed for boarding, and in situations where the offense is more serious (when a player is vulnerable, etc.), a five-minute major penalty and game ejection may be called.

BODY-CHECKING Body-checking is not allowed until the pee wee level.

Delivering a body-check in the lower divisions will result in a two-minute penalty being assessed.

BUTT-ENDING If a player jabs (or attempts to jab) another player with the shaft of the stick above the upper hand, a butt-ending penalty may be called.

The referee holds one forearm over the other; the lower is moved back and forth, across the body.

CHARGING If a player takes more than two steps or strides, or jumps into an opponent when body-checking, a charging infraction may be called. The referee signals by rotating clenched fists around each other in front of the chest. Since body-checking isn’t allowed until the pee wee level, you will rarely see this called in the first few years.

If a player pushes, body-checks or cross-checks an opponent from behind, a checking from behind penalty may be called. It’s a game misconduct (ejection), coupled with a two-minute or fiveminute penalty, depending on the severity of the offense. The referee’s signal is a forward motion of both arms, with the palms of the hands opened and facing away from the body, fully extending from the chest at shoulder level.

CHECKING TO THE HEAD

A minor and misconduct penalty, or a major and game misconduct penalty, at the discretion of the referee, based on the degree of violence of impact, shall be assessed to any player who checks an opponent to the head area in any manner. A match penalty could also be assessed under this rule. If a player is injured, a major and game misconduct penalty, or a match penalty must be assessed.

CROSS-CHECKING When a player uses the shaft of his stick, held between the hands, to check an opponent at any height. The referee signals with a forward and backward motion of the arms with both fists clenched and about a foot apart. (This signal imitates the action of a cross-check.)

ELBOWING This is when a player is checking an opponent with his elbow. The referee signals by tapping either elbow with the opposite hand.

HIGH-STICKING This occurs when checking an opponent with the stick above the normal height of the shoulders, either purposely or accidentally. A more severe penalty may be called for flagrant high-sticking fouls, including ejection from the game. The referee signals this call by clenching both fists and mimicking a player holding a stick above their shoulders.

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HOLDING This is called when a player grabs an opponent’s body or stick with the hands. The referee mo mo-tions this call by grabbing either wrist with the opposite hand in front of his body.

HOOKING This is called when a player slows down an op opponent by hooking his stick on any part of the opponent’s body or stick. The referee signals this call with a tugging motion with both arms.

INTERFERENCE This penalty is called when a player impedes the progress of an opponent who doesn’t have the puck. The referee signals this call by crossing his arms in front of the chest.

KNEEING If a player uses his knee (or sticks his knee out) to take down or check an opponent, the referee may call a kneeing penalty. If the infraction is of a more serious nature, the referee may consider this a major penalty (and a game misconduct) instead of a minor penalty (two minutes).

MISCONDUCT

This penalty may be called when a player exhibits extreme and inappropriate behaviour toward another player or a game official. Depending on the severity of the offense, the player may be given a 10-minute misconduct or game misconduct penalty. It is also a game misconduct when a player checks another player from behind. With the exception of checking from behind, the penalized team does not play shorthanded.

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ROUGHING This penalty may be called when a player uses his arms or fists to hit or punch another player. The signal for this call is a clenched fist and arm extended out to the front or side of the body.

SLASHING This penalty is called when a player deliberately hits an opponent with his stick. The signal for this call is a chopping motion with the edge of one hand across the opposite forearm.

SPEARING Spearing occurs when a player thrusts or jabs the blade of his stick at an opponent. Players are usually ejected from the game for spearing. The signal for this call is a jabbing motion with both hands thrusting out in front of the body.

TRIPPING This penalty may be called when a player uses his stick or any body part to trip the puck carrier. If the player touches the puck prior to contact with the player, there is usually no penalty called. The referee signals this call by striking their leg with either hand below the knee (usually bending down to do so), keeping both skates on the ice.

UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT This penalty may be called when a player exhibits poor sportsmanship or inappropri inappropriate behaviour on the ice.

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