Beer League

“We are going to have to change though. You don't have to be any kind of mental giant to see what we were doing wasn't working.”
- Pete Mahovlich, September 1972,

“The Soviets insist they play Canadian teams to learn about hockey.”
- Rex McLeod, program for the 74 Canada-USSR Friendship Series

* * * * * *
That what this little project was about. Going to the starting point. The Big Bang in Montreal, September 2, 1972.

So did we learn anything? Did they?
Short answer, Short shifts.

If you go direct from the 72 Series to the 1974 “Friendship Series”, the first thing you notice is shift length. For the most part, Canadian shifts are shorter.

Plus, they were in pretty good shape. After that I'm not so sure. The hockey we watch today, with its systems and everything took a while to become entrenched.

Did anyone watch the 72 Series and say, “look at who our key guys were; we need to emphasize speed, skill and discipline."

Nyet, Comrade. The 74 team still has guys losing their temper and forgetting the puck. Rick Ley and Johnny Mackenzie are the experts here. And speed is something those two know about from standing alongside the freeway.

The light started to go on for some during that 74 Series.
In Game 7 after Ralph Backstrom and Mark Howe teamed up for a pretty, high-tempo goal, Howie Meeker says “This is what we need, young legs, fast skaters.”

But for every Meeker there were two Joe Croziers and three Don Cherrys. So, it took a while.

The Soviets meanwhile were touring at least two teams through North America every Christmas – sometimes club teams, or more often variations of the national team. They steadily deepened their pool of talent that could play at the top level.

The result, four and a half years after the 72 Summit Series we're reading this headline in the Globe and Mail [April 25, 1977], “Paiement's Conduct Disgraces Players in Crushing 11-1 Loss”

Canada is the 1 in that headline, and Wilf Paiement one of us. In the accompanying article, Paiement, through a series of grunts and gestures, indicates that he hates to lose and was just sending a message for next time – for the Medal Round game.

Because that's one thing we thought we learned – you can intimidate the Russians. I'm not sure where that idea came from. There's no evidence for it in either Summit Series.
Perhaps it came from the club tours, where lesser players were representing the USSR and some Canuckleheads got the Cause and Effect wrong.

* * * * *

You've heard of a photo essay? Well, I'm going to wrap this up with a quote essay:

“Its obvious that interference is an infraction that's overlooked in international officiating. The Russian players are accomplished at interfering with players who don't have the puck. Our players are learning to do the same.”
- Harry Sinden, September 1972

”interference is a little called infraction in Europe.”
- The Globe and Mail April 1977,

“This time, the NHL says it is serious about its latest crackdown on hooking, slashing, interference, sweater-tugging and anything else that produces obstruction..... "This year we're taking it to a new level," says NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.
- Alan Adams Wednesday September 27, 2000

 “The NHL's much-publicized attempt to create more offensive flow and eliminate the clutching and grabbing that slow its stars was a success, commissioner Gary Bettman said Tuesday.”
- AP May 2003,

NEW YORK (July 22, 2005) The National Hockey League's Board of Governors today approved a series of rule changes that will emphasize entertainment, skill and competition on the ice.....
OFFICIATING POINTS OF EMPHASIS
Zero tolerance on Interference, Hooking and Holding/Obstruction.