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.

14 Minutes for Lookin so Good

After watching Game 4 and the Swedish game, I began wondering how Team Canada roster was chosen. Its impossible to criticize as they had no idea what they were getting themselves into. But, what was the selection criteria?

The man who got me asking this question was future Oiler Bill Goldsworthy.  

To refresh, Game 4 – Two shifts, two penalties, two Soviet goals

In Sweden, first period, Two for Cross-Checking. On his way to the box, a Swede compliments him on his sideburns – Two more for spearing, plus Ten to ice the cake.

I'm thinking Penguin Jean Pronovost's 71-72 stats were just as good as this clown's. Why one and not t'other?

July 13, 1972. The Team Canada selection story was in the headlines. And...

I regret to report there is nothing to report. At the roster announcement Sinden mumbled something about balance [words to send a chill down any Oiler fan's spine]. But no details about the whys and why-nots.

He wasn't asked, or the answer wasn't reported because, frankly, no one cared. Let's face it, pessimistic Canadians thought the Series would go 6-1-1. Why worry about spare parts?

And there was the Bobby Hull story to devote column inches to. The deal between the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association and the NHL stipulated that all players in the Maple Leafed jersey would be under an NHL contract by August 13. No one else's contract would do.

Hull, already signed with the Winnipeg Jets, was selected anyhow. Though, he had to wait til 74 to play.

New Philadelphia Blazer Bernie Parent? Not selected. Dave Keon had a certified cheque for $50,000 sitting in trust for him the minute he signed with the Ottawa Nationals. He didn't, but wasn't.

Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh paper completely ignored the Team Canada roster announcement.

Which leads me to -

Since it was the NHL's show anyways, wouldn't it have been in their interest to select Pronovost from Pittsburgh instead of Goldsworthy [Minnesota already had Parise]? And when they had to replace the WHA defectors, Dick Redmond [Mickey's brother] or Gilles Meloche from Oakland?

Neither of those cities had a player on the team. It may have been worth some off-season press in two non-prime NHL cities. I'm not talking about selecting bums for the sake of it, but 37 guys from 14 teams, it shouldn't have been that tough to spread some love around.

Scoring on the Rebound

I mentioned previously how after two periods of Game 5, we school kids headed back to our classrooms confident that Canada's 3-goal lead meant victory was in the bag.

Whoops, that didn’t work out.

I'm happy to announce that Game 5 debacle wasn’t repeated in Game 8.  No teacher would have tried to teach us that Thursday afternoon.

So, we had somewhere between 90 and a 120 kids packed into a classroom, watching Game 8 on a little TV, being fed a steady stream of misinformation by Hewitt and Conacher.

It was awesome.

* * * * *

The first five minutes of game 8 sure were awesome. White got a holding penalty at 2:25; Pete Mahovlich ditto at 3:01.  Yakushev scored while Canada was down two.  Then the Soviet’s Petrov was given a hooking penalty 10 seconds later.

I’m not sure that any of the three could be termed a bad call.  The Canadians, though, were squawking after every one.  Well, not Petrov’s.

At 4:10 J P Parise stuck out his stick and brought a guy down.  Parise for Interference. An infraction for sure, except that I wouldn’t have called it interference.   Parise went apeshit after the call – the whole team did.  But, Parise made a motion to swing his stick at Kompalla. He checked himself; the zebras, though, had seen enough.  Parise got the early shower.

* * * * *

With Parise gone, the Mahovlich brothers took turns on Esposito’s Left Wing.  Both were an improvement I think.  Parise had developed some confidence problems in those later games – passing when the best option was to shoot, that sort of thing.

After those first five minutes the game settled down somewhat, though the penalties continued apace.   Canada tied the game on the powerplay with a goal credited to Esposito.  It was Park’s goal actually.  A rebound from a Park shot was put into the Soviet net by defenseman Lutchenko.  Espo was there, but it was Lutchenko.  Park scored again 10 minutes later and the First Period ended drawn at two.

Bill White made it unofficially three for the defensemen when he scored mid-way through the Second.  His goal came amidst a good run for the Dominion’s representatives.

There were two separate Second Periods.  The Canadians controlled several consecutive shifts in the first half of the period. The Soviets then took over the second half, scoring two goals to take a 5-3 lead into the Third Period.

Park and White might have scored, but in front of their own net they reminded one of the bad Laddy Smid. Both allowed cross-crease passes to Soviet shooters standing at the far post.

We’ve discussed face-offs.  Shadrin & Yakushev teamed up on one goal from a face-off to Dryden’s left.   A couple minutes later the exact situation re-arises and Sinden pulls Espo and throws Clarke out there.  Clarke wins the draw.  Throughout his long career, face-offs and illegal stick work were probably Clarke’s most famous attributes.

Early in the Third we see a fight, a real fight, with gloves dropped and punches thrown – Gilbert vs. Mishakov.  With the added bonus of Bergman grabbing Mishakov every time it got interesting.  I thought IIHF rules called for expulsion for fighting. Neither were.  Plus in those times there was no Third Man In rule.

Sixteen minutes to go in the 72 Summit Series, and nothing much else happens - except the miracle comeback.  Ever heard of a guy named Paul Something, Somethingson?   

Oh,  I mustn’t forget Eagleson.  Alan Eagleson got into it with the Soviet militia.  Big Pete Mahovlich went over the boards to the rescue, stick held high.  Backed by the rest of the guys, he pulled the asshole, I mean Mr. Eagleson, to the safety of the Canadian bench.  That has to be the weirdest moment in hockey.  Ever.  What the hell was Eagleson doing?

In the comments for one of the earlier games, someone quoted Esposito saying that had the Series gone another 8 games, Canada would have won all 8.  Maybe.  With Orr and Hull [Cheevers, Tremblay and Lemaire] yes.  But a trio of desperate one goal victories hardly speaks to dominance.

One thing we haven’t fully touched on here is the intensity of the politics – the Free World vs. Communist Tyranny.  It’s hard to explain that feeling 20 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall.  But it was real. Esposito called the Series a war.  It was there all the time.  We were told, we believed, they were rats and they’d do whatever they could to give themselves an edge.  And they’d do this because they were commies;  look at Vietnam for proof.

It showed up in the referee thing, and all the other scheduling and protocol confrontations.  It had impregnated all hockey debates for at least a decade.  Their “amateurs” playing our amateurs.  Their guys ostensibly had other occupations. Except the welders among them never picked up a torch, and the soldiers didn’t march a mile in anybody’s shoes.

So it was a great victory for Canada – still Number One on the ice.  The Free World came out looking pretty good too, the individualism of the plucky Canadian capitalists triumphed over the collective approach of the USSR team.

*  * * * *

We’ll see about that Numba One thing. We intend to continue this exploration with the 74 WHA Series, the 76 Canada Cup and perhaps even the return of Canada to the World Hockey Championship in 1977.

Da Da Canada!  Da Da Canada!  Da Da Canada!

The Game 8 Stats are here.

Hit the One who's Dressed Differnt

There is a moment in Game 6 where Pat Stapleton is standing in the face-off circle, leaning on his stick Dryden-like, while one of the many penalty call/missed calls brouhahas goes on around him. No arguing, no fussing, just waiting right where a Soviet Center would stand to take a draw.

** ** **

We are between games 7 and 8 in the Summit Series.  The series is tied 3-3-1, and both sides are looking for every edge they can.  The action off the ice is as intense as the product on. 


The point of contention is the refereeing.  Its the Soviet’s turn to select.  The Canadians are OK with that, but have advised if West Germans Baader and Kompalla are selected they won't play.  More than pride and bragging rights are at stake here; money is involved as the Soviets would lose  big chunk of TV revenue if the game isn't played.

I don’t know if we’ve made it clear in these posts that in 1972 in IIHF hockey there are only two [2] officials on the ice. Two referees who double as linesmen.  This system was changed soon after, switching to the North American set-up of one referee and two linesmen.

The two Germans and Team Canada didn't get off to a good start in the second Swedish exhibition match.

Things started OK, but after the Cashman incident things spiraled downward fast. It seemed every decision was met with louder and louder disapproval from the Dominion XX.  Platoons of agitated Team Canadians would get in the face of Kompalla and the space of Baader, sharing opinions about their refereeing, appearance and ancestry.

After one of these interminable go-rounds, a piqued Kompalla [or Baader, I can never remember which is worser] dropped the puck before the Canadian center, Esposito, was in position. Phil waived his arms disgustedly and chased after the Swedish puck carrier.


In Game 6, Stapleton is simply ensuring that it doesn’t happen again.  Once bitten y’know.



** ** **

I think its safe to say the two German refs were in over their heads.  Their previous experience in the DEL and European Tournaments did not prepare them for the intensity of the Summit Series. 

They weren’t ready and everyone knew it. As a result, the Canadians didn’t respect them or their calls. When the Czech Batja or the Swede Dalberg made a call, the Canadians might disagree, but they’d accept.  

Plus, with their higher level of experience, its safe to say that Batja and Dalberg made better calls overall.

This problem with referees went on for years – both the uneven quality and the selection process.

The 74 Series had more problems with the officials.  Organizers had hoped to pre-empt the problems by allowing one Canadian and one Soviet official.  It didn't help.  Plus, they mitigated this wise move by also selecting a Pole.  Now, if it were soccer or water polo or fencing, a Polish official would be a helluva good idea.  Sometimes nobody never learns nothing.

That 74 Russian official, aptly named Dumbrowski, was still a fixture in IIHF hockey 3 years later when Canada returned to the World Championship.  After Canada's 1977 round-robin game with the CSSR, Southam [Postmedia these days] sports columnist Jim Coleman suggested Dumbrowski refereed by Braille.


Meanwhile, back in 1972, Game 8 in the Summit Series went ahead, each team chose one official – the Czech Batja and the German Kompalla were the guys.

And Who Scores for Canada?

So Henderson scores the winning goal again in Game 7, that's two games in a row.  And what a beauty it was! Crossing the Soviet blue line there was one white jersey and four red jerseys in the picture.  Jeebus.

What excitement does Game 8 hold with the series now tied?

One thing that we neglected to mention in our Game 5 stories is that Henderson was hurt in that game.

With 4:29 left in the Second Period [a two goal period for his line] Henderson breaks down the right hand side.  He has a step on two Soviets, but they have the angle on him.  Henderson shoots from the face-off circle, Tretiak saves.

But, Henderson loses an edge and falls, sliding backwards into the end boards.
His shoulder hit first and his head snaps back into the boards.
He slumps to the ice.

After a few minutes he's woozily helped to the Canadian dressing room. Mahovlich takes his spot on Left Wing for the rest of the period.

Henderson returns early in the Third and scores Canada's 4th goal, his 2nd.

When the incident happened, the TV crew were quick to note how useful a helmet [red of hue] is in those situations.

When asked about the incident, team doctor Dr Jim Murray agreed about the efficacy of helmets.  He also noted that Henderson had "Suffered nothing worse than a concussion".

Whew, only a concussion. Thank Dog.
What if he'd actually damaged his brain or something?

One last thing about helmets.
Henderson, as we've noted, wears a red helmet.
But, Red Berensen wears a white helmet.

Would it clash if he didn't?

The Game 7 stats are here. 

The Twin Towers that Never Were

In 1972 Jacques Laperriere was a veteran Montreal Defenseman - All-Star, Norris Trophy winner, Stanley Cup winner. He declined to play in the 72 Summit Series because he had a new born addition to his family. Guy Lapointe took his place in the line-up. 

The Black Hawks' Bill White played 7 of the 8 games in the Series. He and Pat Stapleton were added to the line-up after sitting out the first game in Montreal. As we've pointed out, White and Stapleton gained more and more difficult ice-time as the Series progressed.

Let's compare and contrast these two excellent defensemen:

	Laperriere	White
Born	Nov-41	Aug-39
Height	6.02	6.02
Weight	190	190
Shoots	L	R
1971-72
Games	73	76
Goals	3	7
Assists	25	22
Points	28	29
PIM	50	58

Plus the foreheads. 

Coach John Henderson; Dangerously Brilliant or What?

And now the Canadians become totally unglued. Esposito rakes Ragulin and cuts him open and gets a major, Ferguson goes apeshit on the bench and earns them another two.

That, my friends, is what happened in the 2nd period of the 6th game of the 1972 Summit Series when viewed calmly and rationally through a lens 38 years long.

Now imagine its Monday afternoon, September 25, 1972.  A local lad has just left a copy of the Edmonton Journal on the front porch.

While dinner is being prepared, you sit down and turn quickly to the sports pages.  The little lady brings you a rye and coke.

How does the Canadian Press article on Page 1 of the The Sport Pages describe that series of events?

"Near the end of the unruly second period, 230 pound defenseman Alexander Ragulin knocked down Canadian Captain Phil Espoito, and then sent him down again when the forward got to his feet.
Esposito was surprisingly penalized for High Sticking and when the NHL stars swarmed around the referee to question the call, Baader called a two-minute Bench Penalty on the Canadians for interference."

The same article also noted that Kharmolov broke Clarke's stick, not Clarke's stick Kharmolov's ankle.  The writer didn't understand why Clarke got 10 for having a broken stick.

On Page 3, veteran Southam sports columnist, Jim Coleman also discussed the two West German refs.  He thought "their officiating verged on the imbecilic".  Though he was gracious enough to "acknowledge freely that the Canadians deserved most of the penalties they received."

Meanwhile, they're swooning over Pierre Trudeau as the Federal election campaign swings through Nova Scotia - Trudeaumania says the headline.

You ask the Wife to bring another rye and coke, a double this time.