27 days in September ... 50 years ago ... A Hockey Story
Where were you ...
To be selected for the Hockey Hall of Fame,
apparently, a player needs to score 1,000 pts.
The Philly Flyers, Bill Barbour, however, did it with only 883 points and was best known as hockey's inventor of "The Dive". Now there's a penalty for what made him famous. How'd he get in?
And, the Islander's tough guy, Clarke Gillies was also selected when he only managed 697 points. How'd he get in?
No need to name more undeserving Hall of Fame selections, there are lots of them who don't have resumes that come close to Rocket or Howe or Mikita or Lafleur or Hull or Lindsay or Beliveau or Orr or Bossy or Kennedy or Gretzky.
Do you think the Hockey Hall of Fame inducts honoured members based on their popularity?
I remember where I was in Sept. 1972.
I remember the excitement, the drama, the anticipation of the biggest, most exciting hockey series ever in hockey history.
Unfortunately, embarrassingly,
the early Canadian goals just woke the Russians up and they went on to win, 7 - 3.
All of Canada was in shock. How could this happen?
However, on September 28 at Moscow's Luzhniki arena,
Canada won game 8 and the tournament thanks to the
goal-scoring skills of
Paul Henderson.
Most Canadians from that era knew exactly where they were when Henderson wildly slashed the puck past the prone Russian goaltender.
Curiously, Paul Henderson was introduced for his IIHF induction by Vladislav Tretiak - his 1972 enemy.
Tretiak has been a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame since it first opened in 1995 even though he was the 3rd best goalie in the 1972 Canada - Russia tournament and was replaced after only one period in the Miracle on Ice when the Russians lost the 1980 Olympic Gold Medal to the USA.
Congratulations to Paul on his IIHF Hall of Fame selection.
But many Canadian hockey fans wonder why he hasn't been inducted into the NHL Hockey Hall of Fame.
To be selected for the Hockey Hall of Fame,
apparently, a player needs to score 1,000 pts.
The Philly Flyers, Bill Barbour, however, did it with only 883 points and was best known as hockey's inventor of "The Dive". Now there's a penalty for what made him famous. How'd he get in?
And, the Islander's tough guy, Clarke Gillies was also selected when he only managed 697 points. How'd he get in?
No need to name more undeserving Hall of Fame selections, there are lots of them who don't have resumes that come close to Rocket or Howe or Mikita or Lafleur or Hull or Lindsay or Beliveau or Orr or Bossy or Kennedy or Gretzky.
Do you think the Hockey Hall of Fame inducts honoured members based on their popularity?
I remember where I was in Sept. 1972.
I remember the excitement, the drama, the anticipation of the biggest, most exciting hockey series ever in hockey history.
I remember everything about every day during the 27 days of September 1972.
I was never a fan of the hockey player,
I was never a fan of the hockey player,
Paul Henderson, but what he did ... in September, against the Russians, for 27 days, deserves special mention, special tribute and that special recognition should come to him in finally being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
I apologize if you have read this message before.
I apologize if you have read this message before.
I get angry every September.
If you are a hockey fan ... especially a Canadian hockey fan and you believe there has been a terrible injustice done to Paul Henderson, you won't mind ... if I remind you.
"If the Russians had won the 1972 hockey Summit Series, Vladislav Tretiak would have been driving a cab in Moscow for the past 47 years!"
(Dennis Hull)
September marks the 50th anniversary of the most famous hockey tournament in Canadian history.
When the eight-game series started in Montreal
on Sept. 2, 1972, every Canadian was sure our best NHL players would give the Communists a lesson on how to play our game.
At 30 seconds of the first-period team leader, Phil Esposito scored for Canada and it took just 6 minutes for Paul Henderson to add another.
2 - zip Canada. We were certain the route was on.
If you are a hockey fan ... especially a Canadian hockey fan and you believe there has been a terrible injustice done to Paul Henderson, you won't mind ... if I remind you.
"If the Russians had won the 1972 hockey Summit Series, Vladislav Tretiak would have been driving a cab in Moscow for the past 47 years!"
(Dennis Hull)
September marks the 50th anniversary of the most famous hockey tournament in Canadian history.
| Pierre Trudeau dropped the ceremonial puck |
When the eight-game series started in Montreal
on Sept. 2, 1972, every Canadian was sure our best NHL players would give the Communists a lesson on how to play our game.
At 30 seconds of the first-period team leader, Phil Esposito scored for Canada and it took just 6 minutes for Paul Henderson to add another.
2 - zip Canada. We were certain the route was on.
| Henderson scored the winning goal in 3 games |
Unfortunately, embarrassingly,
the early Canadian goals just woke the Russians up and they went on to win, 7 - 3.
All of Canada was in shock. How could this happen?
| Frank Lennon's iconic Toronto Star photo |
However, on September 28 at Moscow's Luzhniki arena,
Canada won game 8 and the tournament thanks to the
goal-scoring skills of
Paul Henderson.
Most Canadians from that era knew exactly where they were when Henderson wildly slashed the puck past the prone Russian goaltender.
Some fans forget that he actually scored the winning goal in
3 of the 8 games.
He was also named the Game MVP on three occasions.
In May 2013, Paul Henderson was inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame --
18 years after it was established in Stockholm Sweden in 1995.
Paul proudly follows several other distinguished hockey-playing Canadian inductees. They all were very deserving of the honour but they all made it to the IIHF Hall of Fame years in advance of Team Canada's, Paul Henderson ... the MVP of the most famous tournament in hockey history.
As they say ... "better late than never".
He was also named the Game MVP on three occasions.
In May 2013, Paul Henderson was inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame --
18 years after it was established in Stockholm Sweden in 1995.
Paul proudly follows several other distinguished hockey-playing Canadian inductees. They all were very deserving of the honour but they all made it to the IIHF Hall of Fame years in advance of Team Canada's, Paul Henderson ... the MVP of the most famous tournament in hockey history.
As they say ... "better late than never".
| Tretiak on the right |
Curiously, Paul Henderson was introduced for his IIHF induction by Vladislav Tretiak - his 1972 enemy.
Tretiak has been a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame since it first opened in 1995 even though he was the 3rd best goalie in the 1972 Canada - Russia tournament and was replaced after only one period in the Miracle on Ice when the Russians lost the 1980 Olympic Gold Medal to the USA.
Congratulations to Paul on his IIHF Hall of Fame selection.
But many Canadian hockey fans wonder why he hasn't been inducted into the NHL Hockey Hall of Fame.
Frank Selke Jr., said, "Why don't you talk to Hockey Hall president, Scotty Morrison", "he's a friend of mine and I'll set up the meeting"
Frank wasted no time and I met for lunch with Scotty the same week.
I was working in advertising sales for Maclean's magazine at the time. It actually didn't occur to me until weeks later ... Scotty probably thought I was a journalist at Maclean's when Frank made the appointment. Otherwise, why would he agree to the meeting, have notes prepared to justify his no-Hall-for-Henderson stance and pick up the lunch tab?
Anyway, when I put the question to Scotty Morrison, he simply said, "Paul doesn't have the playing credentials to be considered a candidate".
But he was our hero. He gave us bragging rights.
It was the first time we exhaled in 27 days.
Credentials?
Today, 50 years later Paul happily greets fans who insist on thanking him and telling him what they were doing at that very special moment in their hockey memory.
But back to Tretiak.
There's lots of truth in Dennis Hull's one-liner.
Following game one in 1972, Hull and his mates learned they weren't in a hockey tournament - it was a war.
Canadians were against the Commies and their leader was Tretiak.
If you watched the tournament and lived from game to game as I did, you know ... we hated him and his team and we hated how good they were.
Do you think that if the Russians had won the Summit Series we would have put Tretiak on such an elevated pedestal?
Do you think he would have ever earned an NHL paycheck as
a goalie coach as he did in the 1980s and '90s? Do you think he would have ever been paid appearance fees by hockey card collector shows across Canada if he'd beat us?
There's only one explanation. We're Canadians.
We feel sorry for our enemies (as long as we beat them).
I know I'm right. I can prove it.
Vladislav Tretiak lost the Summit Series.
"Back-up" Canadian goalie, Tony Esposito, had a better goals-against average in the tournament and Tretiak hasn't played one minute of hockey in the NHL.
But, Tretiak was elected to the NHL Hockey Hall of Fame in 1989 along with another undeserving candidate, Alan Eagleson.
Frank wasted no time and I met for lunch with Scotty the same week.
I was working in advertising sales for Maclean's magazine at the time. It actually didn't occur to me until weeks later ... Scotty probably thought I was a journalist at Maclean's when Frank made the appointment. Otherwise, why would he agree to the meeting, have notes prepared to justify his no-Hall-for-Henderson stance and pick up the lunch tab?
Anyway, when I put the question to Scotty Morrison, he simply said, "Paul doesn't have the playing credentials to be considered a candidate".
But he was our hero. He gave us bragging rights.
Credentials?
Today, 50 years later Paul happily greets fans who insist on thanking him and telling him what they were doing at that very special moment in their hockey memory.
But back to Tretiak.
There's lots of truth in Dennis Hull's one-liner.
| Cournoyer Scores one for Canada |
Following game one in 1972, Hull and his mates learned they weren't in a hockey tournament - it was a war.
Canadians were against the Commies and their leader was Tretiak.
If you watched the tournament and lived from game to game as I did, you know ... we hated him and his team and we hated how good they were.
Do you think that if the Russians had won the Summit Series we would have put Tretiak on such an elevated pedestal?
Do you think he would have ever earned an NHL paycheck as
a goalie coach as he did in the 1980s and '90s? Do you think he would have ever been paid appearance fees by hockey card collector shows across Canada if he'd beat us?
There's only one explanation. We're Canadians.
We feel sorry for our enemies (as long as we beat them).
| HHOF Induction for a player who never played a single game in the NHL |
I know I'm right. I can prove it.
Vladislav Tretiak lost the Summit Series.
"Back-up" Canadian goalie, Tony Esposito, had a better goals-against average in the tournament and Tretiak hasn't played one minute of hockey in the NHL.
But, Tretiak was elected to the NHL Hockey Hall of Fame in 1989 along with another undeserving candidate, Alan Eagleson.
Ok ... don't put Henderson in the Hockey Hall but what was it that you were saying about "credentials", Scotty?
While I'm at it ... I should use this opportunity to turn the HHOF spotlight on another selection miss-step. On ice official, referee Bruce Hood is still not in the Hall.
While I'm at it ... I should use this opportunity to turn the HHOF spotlight on another selection miss-step. On ice official, referee Bruce Hood is still not in the Hall.
He was the first to officiate 1,000 NHL games, he designed and created protective equipment that is being used by hockey officials, today, around the world and he's responsible for leading the way to better salaries and working conditions for his fellow officials -- how about those credentials?
Great read Mike. I enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteGreat and persuasive piece.
ReplyDeleteI've spent a lot of time over the years on two shadow "Cooperstown" projects dedicated to figuring out who should really be in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Inevitably there's tension between the stats-driven geeks and the people who say, "Hey, you do realize it's not called the Hall of Stats? It's the Hall of FAME".
Don't get me started on baseball's equivalents to Paul Henderson.
The fact is there's no single correct answer as to who belongs in a Hall of Fame. It all depends on the criteria. And because criteria are typically vague, they can be, and definitely have been, gamed by canny electors to favour their candidates.
A few readers responded quickly to tell me they didn't think Paul Henderson would qualify for the Hockey Hall of Fame -- they specifically didn't mention the credentials stuff I talk about in the piece.
DeleteFair enough.
But I do need someone to explain to me how the Russian professional hockey player, Tretiak, managed to get the Hall of Fame selection committee to give him the green light when, as mentioned ... "he was the 3rd best goalie in the Canada - Russia hockey Summit" "he was pulled from the game after only one period of play against the USA for the gold medal in the 1980 Winter Olympics and "he hasn't had one minute of icetime in the NHL as a player".
Also, a thought that just came to me ... following Dennis Hull's statement ... would Tretiak have been chosen as an honoured member of the Hockey Hall of Fame if he had beaten us in 1972?
Langevin says, Love me some Henderson. They were playing for us in the lower 48 as well
Delete