From the other side…

Perhaps I’m the only member from the USSR.

Back in 1972, I was 16, and a big hockey fan. Believe it or not, I was a fan of Team Canada. At that time it was acceptable. There were a few but not many.

I waited the Series eagerly. Many fans in the USSR knew the names of Phil Esposito, Bobby Orr, Stan Mikita, Bobby Hull, Jean Beliveau, Frank Mahovlich, Brad Park, Eddie Giacomin, Jacques Plante. However, when the roster of Team Canada was published, not all the names of the stars, to my surprise, were there.

Official hockey experts were rather shy with their predictions. The atmosphere was tense.

There was not much information that came through the Iron Curtain.

The First game was televised in delayed broadcast on Sunday morning, September 3rd. Nobody knew the result. 

I was completely mesmerized by the jerseys of Team Canada. I still consider them the best in hockey. I have one of them in my collection. 

The beginning of the game was absolutely magic. Phil Esposito rushed from the right wing, switched hands and shot, and scored just seconds later. The second goal was confirmation. Still, shock came after the end of the game. I could not understand what had happened. The day after, at school, many classmates, even no hockey fans, were extatic and triumphant. And of course, the official media was repeating the mantra about the Soviet team that had detroyed the myth about the invincibility of the ‘Canadian professionals’.

I began collecting hockey memorabilia right after it.

I have some items from the Series and about the Series, unfortunately, could not shew them here because of the technical problems.

More to come.

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