This 1972 eight-game series between a team of Canadian professionals and Russian amateurs gave hockey fans across this country a sense of national pride – and left them biting their nails.
Canadians fancy themselves the best hockey players in the world and expected their team to win every game handily. But after seven games, both teams had won three times, with the other game ending in a tie. To say Canadians were excited about the finale would be an understatement: people skipped out of work and schools suspended classes so everyone could watch the game. Russia led 5-3 after two periods, but Canada tied it up halfway through the third.
With less than one minute left in the game, Paul Henderson scored for Canada – and a nation let out its collective breath.
2. Who are Ron and Don?
Ron MacLean and Don Cherry have been fixtures on CBC's "Hockey Night in Canada" since 1987. Their popular segment, "Coach's Corner," takes place during the first intermission of the first game every Saturday night during the hockey season.
MacLean plays the straight man as the colourfully clad Cherry (a.k.a. "Grapes" to his legion of followers) opines on topics such as fighting in hockey (he's for it), the lack of toughness of international players (whose names he tends to mispronounce) and the Canadian military (he's vocal with his support).
3. Who is Lord Stanley and what's up with that cup?
We can thank Sir Frederick Arthur Stanley, the former governor-general of Canada, for the most recognizable trophy in sports. A quick fan of the sport, Stanley donated the Cup in 1893, with the wish that it be given annually to the best amateur team in the country.
Professionals were soon allowed to compete for the Cup, and since 1926, it has been awarded to the NHL champions. What makes this trophy unique is that every winning player has his name inscribed on it.
Page 1 of 3 – Do you know the game's most legendary players? Learn of hockey greats, from Mr. Hockey to Sid the Kid, on page 2.
