You mean the competition the Soviets purposely tanked in hopes of circumventing a boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics?
- Atomic Wedgie

oh come on now.

I don't think that was in the movie
- Canada Cup

still think the 87 Canada Cup was the best hockey ever played with the 96 World Cup a pretty close 2nd.
- Fountain-San

Agreed but '72 was wild becuse nobody knew who the hell these guys were and people were absolutely freaked out when Canada started losing. The whole Cold War hate was a huge factor as well

Agreed but '72 was wild becuse nobody knew who the hell these guys were and people were absolutely freaked out when Canada started losing. The whole Cold War hate was a huge factor as well
- Canada Cup

oh for sure. just was 2 years before my birth. only seen it documentary style.

The Summit Series in 1972 was an 8 game battle between the best hockey players in the world.

I know he had knee problems but Bobby Orr wasn't in the series. There were a few other notables. And others who didn't make the trip overseas to play the remaining 4 games.

good stuff

but i wouldn't exactly call the nhl a mainstream sport in the US its still one of those sports that you either love or hate and won't have too many people turn on a game just to watch hockey

it doesn't have the following like the other leagues which i find baffling since baseball is pretty boring and basketball is a joke

i wish the nhl would get more exposure

I think this had a lot to do with things. Just my opinion. I love Esposito.

I know he had knee problems but Bobby Orr wasn't in the series. There were a few other notables. And others who didn't make the trip overseas to play the remaining 4 games.
- Hockey_Hoser

No Bobby Hull because he jumped to the WHA.

oh come on now.
- Fountain-San

Let me preface this by saying: I believe in Bigfoot.

So here's the conspiracy theory, which, much like Bigfoot, I really, really want to believe, because it makes for a great story.

Late 1979, US Congress starts rumbling that they will boycott the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics, to protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

This scares the poop of the the USSR, because they desperately need the Summer Olympics for two very important reasons:

1) Soviet sport is their #1 propaganda tool for "proving" that the communist system is superior to the capitalist one (the space program was originally #1, but the Soviet program was waning, and was completely overshadowed by the Space Shuttle program, which would officially start in 1981, but both sides already knew about it). Simply put, gold medals on Soviet athletes, instead of American, British and West German ones, bought social cohesion behind the Iron Curtain.

2). Money. They desperately needed the foreign dough from the visiting Olympic contingents.

So what does the Soviet Union do? They concoct a plan to get the American public so excited about the Winter Olympics, they would demand that they participate in the Summer Olympics a few months later.

They decide to throw the Olympic hockey competition.

Round Robin: USA ties the Swedes, beats everyone else. Only other significant team in their division is Czechoslovakia, who the Soviet Union control.

Final round: USA beats the USSR. Curiously, Tikhonov pulls Tretiak, the best goalie in the world, for no reason. The US scores their final goal of the first period after half of the Soviet players have left the ice.

And two days later, the USA beats Finland - a nation that lived in terror of the Soviets (or maybe Team USA just flat out beat them - not important to the conspiracy theory).

I should point out that this is not my theory - it's pretty well known in Europe, or at least used to be.

But here's the funny thing: my brother is a teacher, and had Tretiak come visit his school. He told me before hand that Tretiak was coming, so I had him ask one question (in front of the student body): "Why were you pulled in that game?"

Tretiak smiled awkwardly, and then blurted out, "USA Hockey should build a statue of me."

He then went on to give an interesting, but ultimately meaningless answer that didn't answer the question, but talked about international hockey, blah blah blah.

And for the record, nobody has ever proven that the 1967 Patterson-Gimlin Bigfoot film was faked.

I think this had a lot to do with things. Just my opinion. I love Esposito.

- HopintheCordoba

Effing Vancouver fans!

Let me preface this by saying: I believe in Bigfoot.

So here's the conspiracy theory, which, much like Bigfoot, I really, really want to believe, because it makes for a great story.

Late 1979, US Congress starts rumbling that they will boycott the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics, to protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

This scares the poop of the the USSR, because they desperately need the Summer Olympics for two very important reasons:

1) Soviet sport is their #1 propaganda tool for "proving" that the communist system is superior to the capitalist one (the space program was originally #1, but the Soviet program was waning, and was completely overshadowed by the Space Shuttle program, which would officially start in 1981, but both sides already knew about it). Simply put, gold medals on Soviet athletes, instead of American, British and West German ones, bought social cohesion behind the Iron Curtain.

2). Money. They desperately needed the foreign dough from the visiting Olympic contingents.

So what does the Soviet Union do? They concoct a plan to get the American public so excited about the Winter Olympics, they would demand that they participate in the Summer Olympics a few months later.

They decide to throw the Olympic hockey competition.

Round Robin: USA ties the Swedes, beats everyone else. Only other significant team in their division is Czechoslovakia, who the Soviet Union control.

Final round: USA beats the USSR. Curiously, Tikhonov pulls Tretiak, the best goalie in the world, for no reason. The US scores their final goal of the first period after half of the Soviet players have left the ice.

And two days later, the USA beats Finland - a nation that lived in terror of the Soviets (or maybe Team USA just flat out beat them - not important to the conspiracy theory).

I should point out that this is not my theory - it's pretty well known in Europe, or at least used to be.

But here's the funny thing: my brother is a teacher, and had Tretiak come visit his school. He told me before hand that Tretiak was coming, so I had him ask one question (in front of the student body): "Why were you pulled in that game?"

Tretiak smiled awkwardly, and then blurted out, "USA Hockey should build a statue of me."

He then went on to give an interesting, but ultimately meaningless answer that didn't answer the question, but talked about international hockey, blah blah blah.

And for the record, nobody has ever proven that the 1967 Patterson-Gimlin Bigfoot film was faked.
- Atomic Wedgie

It wasn't for no reason. He had allowed a goal that the Russians had not seen him give up. They replaced him because they felt something wasn't right with him in the game. Bad move for sure because he couldve rebounded, but they had cause.

Effing Vancouver fans!
- Atomic Wedgie

Yup. Only in Vancouver.

Let me preface this by saying: I believe in Bigfoot.

So here's the conspiracy theory, which, much like Bigfoot, I really, really want to believe, because it makes for a great story.

Late 1979, US Congress starts rumbling that they will boycott the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics, to protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

This scares the poop of the the USSR, because they desperately need the Summer Olympics for two very important reasons:

1) Soviet sport is their #1 propaganda tool for "proving" that the communist system is superior to the capitalist one (the space program was originally #1, but the Soviet program was waning, and was completely overshadowed by the Space Shuttle program, which would officially start in 1981, but both sides already knew about it). Simply put, gold medals on Soviet athletes, instead of American, British and West German ones, bought social cohesion behind the Iron Curtain.

2). Money. They desperately needed the foreign dough from the visiting Olympic contingents.

So what does the Soviet Union do? They concoct a plan to get the American public so excited about the Winter Olympics, they would demand that they participate in the Summer Olympics a few months later.

They decide to throw the Olympic hockey competition.

Round Robin: USA ties the Swedes, beats everyone else. Only other significant team in their division is Czechoslovakia, who the Soviet Union control.

Final round: USA beats the USSR. Curiously, Tikhonov pulls Tretiak, the best goalie in the world, for no reason. The US scores their final goal of the first period after half of the Soviet players have left the ice.

And two days later, the USA beats Finland - a nation that lived in terror of the Soviets (or maybe Team USA just flat out beat them - not important to the conspiracy theory).

I should point out that this is not my theory - it's pretty well known in Europe, or at least used to be.

But here's the funny thing: my brother is a teacher, and had Tretiak come visit his school. He told me before hand that Tretiak was coming, so I had him ask one question (in front of the student body): "Why were you pulled in that game?"

Tretiak smiled awkwardly, and then blurted out, "USA Hockey should build a statue of me."

He then went on to give an interesting, but ultimately meaningless answer that didn't answer the question, but talked about international hockey, blah blah blah.

And for the record, nobody has ever proven that the 1967 Patterson-Gimlin Bigfoot film was faked.
- Atomic Wedgie

That's some good stuff there

Ummm.....no.

The NHL was still very much unobtainable to the Russians and Czechs.

An iron curtain still stood between them and the NHL.
- Atomic Wedgie

Good story on the first Soviet player "allowed" in the NHL

http://www.iihf.com/iihf-...top-stories/story-76.html

I was 3 years old. But I watch the documentaries any time they are on.

Honestly I think this is the most well written blog Ek has produced. It's obviously not perfect, but the content is there beyond just the title. Finally a decent article.

I was 3 years old. But I watch the documentaries any time they are on.
- MBFlyerfan

Yes. Agreed. Might be the only time I can stand Bobby Clarke

Nothing shows political dominance like losing your country's most esteemed sport to a bunch of college kids...

Honestly I think this is the most well written blog Ek has produced. It's obviously not perfect, but the content is there beyond just the title. Finally a decent article.
- Stringer74

I'll drink to that! Congrats Ek...always a good time for a first

Having been born in '70, I think I was just in the midst of potty training when this took place. I have seen the docu on it though a few times and still find the miracle on ice docu much more fascinating because I vividly remember watching the 80 olympics live. Of course at 10 years old I had very little understanding of that games ramifications at the time but would come to realize and understand them throughout the next several years of my life. That being said, it's always a bit more compelling when you can relive the memory instead of watching it new after the fact. JMO

Eklund: 40 Years Ago Today Hockey As We Know It Was Born. Watch it....
- Eklund

I am beyond sick hearing about '72. We have kicked this dead horse for far too long.....

Zzzzzzzz

I am beyond sick hearing about '72. We have kicked this dead horse for far too long.....

Zzzzzzzz
- Domidives

Maybe the horse isn't a fan. But the cow is! Bazinga!

Let me preface this by saying: I believe in Bigfoot.

So here's the conspiracy theory, which, much like Bigfoot, I really, really want to believe, because it makes for a great story.

Late 1979, US Congress starts rumbling that they will boycott the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics, to protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

This scares the poop of the the USSR, because they desperately need the Summer Olympics for two very important reasons:

1) Soviet sport is their #1 propaganda tool for "proving" that the communist system is superior to the capitalist one (the space program was originally #1, but the Soviet program was waning, and was completely overshadowed by the Space Shuttle program, which would officially start in 1981, but both sides already knew about it). Simply put, gold medals on Soviet athletes, instead of American, British and West German ones, bought social cohesion behind the Iron Curtain.

2). Money. They desperately needed the foreign dough from the visiting Olympic contingents.

So what does the Soviet Union do? They concoct a plan to get the American public so excited about the Winter Olympics, they would demand that they participate in the Summer Olympics a few months later.

They decide to throw the Olympic hockey competition.

Round Robin: USA ties the Swedes, beats everyone else. Only other significant team in their division is Czechoslovakia, who the Soviet Union control.

Final round: USA beats the USSR. Curiously, Tikhonov pulls Tretiak, the best goalie in the world, for no reason. The US scores their final goal of the first period after half of the Soviet players have left the ice.

And two days later, the USA beats Finland - a nation that lived in terror of the Soviets (or maybe Team USA just flat out beat them - not important to the conspiracy theory).

I should point out that this is not my theory - it's pretty well known in Europe, or at least used to be.

But here's the funny thing: my brother is a teacher, and had Tretiak come visit his school. He told me before hand that Tretiak was coming, so I had him ask one question (in front of the student body): "Why were you pulled in that game?"

Tretiak smiled awkwardly, and then blurted out, "USA Hockey should build a statue of me."

He then went on to give an interesting, but ultimately meaningless answer that didn't answer the question, but talked about international hockey, blah blah blah.

And for the record, nobody has ever proven that the 1967 Patterson-Gimlin Bigfoot film was faked.
- Atomic Wedgie

Crack is whack

Yup. Only in Vancouver.
- doon

some things never change

so ek any idea how the talks are going? are they progressing? falling apart? have they agreed on anything no matter how small it is