The Summit Series as it happened fifty years ago. Today, Saturday September 30th, 1972 vs Czechoslovakia. Once more unto the breach!

The Summit Series has it happened, fifty years ago.

Today, Saturday September 30th, 1972. Team Canada vs Team Czechoslovakia.

Many fans of the Summit Series have no idea that Canada played two games against Sweden prior to resuming their series vs Russia. Even more are unaware of one final contest 48 hours later against the actual defending world champs at the time, the Czech's.

This was a massive homecoming game for Stan Mikita who was making only his second trip back since being sent away in 1948 at the age of 8. Mikita, whose real name is Stanislaus Guoth was born in Sokolce, in the Slovak Republic on May 20, 1940. He was sent to live in St. Catharine's, Ontario with his aunt Ann and uncle Joe Mikita where his first name was anglicized To Stanley ( Stan) and he adopted their surname. His parents were concerned for his well being and his upbringing due to the political climate. The 1948 Czechoslovak coup d'état was an event late that February in which the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, with Soviet backing, assumed undisputed control over the government of Czechoslovakia, marking the onset of four decades of communist rule in the country. His parents chose Canada for their son and hoped he would have a better life. For any of you parents reading this, imagine sending your 8 year old child across the ocean, maybe to never see them again. So for Mikita to not only be 'home' but to be on the ice in a Canadian sweater representing the country where he spent the formative years of his youth, this was an absolutely massive contest.

Unfortunately for the majority of the rest of the team they were less enthused. Harry Sinden stated he dressed the 18 skaters who could still stand after 36 hours of partying celebrating their historic win versus the Soviets. As with the Sweden games the rosters for this game were increased by one so both teams dressed eighteen skaters. For Canada they had 9 who played game eight vs Russia, mind you in JP Parise's case he only played a few minutes and 9 others who saw very little time vs the Soviets including three who did not play a game, Dale Tallon, Marcel Dionne and Brian Glennie. Ken Dryden was in net. .

Canada rolled to a comfortable 2-0 lead in the first period on goals by Serge Savard and Pete Mahovlich. The Czech's roared back in the second tying the game on two goals by Bohuslav ?tastny (no relation to the brothers who played in the NHL). And as if almost on cue the game got real dirty at the end of the second. There was some vicious stick work, slashes, elbows including a pretty good shot thrown by the native son, Stan Mikita who received a penalty on the play and of course a wild exchange featuring Bobby Clarke at the forefront of it all. The result was a 5 minute major to Clarke that carried over to the 3rd period which the Czech's scored on to take a 3-2 lead.

Given all they had been through and with nothing on the line, the fact Canada were going home after three weeks on the road they could have just mailed it in from there. Instead their instincts took over and they threw wave after wave at the Czech net and just to put the icing on the cake - call it a sign-off signature to Europe and the East Bloc, Serge Savard scored with four seconds left in the game to tie it 3-3. Unfreakingbelievable, that's all you have to say. They refused to lose.

In the video it does look like it's JP Parise who scores the goal. Serge thinks his shovel shot was over the line and JP banged it home, regardless, that last draw came with 13 seconds to play and 9 seconds after that it was a tied game. You gotta love it.

Playing on this Czech team were Vaclav Nedomansky, recently inducted to the Hall of Fame, Ivan Hlinka who now shares the name of a U-18 annual tournament with Wayne Gretzky, (the one where our best U18 players compete and we win 98% of the time) Jiri Bubla who also played in the NHL and his son later played in the NHL ( numerous facts and trivia-for another time) Jaroslav Holik whose son is Bobby Holik and Richard Farda who also played in the WHA. They had a solid team. Four years later Canada would ice their greatest on ice squad ever and beat most of these same Czech players in the final of the first Canada Cup. It was a best of 3, Canada won two straight, 6-0 in game one, 5-4 in overtime in game two on a Darryl Sittler goal.

Ladies and gentlemen, this concluded 28 days, 11 games, four countries and forever changed hockey as we know it. Largely with the influx of players from overseas but over time in training techniques and some on ice play as well. All of a sudden many of our more skilled players began hanging on to the puck more and trying to make plays. None more so than a wide eyed 11 year old phenom in Brantford, Ontario who in a few short years would turn the hockey world upside down.

In a couple of days I will write a wrap up of how this month of hockey should be looked back on. i will also recount how spectacular September 28th this year was for yours truly largely thanks to Yvan Cournoyer and Serge Savard. Thank you to all who have read these posts to date.

Here's how the final few minutes of the Canada-Czech game looked.