Jan 25, 2021
After overwhelming response to
our Episode 194 exploration of
hockey's epic 1972 "Summit Series," we gas up the Zamboni for a
return visit into Canada/Russian competition lore - this time for
the equally intriguing (but often overlooked) sequel Summit
Series of 1974 - with sports author/historian Craig
Wallace (The Forgotten Summit: A Canadian Perspective on the
1974 Canada-Soviet Hockey Series).
While ostensibly a "round two"
between the world's top national hockey programs, the 1974 Series
differed in that the Canadian side was comprised exclusively of
players from the World Hockey Association (WHA) - a major preseason
promotional boost for the fledgling two-year-old circuit still
struggling to gain a pro foothold against the mighty NHL.
As a result, wildly popular
Canadian WHA stars like Winnipeg's Bobby Hull, Houston's Gordie
Howe and Cleveland's Gerry Cheevers - each forbidden by the NHL
from playing two years earlier - saw their first national team
action, joined by returning series veterans Paul Henderson, Frank
Mahovlich and Pat Stapleton.
Despite a strong start in the
first two games, Team Canada could not replicate its trailblazing
success from their 1972 exploits; the Soviets won the series (4
wins, 3 ties, 1 loss) - but as Wallace reveals, the games were
close, extremely competitive and wildly entertaining - replete with
just as much drama and excitement as its predecessor (and even
better uniforms).