70HockeyCold War On Ice

Date

9/28/1972

Location

Luzhniki Ice Palace | Moscow, Soviet Union

Moment

In the first meeting between the Soviet national team and a team of Canadian professionals, an unlikely hero emerged. With the Canadians trailing 2-1 in the series, Paul Henderson came up big for Canada, scoring the game-winning goal in Game, 6, 7 and 8 of the series.

Impact

Played against the backdrop of the Cold War, the series was the first time the Soviet national team played Team Canada (with players from the NHL). The success of the Soviets even in defeat showed the wealth of talent outside the NHL, and when the USSR dissolved in the late '80s, that talent migrated to the pros.