The Forgotten 74 Summit Series
Part Three: Games One through Four in Canada
Part One: The World Hockey Association Version of Team Canada
Part Two: Introducing Team Canada
Game one was scheduled for September 17th, 1974 at La Colisée de Québec. Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau would drop the ceremonial opening faceoff in front of a sold out crowd of 10 004. While interest in the series has faded with time, in September of 1974 excitement in both the USSR and Canada was high. All four games in Canada had sold out with tickets going for as much as $144 ($822 in 2022 money) while the Firestone chain of stores offered colour TVs to rent for as little as $3.50 a week ($33 in 2022 money) for those who couldn’t get tickets. Even in the Soviet Union, a 14 year old Igor Larianov remembered watching the series along with millions of his compatriots. He told TSN reporter Rick Westhead in 2014 that, “"It was great hockey, great for us to get a chance to see Bobby Hull and Gordie Howe."
Just like in 1972, all eight games would be televised on either CBC or CTV. While announcing duties would be split between Johnny Esaw (CTV) and Don Chevrier (CBC), with the great Howie Meeker providing colour commentary for all the games. The WHA also promised that the broadcasts would be cutting edge, deploying eight cameras, including handheld and slow-motion cameras. The Canadian games would also feature the GameRecorder, a statistical computer that would track Team Canada events such as shots, face off wins and pass completion percentage. Allegedly the first use of a statistical computer in professional sports, a print out from game one is now on display at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
Compared to the Soviets who played and trained together year round, rust and fitness was always going to be an issue for Canada ‘74. In order to prepare for the series, Canada hosted a two week training camp in Edmonton. Back in the 1970s training camp really was for training as players took the off-season off. Unlike the continual dry-land training for todays stars, Team Canada 74 management hyped the fact that Howe had done 30 minutes a day of off-ice training. To ensure that their players were game ready, Canada GM “Wild Bill” Hunter drew on his WHL connections to organize a series of five exhibition games against WHL teams, whose pre-season had already started. So when September 17th rolled around Team Canada 74 was much more prepared than their 72 compatriots, but would it be enough?
(Just click on the embedded video link and it will take you to the right part of the game to watch the event I talk about!)
Game One
Game one in Quebec City featured all the ceremonial rigmarole one would expect from a Summit Series. All members of the Soviet and Canadian teams, as well as the coaches and managers were introduced to the crowd, with the announcer only making one mistake, mixing up Soviet defenders Alexander Gusev (#2) and Vladimir Lutchenko (#3). The Quebec crowd politely applauded the Soviet team as they were introduced, but gave a prolonged cheer for Valery Kharlamov, presumably in recognition of his dominance during the first six games of the 1972 Summit Series.
Team Canada got a louder reception, with local Nordiques heroes J.C Tremblay, Rejan Houle, and Serge Bernier getting roars from the crowd (Mark Tardif had yet to join the Nordiques). However, the biggest cheers were reserved for #9 Gordie Howe who got a standing ovation from the adoring Quebec crowd. After Trudeau Sr. in his white suit, along with a visiting Soviet dignitary dropped the ceremonial faceoff, the puck actually dropped on game 1.
From the start of the game, it became very clear that this series would be a physical one. With players such as Paul Shmyr on the backend, Canada did not lack for hard hitting defenders. However, Soviet defenceman Alexander Gusev could more than match Team Canada’s blueline in the physical aspects of the game.
Team Canada also did not lack for skill and creativity among their forward corps. It was this combination that lead to Canada’s first goal of the series. Bobby Hull quickly breaks out of the zone looking for a connecting pass from one of his line mates and while Hull can’t handle the pass, he is able to win the board battle and get the puck deep. Here, Lacroix demonstrates why he was one of the top playmakers in the WHA, picking up the puck behind the net and faking the wrap around, while giving a no-look pass to line-mate John MacKenzie who taps it in. Tretiak was completely fooled by Lacroix’s clever fake and it was 1-0 Canada.
MacKenzie’s goal was the only one of the first period. Seven minutes into the second period the Soviet’s were able to tie the game and expose one of Canada’s key vulnerabilities; fitness. While the Canadians could create chances off the rush, the three forwards often got caught deep, allowing the Soviets to counter. In the case of the first Soviet goal, after a Canadian rush, the Soviets quickly break out with Vladimir Lutchenko joining in to make it a four on two. After a Rick Smith poke check interrupted the initial rush, Lutchenko was left unmarked and jumped on the loose puck to hammer a shot along the ice and beat Gerry Cheevers. This goal would not be the first time that Cheevers would have trouble with slapshots from the point in the series.
The blame for the goal does not solely rest with Cheevers though. Under normal circumstances the wingers should be coming back to pick up the pinching defenders. In this case the Canadian forwards were at the end of a shift and could not catch up with the smooth skating Soviets. Throughout the game, Harris attempted to mitigate the fitness disadvantage, sticking with 45 second shifts for his forwards throughout the game.
One of Canada’s main advantages was always going to be their powerplay. As Canada’s second goal demonstrated, the amount of talent and experience the Canadians could put on the ice was staggering. With Tremblay and Stapleton on defence, they had two offensive defenceman who could quickly move the puck up ice. The first unit also comprised on Bobby Hull, Frank Mahovlich, and Gordie Howe, who together had scored over 4000 career NHL points. Watching the powerplay at work Howe’s strength is on full display. He is able to control the puck down low and hold off the Soviet defender before getting the puck out to Hull, who rips his trademark slapshot past Tretiak and Canada has the lead again.
Canada’s penalty kill would let them down though. The Soviets managed to score two goals on the powerplay before the second period was over. While Canada could put Mahovlich, Howe and Hull on for the powerplay, the Soviets could answer with Valery Kharmalov, Vladimir Petrov and Boris Mikhailov. For the tying goal Kharmalov’s skill was on full display, taking the puck on his own blueline and slicing through the entire Canadian team. The next Red Army goal was less spectacular but punished Canada for taking a bad penalty and the Soviets were ahead.
The game would ultimately end in a three all draw. With a little less than five minutes left in the game Lacroix would find Bobby Hull open just above the right faceoff dot and for the second time in the game, Hull would blast one past Tretiak. A minute later Marc Tardif just missed picking the corner to give the Canadians the lead but instead the puck went wide.
A draw was a credible result for the Canadians. Rather than get blown out like the Canadian press had predicted they had limited the Soviets to three goals and shown that their best forwards could skate and score as well.
Game Two
Two days later the puck dropped on game two at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. While the storied home of the Toronto Maple Leafs since the 1930s, the Toronto Toros had shared the arena with the Leaf since moving from Ottawa in 1973. Without a WHA team in Montreal, Toronto was the biggest Canadian market for the league and an obvious location for the league’s showpiece event. Fan interest was high with tickets selling out quickly.
Once again all the players lined up on their respective bluelines while both teams were introduced. The national anthems followed with a fake breeze making the Soviet and Canadian flags look like they were outside at McMurdo Station during a winter storm. This time around there was no prime minister to drop the ceremonial face off, instead the crowd got Mitchel Sharp, the head of the Privy Council, a term the announced was unable to pronounce properly. With the night’s ceremony concluded it was time for the game to begin.
The biggest change from game one was that Marc was replaced with Mark. Tardiff was out and WHA Rookie of the Year and Gordie’s son Mark Howe was in. He would centre a line with his dad and former NHL Rookie of the Year Ralph Backstrom for game two. This line had an immediate impact, scoring four and a half minutes into the game.
Stapleton and Mark Howe combined deep in Canada’s zone to get the puck out and onto the stick of Backstrom, who makes the smart play and gives the puck to Gordie Howe (I think giving the puck to Gordie Howe is pretty much always a smart play). Both Howe family members then show their passing skills to set up Backstrom for the easy tap in. A superb goal that demonstrated the chemistry between father and son.
The goals kept coming for Canada. Like in game one, Lacroix and McKenzie got on the score sheet to make it two to zero. Lacroix then turned creator once again, setting up Hull for his third of the series and game. Canada had a stunning chance to make it four nothing when they were awarded a penalty shot after Mike Walton used his speed to beat three Soviet players and walk in alone on Tretiak. The Russian defender hooked him down before Walton could get of a quality shot and the referee immediately pointed to centre ice.
Mike Walton stepped up to take the first ever penalty shot awarded from open play in a Canada-USSR game. After all the build up he decided to skate directly at Tretiak and fire a slapshot from the hashmarks. Even Howie Meeker seems confused by this choice as Tretiak easily batted it away with his blocker. Nevertheless, Canada was still up by three.
The Soviets managed to pull one back before the end of the second period but luck was on Canada’s side. In the third period Petrov beat Cheevers but the puck hit the inside crossbar and shot back out. While the goal judge put the red light on, the referee waved it off and play continued. After that scare, Canada effectively shut down the Red Army offense. With three minutes to go Tremblay scored his first goal of the series to put Canada up four to one and secure a victory for Team Canada. Unfortunately for Canada, game two would be the only game the team would win all series.
Game Three
The series moved to Winnipeg for game three. Harris made five changes for this game, including in goal. While Marty Howe would get his first start, the goaltending situation was what grabbed the headlines. Cheevers was out and Don “Smokie” McLeod started in nets instead, which did not inspire confidence. McLeod had not performed well in training camp and played erratically in the warm-up games against WHL opposition. While Mcleod started strong and even saved a penalty shot, by the end of the game everyone’s worst fears were confirmed with McLeod letting in eight goals and getting pulled in favour of Gilles Gratton with a minute left in the game.
Canada was also missing Gordie Howe and Frank Mahovlich. Howe was out with bruised ribs that, he claimed, came from his son Mark hugging him after setting up Backstrom’s goal in game two. Even with this revised line up, Canada actually opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal. Hero of the 72 series Paul Henderson set up Bruce MacGregor who put the puck over Tretiak for the first goal of the game. However, the Soviets tied it up ninety second later. With Marty Howe caught pinching in the Soviet zone, Alexander Yakushev and Vladimir Shadrin broke out on a two on one, with Yakushev firing the puck past McLeod.
The Red Army opened the second period with a goal by Boris Mikhailov to make it two to one. Mike Walton’s penalty had just expired and he wasn’t able to get back into the play before Mikhailov jammed in a rebound. It took until halfway through the period for Canada to respond. New England Whaler’s winger Tom Webster, who was in the game in place of Rejan Houle and playing on a line with Marc Tardiff and Serge Bernier, walked in alone on Tertiak and beat him while falling to the ice. A spectacular goal to tie the game at two. Unfortunately, that would be the last time the game would be close.
The Soviets took control of the game with two goals in 17 seconds to kill any momentum Canada had. The first was credited to Valery Vasiliev, even though it appears that Petrov was the one who scored off of a nice pass from line mate Mikhailov. On the very next play, Alexander Maltsev deflected a shot and made it four to one. Canada managed to prevent any more Soviet goals for the rest of the period but the damage had been done.
The Red Army started the third period with three straight goals by the Alexanders, with a pair by Yakushev sandwiching one by Bodunov. With the score now seven to two it seemed like the game was over, however, one Canadian who was never going to go quietly into the good night was Paul Henderson.
Having already set up one goal, Henderson scored two goals in 33 second to pull Canada within three. The Quebec Nordiques’ pair of Bernier and Tardif then combined a minute later to make it seven to five with a little over four minutes to go and the 11 000 fans in Winnipeg cheering the team on.
Yet Yuri Lebedev ended the comeback by beating Paul Shmyr and putting the Red Army up by three again. The game ended eight to five but the final score suggested a much more even game. Without Henderson’s heroics in the third, the score line would have been much more embarrassing to Canada.
Despite the loss, Coach Harris defended his line up changes. In the post game press conference Harris stated that, "I gambled and lost. Bu, the worst that could happen was the series would be tied. We weren't embarrassed and I'd make the same decision again, considering the circumstances." While the coach stood by his line up changes he lost the trust of senior Canadian players, particularly Henderson. In 2014 Henderson told TSN that, “After Harris made the lineup change, and told us basically it was a joke, I guess I decided to play tourist.”
Game Four
The series headed to the Pacific Coast for Game four in Vancouver. Played at Pacific Coliseum, the shared home of the WHA’s Vancouver Blazers and the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks, the game was scheduled for the afternoon so it could be broadcast in prime time for Central Canada.
Coach Harris brought Gordie Howe, Mahovlich and Cheevers back into the line up. Mark and Marti also dressed, making it the first time that all three Howe family members played together in the series. With the series tied 1-1-1, game four would be the last chance for the Canadians to get a win on home ice before heading to Moscow for four games in the Russian capital.
The Red Army opened the scoring only three and a half minutes into the game. The Soviets got the puck deep into the Canadian end with a smooth passing play. Kharlamov then lost the puck behind the redline but continued to pressure the Canadian defence who fair to clear the zone. Vasiliev kept the puck in the was gifted more than enough time to wind up and blast a shot past Cheevers. One to nothing.
Canada was quick to respond with Gordie Howe getting his first of the series. The star of the play is Pat Stapleton whose smooth skating and pinpoint outlet pass to Backstrom quickly transitioned Canada from defence to offence. Howe then got a quick pass from his linemate and came in on Tretiak. From there it was almost a foregone conclusion that one of the greatest offensive players in the history of the game would finish off the play. Game tied.
The game didn’t stay tied for long. John McKenzie got a penalty for elbowing and 35 seconds into the powerplay Soviet captain Mikailov combined with Petrov to score. Two to one for the USSR.
With eight minutes left in the first period, Bobby Hull and Frank Mahovlich took over the game. Within the span of five minutes, Hull scored three goals, with only Mahovlich’s marker disrupting the natural hattrick. At the end of the first period Canada was up five to two and it looked like another blowout but this time with the score line reversed.
The Red Army had other ideas though. Halfway through the second period Yakushev, who had missed the third period of game three with a groin pull, blasted a slapshot past Cheevers to make it five three. Tretiak also appeared recovered from an uncharacteristically bad period, stopping all Canadian shots he faced and giving his team a chance to get back into the game.
However, even as the Soviet’s took over the game in the third, Canada remained defensively solid. Cheevers was excellent in goal and when Canada ran into penalty troubles with McKenzie taking back to back minors, the PK unit of Paul Henderson and Ralph Backstrom combined with defenders Bruce MacGregor and Mark Howe to kill off both.
With four minutes to go in the game the sold out crowd of 15 772 at Pacific Coliseum was roaring with expectation of a Canadian victory. But then came the 51 seconds that would break Canadian hearts.
At 16:04 Alexander Malstev scored a quick (and controversial goal) off of a faceoff in the Canadian zone. 51 seconds later Gusev drilled another slapshot past Cheevers (I detect a pattern here) and the game tied 5-5.
Coach Harris claimed that his players were simply tired and switched off on the faceoff, allowing the Soviet’s to make it a one goal game. However, McKenzie claimed, “The referee dropped the puck before we were ready. Andre [Lacroix] is pretty good on faceoffs and he just wasn’t ready. J.C. [Tremblay] was back talking to Cheevers I think. We just weren’t ready. But they are always ready when they drop the puck.” As we saw with the Soviet no-goal from game two, this incident was not the first, nor would it be the last, that that the referees were the deciding factor.
The series was now tied 1-1-2 after the four Canadian games. As Harris quipped in the post-game interview, “We are in better shape than Team Canada 72 was when they were going to Moscow.”
With the first game in Moscow scheduled for October 1st, both teams had a week off. While the Soviets flew back to Moscow, Canada had arranged two exhibition games against Finland on the 27th and Sweden on the 29th of September.
Canada blew out the Finns in front of 7000 fans in Helsinki. Two days later they played a much closer game against the Swedes, blowing a three to zero lead before Mahovlich won it for Canada with less than three minutes on the clock. Then it was off to Moscow for the final showdown with the Red Army.