How The 1972 Summit Series Affected Canada
1972 Summit Series
It was described as “the goal heard around the world.” Paul Henderson scored to make the score 6-5 with 34 seconds remaining in game 8 of the 1972 Summit Series. This goal sealed the comeback victory for Canada after falling behind the USSR hockey team 3 games to 1. The 8 game series is considered by some as a huge defining moment in Canadian history with repercussions beyond sports. The series had an impact on Canadian politics, the economy and the social unity of the entire nation.
Most people do not see hockey as being a political statement. Pierre Trudeau did. He saw the Summit series as a chance to be re-elected into office. Trudeau became prime minister in 1968, using national pride as his campaign platform. He used …show more content…
Today many people and businesses use hockey to promote social events in Canada. I think one of the ways the summit series affected Canada socially is that it united the country as one. Millions of people watched. They could not stop talking about it. Proud Canadian fans packed the arena for every game and cheered loud and proud. They held their breath in the third period of game 8 and the entire country erupted with Paul Henderson scored the goal. “I found myself with the puck in front of the net,” remembers Henderson. “Tretiak made one stop and the puck came right back to me. There was room under him, so I poked the puck through.” “When I saw it go in, I just went bonkers.” Millions of thrilled and extremely relieved Canadians went bonkers as well. Many people rank the goal in the final game as the fifth greatest event in Canadian history2
It not only united our country but allowed Canadians to unite with Russian people. The differences between the two societies were set aside and we learned to tolerate and embrace other
It was described as “the goal heard around the world.” Paul Henderson scored to make the score 6-5 with 34 seconds remaining in game 8 of the 1972 Summit Series. This goal sealed the comeback victory for Canada after falling behind the USSR hockey team 3 games to 1. The 8 game series is considered by some as a huge defining moment in Canadian history with repercussions beyond sports. The series had an impact on Canadian politics, the economy and the social unity of the entire nation.
Most people do not see hockey as being a political statement. Pierre Trudeau did. He saw the Summit series as a chance to be re-elected into office. Trudeau became prime minister in 1968, using national pride as his campaign platform. He used …show more content…
Today many people and businesses use hockey to promote social events in Canada. I think one of the ways the summit series affected Canada socially is that it united the country as one. Millions of people watched. They could not stop talking about it. Proud Canadian fans packed the arena for every game and cheered loud and proud. They held their breath in the third period of game 8 and the entire country erupted with Paul Henderson scored the goal. “I found myself with the puck in front of the net,” remembers Henderson. “Tretiak made one stop and the puck came right back to me. There was room under him, so I poked the puck through.” “When I saw it go in, I just went bonkers.” Millions of thrilled and extremely relieved Canadians went bonkers as well. Many people rank the goal in the final game as the fifth greatest event in Canadian history2
It not only united our country but allowed Canadians to unite with Russian people. The differences between the two societies were set aside and we learned to tolerate and embrace other