Three-time Olympic hockey champion Vladislav Tretiak told that for him the 1972 USSR-Canada Super Series had become the main sporting event of his career, and also explained how after these matches he might leave for the NHL.
On Wednesday, Tretiak met online with Canadians Peter Mahovlich and Dennis Hull, participants of the 1972 Super Series. The Canadian team won four of the eight games in the series, the USSR team won three, and one game ended in a draw.
— I have participated in four Olympic Games and fifteen World Championships, but the 1972 Super Series was the most significant and unforgettable match in my life and in the history of hockey. This is a unique event, like Yuri Gagarin’s flight into space. It is impossible to repeat it, but we must always remember it. In the Super Series, we demonstrated that our country is a great hockey power. In the confrontation with professionals, they represented European hockey and, most importantly, they defended the honor of the Motherland, the honor of our flag, our victorious traditions. The team performed very well, and we are obliged to preserve the memory of this sporting achievement and pass it on to younger generations. Using the example of great hockey victories, we teach young people patriotism, selflessness in defending the interests of the country, as well as the desire to be the first and do the best possible job.
Yes, it is especially pleasant to remember these events in conversation with their direct participants. I was very happy to see my good friends Pete and Dennis again. Mahovlich and Hull are representatives of the great generation of Canadians, outstanding masters, one of the best I have ever played against.
— What moments of the match do you remember with the Canadian veterans?
— That goal I missed from Mahovlich in the Super Series. Pete even joked that it was the only goal in Tretyak’s career that was missed on a power play. In general, Toronto has always been an unhappy city for Soviet teams; we lost there all the time. So, in the second game of the 1972 Super Series, they lost with a score of 1:4. But Peter’s goal was incredible. He went one-on-one and did not expect me to suddenly lie down and block the back. I did it several times, confusing the attackers. But Mahovlich got out of the situation and found an opportunity to hit the frame. He moved the puck to the right and put it into the goal. The moment turned out to be very beautiful, many fans still remember it. After all, Pete executed everything superbly, in the manner of Kharlamov: he beat the defender with a feint, and then the goalkeeper. Mahovlich showed how brilliant his technique is. Nevertheless, as a result of this meeting, I became the best player, and the award ring still occupies a special place in my collection.
— What other artifacts remain in your memory?
— I really like the photo taken after the Montreal – CSKA match. It shows the three best players of the match – Mahovlich, I and Ivan Cournoyer. We prepared for the match with special interest. CSKA has been the strongest team in the Old World for many years. Consistent championship, victories in European cups. And Montreal was the leader of the National Hockey League. It was all the more interesting to test their strength and meet face to face on the ice.
Moreover, in the 70s, the Canadiens, in terms of hockey style, were not quite typical Canadians. A tough team that preferred technical and intelligent play. Therefore, already in the 80s, Gretzky answered Wayne’s question as follows: “If you think about who I would like to play in the NHL, then only for Montreal, especially because it is more like CSKA than any other Canadian team. True, Wayne advised to choose the Rangers because they pay more in New York. But I insisted that I preferred Montreal.
— What is your relationship with Canadians now?
— During my trips to Canada or to the Olympics, I have met for many years those who stepped on the ice against us in 1972 and other years. It is always a joy to see Canadian veterans; they are our good friends. It is good that fate gave us the opportunity to do a great thing: to please the fans of our countries and the whole world, to show hockey at the highest level. We all gave everything on the ice, getting the most out of ourselves. And it was right, because there were excellent matches that went down in history and should be remembered for as long as possible, ”Tretyak told .
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Source : MatchTV
I’m Emma Smith, a dedicated journalist and avid storyteller. I have been writing for news websites for the past 5 years, reporting on hockey news and delivering in-depth analysis of the sport. In my current role as Author at Athletistic, I write about hockey events from around the world to keep followers up-to-date with what’s happening in the sport.
