Double Olympic champion, participant in the 1972 Super Series Alexander Yakushev on the air of the program “There is a theme!” on he said that before the games no one wanted to prove anything to the Canadians, the USSR team just wanted to show off their hockey.
The USSR-Canada Super Series was held from September 2 to 28, 1972. The Canadian team won 4, the USSR – 3, one game ended in a draw.
– How did you feel before the Super Series and what did you want to prove to these professionals from Canada?
– Well, to prove, of course, so directly we did not want anything, frankly. We just wanted to show off our hockey. What we can and have been able to do at that time. And, of course, we, especially in the first game, succeeded. The start, of course, was not very good, 0:2. But then we managed to score goals on the return at the end of the first period, it gave us some emotional strength. And going forward, in the second and third periods, of course we dominated. Magnificent two goals from Valery Kharlamov. And then the fifth, sixth, seventh goals followed.
To be honest, when we found out this series would be, we can’t say we were kind of excited. Super Series – and Super Series. Why? Because we all prepared in clubs. Considering that Canadians, as a rule, come to training camp two weeks before the championship, and here two weeks before the Super Series. We started training on July 1. Three times training on the ice. Then in August already ice and land. Such a solid foundation was laid and prepared for the championship of the Soviet Union. And when that streak ended, we immediately dove into the championship, and somehow that streak didn’t feel the way it did many years later. 15 years, maybe 20. It was only after these years that I personally realized the importance of this series.
It really is a great series. First, the NHL team met for the first time, they had never done before. And for the first time the national team of the USSR met with the best hockey players of the NHL. And, most importantly, of course, it gave development to everyone in hockey,” Yakushev said on .
“The only player who told his comrades that these guys are tough, that they know how to play hockey, is Phil Esposito,” he added.
Yakushev in the 1972 Super Series played 8 games, scored 7 goals and gave 4 assists.
Source : MatchTV
I am Sandra Jackson, a journalist and content creator with extensive experience in the news industry. I have been working in the news media for over five years. During this time, I have worked as an author and editor at various outlets producing high-quality content that attracts readers from different demographics.
