The 1972 Summit Series marked the first meeting between the Soviet Union and Canadian professionals. In the eight-game series, the Soviets surprised Team Canada and took an early lead. But one Phil Esposito interview after Game Four changed everything.
In 1972, the Soviet Union and Canada agreed to create a best-on-best competition between the two most dominant hockey nations. Up until that point, professional Canadian players had not participated in international competitions, and the Soviet Union had dominated the international scene.
Eight games were played—four in various locations across Canada and four in Moscow. Expectations were high that Canada would win easily. The Canadian roster was star-studded, featuring names like Bobby Clarke, Stan Mikita, and Phil Esposito—who would go on to play a pivotal role in a very unexpected way.
Soviet shocked Team Canada
The Soviet Union shocked Team Canada in the first game, winning 7–3. Canada fought back and won Game Two 4–1. The third game ended in a 3–3 tie, and then the Soviets won Game Four in Vancouver 5–3, giving them a 2–1 series lead. Canadian fans were furious and let the players know it, booing them on home ice—something that angered Phil Esposito and led to one of the most historic speeches in hockey history.
Phil Esposito famous interview
In a postgame interview, drenched in sweat, Phil Esposito took matters into his own hands.
“To the people across Canada, we tried, we gave it our best, and to the people that boo us—geez—I’m really… all of us guys are really disheartened, and we’re disillusioned and disappointed at some of the people. We cannot believe the bad press we’ve gotten, the booing we’ve received in our own buildings,” Esposito said, and continued:
“I’m really disappointed. I am completely disappointed. I cannot believe it. Some of our guys are really, really down in the dumps. We know—we’re trying like hell. I mean, we’re doing the best we can, and they’ve got a good team, let’s face facts. But it doesn’t mean we’re not giving it our 150 percent, because we certainly are. Every one of us—35 guys that came out and played for Team Canada—we did it because we love our country, and not for any other reason. No other reason. They can throw the money for the pension fund out the window. They can throw anything they want out the window. We came because we love Canada. And even though we play in the United States and we earn money in the United States, Canada is still our home. That’s the only reason we came. And I don’t think it’s fair that we should be booed,” Esposito said.
And that’s when the series turned.
13 points in 8 games
After the historic interview, the series shifted to Moscow for the final four games. Although the Soviets won Game Five—giving them a two-game lead—Team Canada bounced back and won the last three games, clinching the series 4–3, with one tie.
Over the eight-game series, Phil Esposito tallied 13 points and carried Team Canada to victory.
“There was no way I was going to lose. I was not going to let us lose. I was not going to let Canada be beaten by communism,” Esposito told the NHL, looking back on the classic showdown. What an absolute legend.
You can watch the legendary interview below.
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