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Product Description
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It was the most dramatic hockey series ever played, won by a historic goal in the last minute. Featuring the entire eight-game series of the 1972 hockey summit between Russia and Canada, Canada's Team of the Century combines the thrill of Canada's national sport with a great moment in Canadian history. Evoking a moment of nostalgia for those who were around at the time and showcasing a legend for younger generations, Canada's Team of the Century is a thrilling watch for all ages. What could be more essentially Canadian?
Product Description
It is a moment unlike any other in time. From coast to coast, Canada is united by the game we call our own. The outcome of this prehistoric "Summit Series" is decided in the final minute of the final game. After playing the Soviets in the Forum, Maple Leaf Gardens, Winnipeg and Vancouver, Team Canada leaves for Moscow with only one victory on home ice. Behind the Iron Curtain, they lose the first of the remaining four at the Luzhniki Ice Palace. What follows, is the most dramatic hockey series ever played.
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
I was born in 1979, so I wasn't even alive when this series was played. Growing up, I knew of the series and its players, but understood little of how it played out, and what it meant. All I knew was "the goal". So I bought this set, wanting to see it mostly out of curiousity. I had a bunch of people over to watch Game 1, all of us never having seen it. Despite the poor audio and picture quality and terrible (hilarious) graphics, it didn't take long for us to get into the game as though it were happening right then and there. My dad could only shake his head.
We found ourselves immersed not only in the drama on the ice, but research revealed all of the drama off of it.
Suddenly, there we were; a group of Canadians removed from our time, transported back to September of 1972. Communism is alive in the USSR, Trudeau is Prime Minister, and practically no Canadians wear helmets. On the day following the games we would be at work, saying things like: "Can you believe that goal by Pete Mahovlich last night?" and, "Man, Tretiak is INCREDIBLE!" or, "Bergman is all OVER the place!" People thought we were nuts.
As the games went on, and things were looking grim, the remembrance of the outcome began to creep back into our consciousness, and I wondered how we were ever going to come back...
And then "the interview" after Game Four.
When I read about the aftermath - the letters and telegrams of support sent to the players in Moscow; the THREE THOUSAND Canadians who made the trip to cheer the team - it really began to dawn on me - the true magnitude of this event not only in Canadian hockey, but in Canadian history, period. The thought of thousands of Canadians flying half way around the world to watch a hockey game, the schools and businesses that essentially shut down to watch the games... unbelievable.
The eighth and deciding game was watched in a theatre-style classroom, on a big screen. There was excitement and anticipation in the air. Then, after fifty-nine minutes and twenty-four seconds of some of the hardest fought hockey I had ever seen, we heard the call we all were waiting for - the call from Foster Hewitt that all Canadians have heard...
"Here's a shot... Henderson makes a wild stab for it, and falls... here's another shot... right in front... THEY SCORE! HENDERSON HAS SCORED FOR CANADA!"
Now, I am not one for blind patriotism, but in the end, those players and those fans made me as proud to be Canadian as I ever have been in my entire life (how bizarre!).
This series is an absolute must for all Canadians, hockey fans or not. To have the opportunity to see those players - the Espositos, the Mahovlichs, Clarke, Cournoyer, Bergman, Dryden, and Henderson, and so on - required viewing for all hockey fans too young to have seen them.
Before I saw it for myself, I thought it was just a hockey series. Boy, was I wrong.
We found ourselves immersed not only in the drama on the ice, but research revealed all of the drama off of it.
Suddenly, there we were; a group of Canadians removed from our time, transported back to September of 1972. Communism is alive in the USSR, Trudeau is Prime Minister, and practically no Canadians wear helmets. On the day following the games we would be at work, saying things like: "Can you believe that goal by Pete Mahovlich last night?" and, "Man, Tretiak is INCREDIBLE!" or, "Bergman is all OVER the place!" People thought we were nuts.
As the games went on, and things were looking grim, the remembrance of the outcome began to creep back into our consciousness, and I wondered how we were ever going to come back...
And then "the interview" after Game Four.
When I read about the aftermath - the letters and telegrams of support sent to the players in Moscow; the THREE THOUSAND Canadians who made the trip to cheer the team - it really began to dawn on me - the true magnitude of this event not only in Canadian hockey, but in Canadian history, period. The thought of thousands of Canadians flying half way around the world to watch a hockey game, the schools and businesses that essentially shut down to watch the games... unbelievable.
The eighth and deciding game was watched in a theatre-style classroom, on a big screen. There was excitement and anticipation in the air. Then, after fifty-nine minutes and twenty-four seconds of some of the hardest fought hockey I had ever seen, we heard the call we all were waiting for - the call from Foster Hewitt that all Canadians have heard...
"Here's a shot... Henderson makes a wild stab for it, and falls... here's another shot... right in front... THEY SCORE! HENDERSON HAS SCORED FOR CANADA!"
Now, I am not one for blind patriotism, but in the end, those players and those fans made me as proud to be Canadian as I ever have been in my entire life (how bizarre!).
This series is an absolute must for all Canadians, hockey fans or not. To have the opportunity to see those players - the Espositos, the Mahovlichs, Clarke, Cournoyer, Bergman, Dryden, and Henderson, and so on - required viewing for all hockey fans too young to have seen them.
Before I saw it for myself, I thought it was just a hockey series. Boy, was I wrong.
17 of 20 people found the following review helpful
By Garry Tate
Most people in Canada were glued to a television, any television for this series. The years gone by have not dimished its' significance. If possible the passing of time has enhanced it all the more. I was in university at the time and he still talks about the 1972 Canada/USSR Series, and Foster Hewitt (the best hockey broadcaster ever) with reverence. Having all eight games available in their entirety is great!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By J. Gregory
I can't get enough of this DVD set! You get all 8 games of the 1972 summit series in their entirety, plus loads of extras, including interviews from players of Team Canada, footage of the presentation of the "Team of the Century" award at the Hockey Hall of Fame, and let's not forget Phil Esposito's famous speech after game 4 in Vancouver.
The only problem I noticed was that the audio was a little ahead of the video in game 5, but it corrects itself at the start of the 3rd period. The video quality for the 4 games in Russia has a few blips here and there, as well as bits of audio missing, but they are so few and far between that you won't even notice.
Despite the video quality in the last 4 games, I still have to give this DVD set a perfect 5. What you see on these dvds is exactly what was seen on television sets back in 1972, so it is just part of the experience.
Any hockey fan will enjoy this set. Highly recommended!
The only problem I noticed was that the audio was a little ahead of the video in game 5, but it corrects itself at the start of the 3rd period. The video quality for the 4 games in Russia has a few blips here and there, as well as bits of audio missing, but they are so few and far between that you won't even notice.
Despite the video quality in the last 4 games, I still have to give this DVD set a perfect 5. What you see on these dvds is exactly what was seen on television sets back in 1972, so it is just part of the experience.
Any hockey fan will enjoy this set. Highly recommended!
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4.8 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Gary Bergman's chrome dome is a tad disappointed with this release
It's hard to review the product vs. the actual games. I cannot give the eight-game series other than about ten stars out of five because of the insane drama that it produced and... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Brian Maitland
5.0 out of 5 stars
FOREVER a NOSTALGIC SERIES
This DVD set, regardless if it's not quite up to par, will emerses your mind and soul in one of the most historic WORLD sporting event series ever played. Read more
Published on Dec 24 2005 by B. Blomander
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mulroney's in the stands --- great set!!
OK, I'll admit it. The fact that you can see Mulroney in the stands is interseting but not the main feature of this set (this isn't a joke, I'll tell you where to find him at the... Read more
Published on Nov 15 2005 by eli
5.0 out of 5 stars
THIS ROCKS!
Even though i live in wee old England, a mate of mine recomended watching hockey on British TV. I ABOSULTLY love it!! Read more
Published on Dec 18 2004 by J. M. Barrie
4.0 out of 5 stars
Piece of History
The cultural value is great, but that's for the event. The DVD in itself is completely raw: not work at all was done to restore the footage. Read more
Published on Aug 19 2004 by doctor_h
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thinking about buying this... do it!
As a 10 year old, I was glued to the TV during this series. I've spent the past several nights time travelling back to 1972. Sometimes in life you can't go back. Read more
Published on April 16 2004 by Burt
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great stuff indeed!
Ah, what memories! There will never be another series like it. And to the Customer from Calgary: Europeans play hockey with as much intensity as anyone -- it's just that... Read more
Published on April 3 2004 by mozika
5.0 out of 5 stars
great stuff
Quite simply the best spectacle of modern sports. And, once again to the gentleman who figures we cheated: I understand you are swedish, and likely don't play the game with much... Read more
Published on Mar 1 2004
5.0 out of 5 stars
Go Canada eh!
Great deal here, two CD's, while other places sell each one seperatly, plus free shipping, what a deal! Read more
Published on Jan 3 2004 by Tom McLaughlin
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great game footage of a great series
This one is actually something as rare as a complete game set of the 8 games summit series from 1972... Read more
Published on Nov 21 2003 by "beemer_nu"
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