Impressions: Guest Speakers

GUEST SPEAKERS
at The Summit in 1972

This column features stories and unique views on the Summit'72 and international hockey submitted by our visitors.

Comments by The Summit in 1972: As an epic event in the history of hockey, the '72 Summit Series inspired various written accounts about these games in 1972. To name only a few, Roy MacSkimming wrote an excellent in-depth coverage of the Summit. Jack Ludwig published his first class recollections from the prospective of the fans that travelled to Moscow in 1972. Team Canada's own Ken Dryden and Harry Sinden wrote their own unique memoirs of the Summit. Kevin Sylvester's book captures attention by its originality and unorthodox approach. It goes well beyond hockey as a game. I would call it a Canadian version of Orwell's "1984". Except, it is funnier and better illustrated. The book is a must for collectors. The following article features just a few parts from the book.

Shadrin Has Scored
For Russia!

by Kevin Sylvester

Hewitt: And the Russians pick up the rebound and head back down the ice... here comes Shadrin with the puck, over to Maltsev. Shadrin is up-ended and falls behind the net. Here's the puck again... Shadrin right in front... they score! Shadrin has scored for Russia! Shadrin!

*****

Hewitt: And the first period ends with the score 7-5 for the Red Army. And now it's time for "Comrade's Corner" with Don Chernov.

SOUND: "Comrade's Corner" theme

Ivan MacLean:
A low scoring game so far. Eh, Don? Only 7-5.

Chernov:
Dat's right. Good hockey, though. Now, I want to talk about somethink that's been bugging me for a while. Look here, watch this clip. Roll it, Igor. You see that? Fedorov wants to fight Bure, but Bure goes into a turtle. Good job. Fedorov gets the penalty, Bure avoids an unsightly fight. That's how you play the game!

MacLean:
Now I know you want to talk about this story in today's Pravda.

Chernov:
Yes, this guy says we should allow more foreign players into the league. Swedes and stuff. Hey, why not! The more Swedes the better, as long as they can score and don't play that plodding style the Canadians used to play. Why, just the other day I was watchmg a game with my dog, Red...

(fade out)


Kevin Sylvester is an author, illustrator, and broadcaster. He lives in Toronto, Canada with his wife, Laura, daughters Erin and Emily, and their cat, Drip. Kevin has been the host of CBC Radio One's morning sports since 1999.

Views expressed by our Guest Speakers are not necessarily those of the Summit in 1972 site.