The Summit in 1972: Historical Prospective, Team Canada

Impressions

Retrospective

Summit Statistics

Game Summaries

Team Rosters

Other Information

Impressions

Canadian Hockey: Facts and Stats

::: Top International Tournaments:
WC Gold (21) in 1920, 1924, 1928, 1930-1932, 1934-1939, 1948, 1950-1955, 1958-1959,1961, 1994, 1997; Olympics Gold (6) in 1924, 1928, 1932, 1948, 1952, 2002; won 1972 USSR vs. Canada Summit, Canada Cup (4) in 1976, 1984, 1987, 1991
::: National Hockey League:
Most Stanley Cups were won by Montreal Canadiens (23 times, last in 1993), Toronto Maple Leafs (13, 1967), Detroit Red Wings (10, 2002), Boston Bruins (5, 1972), Edmonton Oilers (5, 1990), New York Rangers (4, 1994) and New York Islanders (4, 1983).

Team Canada 1972: Historical Prospective

TEAM CANADA 1972:
Facts and Stats

::: Hockey Awards:::

- HHOF in Toronto (16 team members including 15 in the Players Category and 1 in the Builders' Category)
- IIHF Hall of Fame (1)
- 20th Century Top 100 Players (9)
- THN Top 100 NHL Players (12)

::: NHL All-Time Top 100 Stats:::

  - Points (11 players)
  - Goals (10)
  - Assists (11)
  - Games (8)
  - PIM (0)

Team Canada 1972:
Complete Roster On-Line

The 1972 Team CANADA is one of the legends in the history of Canadian sports. How would one rate the 1972 Team Canada compared to the winners of the Canada Cup in 1976, 1987 or 1991 or to the national team at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City? What Team Canada had the most impressive lineup from the historical prospective?

This section of the Summit in 1972: Impressions suggests a review of the 1972 Team Canada members ranking in the Top 100 All-time NHL Stats (1917-2002) in Career Points, Goals, Assists and Games.

These stats can serve as yet another indicator that the 1972 Summit lineup was extremely impressive. One of the classiest teams in the history of hockey, 1972 Team Canada had 15 players and 1 coach elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. Hockey experts included 12 Team Canada members in the THN Top 100 NHL Players and 9 players in the 20th Century Top 100 Players.

Obviously, statistics and various top lists can’t capture such things as team spirit and non-numerical heroics shown in the Summit Series. I doubt that the absence of Paul Henderson or Pat Stapleton on these Top 100 lists can diminish their role in the history of hockey. Stats represent just a part of a bigger picture. In this case, they simply add another point on the legendary status of the 1972 Team Canada and its players in the hockey history.