Canada Russia Summit Series 2008?

[Matt]

http://www.canada.com/topics/sports/hockey...98d911b&k=55685

 

Summit Series sequel in works for fall 2008

Hockey Canada chief proposes rematch of seminal 1972 Canada-U.S.S.R. showdown

 

MATTHEW FISHER

CanWest News Service

 

Saturday, March 03, 2007

 

For the first time since 1972, the best hockey players from Canada and Russia might play a series in early autumn 2008, according to yesterday's edition of the Russian hockey fans' bible, Sport Express.

 

Under a huge banner headline that read: "4 games in Russia, 4 games in Canada," the Moscow-based daily newspaper predicted such a "dream series" would stir memories of the epic eight game Summit Series that Canada and the Soviet Union played in 1972 - a tournament many Canadians and Russians regard as the most exciting hockey in the game's history.

 

The story, which dominated the broadsheet's front page, was accompanied by a large photograph of testy Soviet and Canadian players, and Soviet police quarreling along the boards at one of the games in Moscow in 1972.

 

What the article's author, Vsevolod Kukushkin - the dean of European hockey writers - found "interesting was that this proposal did not come from

 

Europe but from the president of Hockey Canada, Bob Nicholson."

 

Such a series would help celebrate the 100th anniversary of the International Ice Hockey Federation, Kukushkin said. It was, he said, to be "the main topic of discussion" in meetings early next week between Nicholson and IIHF president Rene Fassel.

 

Kukushkin, who served as the Soviet team's interpreter during the four games that it played in Canada in 1972, quoted Nicholson as telling him: "In August-September (2008), we would like, together with your Russian partners, which includes a major Russian company, to organize such a super series."

 

Kukushkin reported: "In Nicholson's opinion, the situation is very good now for such a series. Since the 1972 series, which was one of the most important sports events of the last century, a generation of players and fans have come and gone ... and a new generation of fans and players in both countries deserve to see such a great product."

 

The legendary 1972 series helped make the reputations of Phil Esposito, Paul Henderson, Vladislav Tretiak and Valeri Kharlamov.

 

But the next generation of superstars, which included Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Viacheslav Fetisov and Valeri Bure, never got a chance to play against each other in such a momentous marathon. Should the 2008 series get the green light, a new generation of great young players such as Sidney Crosby, Dany Heatley, Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin appear to be ready to add to the rich hockey lore that Canada and Russia share.

 

Unlike the 1972 event, which began in Montreal and travelled across Canada before going to Russia, the proposed 2008 series would apparently begin in Russia and then move to Canada.

 

It also could be used as an extended training camp for the hockey team that will represent Canada at the 2010 winter Olympics in Vancouver.

 

Since the end of the Cold War in 1990, hockey has lost some of the lustre in Russia that it enjoyed during the Soviet era.

 

Fans have felt cheated because most of the best players leave at a young age to play in the National Hockey League and NHL games are only available in Russia on a small specialty channel that charges a stiff premium for the service that is beyond the reach of most Russians.

 

"There is not the same level of interest in hockey in Moscow

 

today that there was in 1972," said Sergei Ryazanov, a cardiologist and passionate hockey fan who sometimes travels to North America to see his favourite Russian players in action.

 

"We are not so closed a society as we were then, so people have more things that they can do with their time. But if some games were played in Russia, the interest would still be huge. There would be no problem filling arenas for a few games because there are enough rich people around now to pay $100 or $200 for a seat."

 

Writing in Sport Express, which has a loyal following in Russia, Kukushkin said: "They are speaking of the possibility of eight games, four in each country. In Russia, the games could be played not only in Moscow, but in other cities with modern arenas seating more than 10,000 spectators, such as Kazan, Yaroslavl and St. Petersburg. As for the Russian capital, Canadians would most of all like to see a game in the Luzhniki Arena where the 1972 series took place."

 

Between the games in Russia and Canada in 2008, both teams might play exhibition games against the Finns, Swedes and Czechs in Helsinki, Stockholm and Prague.

 

This would be designed as a reprise of the exhibition games Team Canada played against the Swedes and Czechs on the way to Moscow in 1972.

 

A potential deal-breaker that Sport Express mentioned was the fact the NHL is at odds with the Russian Federation over a new contract to cover young players drafted out of Russia's top two hockey leagues.

 

"It seems that Nicholson is counting on the Russians and the IIHF to find a compromise solution with the NHL," Kukushkin wrote. "But this may prove difficult because this is such a touchy subject for some Russian clubs."

 

Still, Kukushkin speculated Nicholson was the right person to try to pull such a tournament off because Hockey Canada enjoyed good relations with the NHL and the NHL Players' Association.

 

Kukushkin predicted: "There is a high probability that this series will take place."

 

Ryazanov said despite his love for Russian hockey, his money would be on the Canadians if there was such a tournament next autumn.

 

"Russians only play now for money, Canadians still play hockey for hockey's sake. The Canadians have a much higher level of motivation," he said.

 

[marx marvelous]

Would NHL players be allowed in this? I would like to see it, but I wouldn't get my hopes up for it being anything like '72... it'll probably end up like the Olympics or the All Star game, lots of NHL players just sandbagging to avoid injury.

 

Edit: And would Malkin return for this after "fleeing" from his Russian club in favor of the NHL?

Edited March 4, 2007 by NotFromOklahoma

[Matt]

Well everything I know about it is in the article... But, the Canada Russia '72 series was only good because Canada was losing. If Canada starts by winning, the NHLers will not give it their all. It's only if something is on the line, for us it was national pride. That could happen yet again, who knows.

[Gomo]

I saw a youtube video with Canada and Russia kicking the crap out of each other. All players involved in the brawl, goalie fights, lights out in the arena, it was the best hockey game ever.

[heyrabbit]

this would be awesome, although I doubt it would be anything like 72. the officiating would be more like the olympics, so I'd guess that the russians would have an edge in that department. also, it's always better to have the underdog status in these situations. russia's chances of winning would be much greater if the last 4 games were to be in Canada.

[Matt]

I think the reason Canada came back was because they were underdogs period, not just because they were underdogs in Russia, it was just a coincedence. I mean, could you imagine if they were in Canada, and they were just a game away from losing? They'd have no choice but to fight back for sure... Candians would be dogging them at every chance.

[no yu begin wher i end]

Go capitalism!

[Matt]

I think this series will be the same as the last one, all about hockey supremacy... I don't think it was quite like the American's Miracle on Ice where it was about capitalism beating the Soviets at what the soviets were best at; because the capitalists were losing to them at all the events they were good at it.

[Guest jsunC]

I'd love to see them pull it together, i would be pleased

[marx marvelous]

I think this series will be the same as the last one, all about hockey supremacy... I don't think it was quite like the American's Miracle on Ice where it was about capitalism beating the Soviets at what the soviets were best at; because the capitalists were losing to them at all the events they were good at it.

Hahahaha, Mike Eruzione does commercials for some kind of weight loss program now. "Beating the Russians was hard, but with [whatever the system was called], losing weight was easy!"

[Matt]

At least he has something to do, I don't think he was even drafted into the NHL, was he?

[heyrabbit]

I think the reason Canada came back was because they were underdogs period, not just because they were underdogs in Russia, it was just a coincedence. I mean, could you imagine if they were in Canada, and they were just a game away from losing? They'd have no choice but to fight back for sure... Candians would be dogging them at every chance.

that's the whole point. not everyone performs better under pressure. and the pressure would be insane, maybe more than there was for 2002.

[Matt]

Canadians have a long standing tradition of fighting back and this would be our best vs theirs. I think that pressure would be enormous, but I believe that Canadians can do it. It's always been in us to keep fighting even against all odds.

[heyrabbit]

it's interesting that the two different regions are so different in that way, because sport is universal. or maybe it's not. some cultures don't understand the concept of winning and losing. I get one point and you get no points, etc. maybe russia is just less infatuated with the war aspect of sport, and more interested in the individual aspect. I don't know

[Matt]

Actually, when we played them so long ago, they had an amazing team system, we were more individualistic until we could no longer be. For us at least it's kind have stayed the same. So, if the team can come together it will most likely take a few games...

[RicardoObviouso]

put a bunch of 18 year old prospects on each team and you'll have yourself a decent series. anything else would be a ratings grab and a major disappointment.