When Paul Henderson rescued us from those talented Soviets, I was so happy that somehow I generated enough strength to lift my school desk up over my head! Little did I know (or care) that someone else’s books were still inside it.
In addition to them ending up on the floor, so did I.
Most schools (since the final 4 games from Russia were shown live back in Canada) placed television sets in many of their classrooms and in principle offices.
By then, all the lessons focused around this very special Team Canada vs the Soviets Series.
If one was in a history class, we discussed communism.
If one was in a math class, we discussed how to calculate a goals against average.
If we were in a language class (English or French), all of a sudden we were taught how to say yes and no in Russian.
Hockey was 24/7.
Because once you got home, all four games were replayed on TV and everyone was once again glued to their set.
Yvan Cournrnoyer, Phil Esposito, Harry Sinden, Vladislav Tretiak and of course “HENDERSON!” not only became house-hold names, but were the centre of the only conversation going on from sea to shining sea.
