Almost any Canadian who is old enough can tell you exactly what he or she was doing on September 28, 1972, when Paul Henderson scored the 6-5 goal at 19:26 of the final period of the final of the 1972 Summit Series. For a second, our world stood still, and then as the red light flickered behind Vladislav Tretiak, our hearts filled with joy, and relief."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!"
As Foster Hewitt's ghostly words described the "goal heard around the world," millions of Canadians danced and hugged in a scene that was reminiscent of the celebrations at the end of World War II. Never has a single sporting moment meant so much to so many Canadians a sense of unparalleled nationalism.
Every Canadian but Denis Brodeur.
Denis Brodeur, the father of New Jersey Devils goaltending great Martin Brodeur, was one of about 3000 Canadians in Moscow's Luzhniki Ice Palace the night Henderson scored. While the hearts of every other Canadian in Moscow, including the players, and every Canadian back home filled with joy, and relief, Brodeur was busy snapping this little photo.
It became perhaps the most famous photo not only in hockey history, but Canadian history.
Several generations of Canadians were born after 1972, but they recognize this photo instantly. They know it represents more than just a great moment in hockey, but a great moment in Canada. It is a photo of Canadian pride and Canadian history. Somehow this picture continues to instill unparalleled nationalism in a country that is so often divided.
That is why I have picked Denis Brodeur's immortal photo of Paul Henderson jumping into the congratulatory arms of Yvan Cournoyer, and every other Canadian then and since, as Hockey's Greatest Photo.
8 comments:
GREAT choice for #1. I agree.
Orr should have been #1. Extremely disapointing finish.
No doubt whatsoever.
No doubt whatsoever.
Awesome choice. This moment changed Canada and changed hockey, and this photo is how we remember that moment. It's also the only hockey picture in Canadian high school history textbooks (Counterpoints, grade 11).
I don't think it was Dennis Brodeur that took the photo.. It was Frank Lennon, IIRC.
As for the pic, it couldn't have been anything else. Far and away the obvious choice.
Not a doubt im my mind and probably in anyone else's over the age of 45...life came to a stand still. Our school was a mennonite one in Alberta and didn't believe in watching television. The principle shut the classes down anyway as he understood the importance of it and we watched the games on the stage in the gym....oh man what a series.
The only one missing Patrick Roy wink in 1993!
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