1974 Summit Series

1974 Summit Series
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Total Canada  3 4 5 5 2 2 4 2 1-4-3 (27) Soviet Union  3 1 8 5 3 5 4 3 4-1-3 (32)
Location(s)	Canada (1–4) Soviet Union (5–8)
Coaches	Billy Harris (Canada) Boris Kulagin (USSR)
Referees	Tom Brown (Canada) Victor Dombrowski (USSR) Waldo Szczapek (Poland) Josef Kompalla (West Germany)
Dates	September 17 – October 6, 1974 (1974-09-17 – 1974-10-06)
Hall of Famers	Canada: Frank Mahovlich Gordie Howe Bobby Hull Gerry Cheevers Mark Howe Soviet Union: Valeri Kharlamov Vladislav Tretiak Alexander Yakushev
Networks	CBC, CTV
Summit Series Super Series '76 →

The 1974 Summit Series was the second competition between Soviet and Canadian professional ice hockey players. It used the same format as the 1972 Summit Series, with four games across Canada and four in Moscow. The Soviet team won the series 4–1–3, with Canada's lone victory coming at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. The series was proposed and promoted by the World Hockey Association to draw national attention to the league.^[1] Therefore the Canadian roster was selected from the World Hockey Association instead of the National Hockey League.^[2]

The Soviets won the series 4–1–3.^[3] The series included a game-six fight and game-seven disputed goal, but after the first four games in Canada, Dick Beddoes concluded: "Canada must have a great deal of admiration for Team 74. They did much better than the skeptics expected ... They have played good and entertaining hockey against a younger Russian team".^[4]

Negotiations for the event started at the 1974 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, when Andrey Starovoytov of the Soviet Union approached Jack Devine and Gordon Juckes of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association regarding another series.^[5] Initially the event was to be six-games,^[6] but it was later extended to eight.^[7] Team Canada players were each paid C$6,000 for participating in the event.^[8]

Team Canada prepared for the series by playing exhibition games against an all-star team of players from the Western Hockey League.^[9] They played five games:^[10]

• September 5, 1974 - Team Canada 7-2 win vs Western Hockey League All-Stars in Medicine Hat (attendance 5115)
• September 6, 1974 - Team Canada 6-5 win vs Western Hockey League All-Stars in Brandon, Manitoba
• September 8, 1974 - Team Canada 2-3 loss vs Western Hockey League All-Stars in Calgary (attendance 8000)
• September 10, 1974 - Team Canada 6-1 win vs Western Hockey League All-Stars in Saskatoon
• September 12, 1974 - Team Canada 8-0 win vs Western Hockey League All-Stars in Edmonton

Prior to the series the Soviet team played two games against the Finland men's national ice hockey team as part of the 1974 edition of the Izvestia Cup tournament:^[11]

• September 10, 1974 - Team Soviet 8-1 win vs Finland in Moscow
• September 13, 1974 - Team Soviet 4-3 win vs Finland in Moscow

Team Canada 1974 had three veterans of the Summit Series; Paul Henderson, Frank Mahovlich, and Pat Stapleton. Additionally the team had two legends, Bobby Hull and the 46-year-old Gordie Howe who played with his sons Mark Howe and Marty Howe.^[12]

Paul Shmyr played on defence, along with five-time Stanley Cup champion J.C. Tremblay. The goaltender was two-time Stanley Cup champion and future Hall of Famer Gerry Cheevers.^[13]

The main criticism of the Canadian player selections is that they were older and seemingly near the end of their careers.^[14]

The Soviet team was composed of Olympic and World Champion gold medalists. Three players became Hockey Hall of Fame inductees: Vladislav Tretiak, Valeri Kharlamov and Alexander Yakushev. Additionally, several Soviet all-stars had played in the 1972 Summit Series, including Vladimir Petrov, Boris Mikhailov, Alexander Maltsev, Valeri Vasiliev and Yuri Lebedev.^[15]

The first training session of the USSR national team drew a full arena of spectators, including the players from the WHA national team, who were led by Bobby Hull. Tickets for the Canadian games sold out months in advance. In Quebec, the tickets were drawn in a lottery. People paid two dollars for a chance to get a ticket to the game; out of two million who bought a lottery ticket, only 15,000 got a ticket. In Winnipeg, $10 tickets were sold before the game for double their value.^[16]

The first game was played before an "emotional" full house at the Colisée de Québec, home of the Quebec Nordiques. The final result was a 3–3 tie.^[17] Canadian coach Billy Harris said he was "satisfied" with the result, and Soviet coach Boris Kulagin concurred, saying it was "an interesting and exciting game" and "We too are satisfied with the outcome tonight."^[18]

The star of the night was Bobby Hull, the perennial all-star who had been banned from the 1972 Team Canada because he had recently signed with the WHA. He scored two goals, including the game-tying goal with only 5:12 left. He stated, "Never been so tight before a game in my life, not even a 7th game of a Stanley Cup final." Hull was named the Canadian MVP of the game.^[19]

The game ended on a disappointing note for Frank Mahovlich, who had a clean breakaway on Soviet goalie Vladislav Tretiak with 36 seconds remaining, only too shoot the puck less than inch wide of the net: "I was trying to put the puck up high" he explained "But Tretiak's body was twisted like a pretzel ... So I hammered the puck past the post. He made his move. I made mine, and he beat me."^[20][21]

Just like in 1972, the second game was played at Maple Leaf Gardens before a capacity crowd and the Canadians triumphed with a 4–1 victory. Ralph Backstrom opened the game with his first of four series goals (and 8 points), leading the Soviets coaches and players to say he was one of Canada's best players.^[22]

One controversial event occurred two minutes into the third period. Vladimir Petrov's shot clearly scored hitting the back crossbar and quickly bouncing out of the net, and the red light went on. However, Canadian referee Tom Brown, and his linesman, over ruled the goal claiming he did not see the puck. Coach Kulagin, who admitted the goal would not have changed the final result, was highly critical of Brown and demanded he be replaced for the next game.^[23] Brown later admitted his mistake and apologized.^[17]

In the third game, the Soviet national team won 8–5. Cheevers sat out the third game because his father-in-law was in hospital after suffering a heart attack while watching game two. Don McLeod was substituted in, leaving no backups in case McLeod was unable to play.^{[17] [24]}

Canada had a power-play during the final 1:04 due to Vladimir Lutchenko's holding penalty, and then Harris pulled the goalie McLeod for an extra skater, but they could not score.^[a]

In the first period of the fourth game, Bobby Hull scored a hat trick. After the first period, the hosts led 5–2, but the Soviet national team pulled out a 5–5 draw, ending the Canadian part of the series with 17:17 points.^[17]

Before the Moscow part of the Series, the Canadian national team played two friendly matches in Helsinki and Gothenburg, defeating the Finns and the Swedes 8–3 and 4–3, respectively. The Canadians arrived in Moscow on September 27; about three thousand Canadian fans also arrived. Tickets cost from 10 to 50 rubles (though there were no tickets at the box office; they were distributed among organizations). However, people, hoping for an extra ticket, were on duty at the Luzhniki Stadium continuously, right up to the last game of the series.^[21]

Due to the injury of Alexander Yakushev, Lebedev and Bodunov now played with Shadrin, and Anisin — with Maltsev and Vikulov. The Anisin—Maltsev—Vikulov trio opened the scoring in the first game, and then Maltsev realized the majority.^[21] The game ended 3–2.^[21]

The sixth game featured an increased number of penalties taken by Team Canada. The Canadians received 33 penalty minutes per game (while the Soviets received 9). Mark Howe met Petrov harshly; in retaliation Vasilyev thoroughly crushed Bruce MacGregor.^[21] This game was overshadowed by the post-game fight between Rick Ley and Kharlamov. The latter left the ice with his face covered in blood. Many Soviet hockey players refused to shake hands with their rivals. The next day, Boris Kulagin said that "the players who inflicted injuries on Soviet hockey players deserve to be suspended from matches." The Canadians apologized; the incident was hushed up.^[17] At the same time, the Canadian side expressed dissatisfaction with the refereeing.^[21] The Soviets would win 5–2.

In the seventh game, the Soviets played four units for the first time under Kulagin. Hull scored a goal at the same time as the final siren, giving the guests a chance for a draw, but referee Brown didn't count the goal.^[17]

In the last game, Kulagin gave the opportunity to play to those who until then had been sitting in reserve. The game ended 3–2.^[21] The Soviet national team won three of the four Moscow games, tying the other.

In an interview with Soviet Sport, Boris Kulagin warned not to overestimate the importance of the Soviet victory: "This series showed that our best players surpass Canadian professionals in the sum of all the components that make up hockey. But let's think about one detail: we are stronger than the top 20-25 players, and if we take 50 or 100 hockey players on each side? I'm afraid that perhaps no one will give a definite answer. And I urge both coaches and players to roll up their sleeves so that in a few years any major league club team can safely go on the ice against any foreign team. And not just 'calmly go out', but win!"^[21]

September 17, 1974

Canada

3–3 (1-0, 1-3, 1-0)

Soviet Union

Colisée de Québec Attendance: 10958

September 19, 1974

Canada

4-1 (2-0, 1-1, 1-0)

Soviet Union

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto Attendance: 16485

September 21, 1974

Canada

5-8 (1-1, 1-3, 3-4)

Soviet Union

Winnipeg Arena Attendance: 11000

September 23, 1974

Canada

5-5 (5-2, 0-1, 0-2)

Soviet Union

Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver Attendance: 15772

October 1, 1974

Soviet Union

3-2 (1-0, 1-1, 1-1)

Canada

Luzhniki Palace of Sports, Moscow Attendance: 14200

October 3, 1974

Soviet Union

5-2 (2-1, 2-1, 1-0)

Canada

Luzhniki Palace of Sports, Moscow

October 5, 1974

Soviet Union

4-4 (2-1, 2-2, 0-1)

Canada

Luzhniki Palace of Sports, Moscow

October 6, 1974

Soviet Union

3-2 (0-1, 1-0, 2-1)

Canada

Luzhniki Palace of Sports, Moscow

September 27, 1974

Finland

3–8 (0-3, 1-1, 2-4)

Canada

Helsinki, Finland Attendance: 7000

September 29, 1974

Sweden

3–4 (0-3, 1-0, 2-1)

Canada

Gothenburg, Sweden Attendance: 12273

October 8, 1974

Czechoslovakia

3–1 (2-0, 0-1, 1-0)

Canada

Sportovni Hala, Prague Attendance: 14000

SOURCE : 1974 Canada-USSR Summit Series

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	TEAM
Bobby Hull	8	7	2	9	0	Winnipeg Jets
Ralph Backstrom	8	4	4	8	10	Chicago Cougars
Gordie Howe	7	3	4	7	2	Houston Aeros
André Lacroix	8	1	6	7	6	San Diego Mariners
Mark Howe	7	2	4	6	4	Houston Aeros
J.C. Tremblay	8	1	4	5	2	Quebec Nordiques
John McKenzie	7	1	3	4	12	Vancouver Blazers
Paul Henderson	7	2	1	3	0	Toronto Toros
Tom Webster	4	2	1	3	6	New England Whalers
Serge Bernier	8	1	2	3	4	Quebec Nordiques
Pat Stapleton	8	0	2	2	12	Chicago Cougars
Bruce MacGregor	5	1	1	2	5	Edmonton Oilers
Frank Mahovlich	6	1	1	2	6	Toronto Toros
Rejean Houle	7	1	1	2	2	Quebec Nordiques
Paul Shmyr	7	0	2	2	4	Cleveland Crusaders
Jim Harrison	3	0	2	2	6	Cleveland Crusaders
Mike Walton	6	0	1	1	2	Minnesota Fighting Saints
Al Hamilton	3	0	1	1	4	Edmonton Oilers
Marc Tardif	5	0	1	1	10	Michigan Stags
Rick Ley	7	0	1	1	14	New England Whalers
Marty Howe	4	0	0	0	12	Houston Aeros
Brad Selwood	4	0	0	0	2	New England Whalers
Rick Smith	7	0	0	0	12	Minnesota Fighting Saints

NOTE - Tom Webster served a 2 minute bench minor penalty

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	TEAM
Alexander Yakushev	7	6	2	8	2	HC Spartak Moscow
Valeri Kharlamov	8	2	6	8	4	CSKA Moscow
Vladimir Petrov	7	1	6	7	4	CSKA Moscow
Boris Mikhailov	7	4	2	6	0	CSKA Moscow
Vladimir Shadrin	8	0	5	5	11	HC Spartak Moscow
Alexander Maltsev	8	4	0	4	0	Dynamo Moscow
Valeri Vasiliev	8	3	1	4	7	Dynamo Moscow
Alexander Gusev	8	3	1	4	4	CSKA Moscow
Vyacheslav Anisin	8	2	2	4	0	Krylya Sovetov Moscow
Yuri Lebedev	8	1	3	4	6	Krylya Sovetov Moscow
Vladimir Vikulov	4	0	4	4	0	CSKA Moscow
Vladimir Lutchenko	8	1	2	3	4	CSKA Moscow
Viktor Shalimov	4	2	0	2	0	HC Spartak Moscow
Gennady Tsygankov	6	0	2	2	2	CSKA Moscow
Sergei Kapustin	5	0	1	1	6	Krylya Sovetov Moscow
Yuri Shatalov	4	1	0	1	0	Krylya Sovetov Moscow
Yuri Tyurin	4	1	0	1	4	Krylya Sovetov Moscow
Alexander Bodunov	7	1	0	1	4	Krylya Sovetov Moscow
Alexander Volchkov	2	0	0	0	0	CSKA Moscow
Yuri Fedorov	1	0	0	0	0	Torpedo Gorky
Konstantin Klimov	1	0	0	0	0	Krylya Sovetov Moscow
Vladimir Popov	1	0	0	0	2	CSKA Moscow
Sergei Kotov	5	0	0	0	0	Krylya Sovetov Moscow
Yuri Lyapkin	5	0	0	0	2	HC Spartak Moscow
Viktor Kuznetsov	8	0	0	0	4	Krylya Sovetov Moscow
Alexander Sapyolkin	1	0	0	0	0	SKA Leningrad
Alexander Filippov	1	0	0	0	0	Dynamo Moscow

Player	G	MIN	GA	GAA	SVS%	TEAM
Vladislav Tretiak	7	420	25	3.57	.877	CSKA Moscow
Gerry Cheevers	7	420	24	3.43	.876	Cleveland Crusaders
Don McLeod	8	58:56	8	8.14	.794	Houston Aeros
Alexander Sidelnikov	8	60	2	2.00	.917	Krylya Sovetov Moscow
Gilles Gratton	1	0	-	-	-	Toronto Toros
Vladimir Polupanov	1	0	-	-	-	Dynamo Moscow

Several Canadian players were selected but did not get to play: Barry Long, Pat Price, Wayne Dillon, Gavin Kirk, Dennis Sobchuk, Ron Chipperfield.
Several Soviet players were selected but did not get to play: Sergei Glukhov, Alexander Golikov, Sergei Korotkov, Alexander Kulikov, Vladimir Repnyov.

Like the 1972 Summit Series, CBC and CTV split the coverage, with CTV carrying games 1, 3, 6 and 7, while CBC aired games 2, 4, 5 and 8. CTV produced the telecasts. Johnny Esaw called the games for CTV and Don Chevrier called the action for CBC. Howie Meeker was the colour commentator for all games. Both Esaw and Chevrier conducted intermission and post-game interviews during the games which they did not do play-by-play. In the Soviet Union, coverage was by the Ministry of Telecommunications. The first 4 games featured the Gamerecorder, which was the first statistics computer used in professional sports. A print of the Gamerecorder is now held by the Hockey Hall of Fame.^[25]

In honour of the 45th anniversary of the Series, a gala evening was held at the Moscow Hockey Museum on October 7, 2019; the event was attended by Canadian chargé d’affaires ad interim Stéphane Jobin.^[26]

• 1972 Summit Series
• List of international ice hockey competitions featuring NHL players
• Canada Cup
• Super Series
• Aggie Kukulowicz, Canadian-born Russian language interpreter for the series

• The Summit in 1974 by Arthur R. Chidlovski, Copyright © 2002-2025
• 40th Anniversary of the 1974 Summit Series
• Hockey Hall of Fame 1974 WHA vs USSR
• Canada Versus the Soviet Union The heyday of the battle for world hockey supremacy (1972–1987)
• 1974 WHA Canada-Soviet Summit Series Celebrates 50th Anniversary