Which was the greater hockey story, the 1972 Summit Series or the 1980 Olympics’ “Miracle on Ice”?

Do we really need to choose?  Is it possible to say that both of these great hockey tales hold the same kind of sway over Canadians and Americans, respectively, though in two completely different contexts?

The eight games played between Canada and the U.S.S.R. in 1972 – forever known as the Summit Series - ended up being one of the greatest international hockey competitions ever contested, and certainly Canada’s definitive sporting event.  Games 6, 7 & 8 in Moscow were among the most exciting hockey games that I have ever seen!  Even 40 years later you can still feel the tension just pulling out the DVDs and watching these legendary Canadian and Russian competitors getting crushed up against the wire fence (!) atop the boards surrounding the ice.

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“Herb Brooks was smart like a fox […]”, said the more than friendly Ken Morrow.

I got a feeling while interviewing the legendary Ken Morrow that Walt Disney Pictures didn’t exaggerate in 2004 when they reproduced the famous speech from coach Brooks before the February 22nd game. The moment must have been magic. Just unrealistic.

I say that because, even though Team USA realized a miracle on the ice that day, Ken Morrow seems to be certain that their coach was really the one that elevated them to a level where the Russians couldn’t reach them. High as a bird if I may say. As he said himself, “It was a feeling of disbelieve” while talking about the Russian game.

Pretty easy to understand when you think that the Russian team was considered the best team in the world at that time. It was also composed of legends that the American...