Summit ‘Road’ Series
This series of caches follows the new path of Summit Road from Saskatchewan Ave to Sturgeon Rd. These roads use to a lot more visitors back in the day when it was the path to both Optimist Park (an athletic park with baseball fields, soccer pitches and even a BMX race track) and a major landfill site.
With the new Centre Port highway, it has been relegated to a road to nowhere. While this road may have been forgotten though, the ‘72 Summit Series will be remembered in Canada for years to come!
Hope you Enjoy!
The Summit Series
Canada had spent years dominating International competitions until the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) ruled that professional players would not be allowed to play in it’s competitions. THis paved the way for the Russians to become an unstoppable force in international play as their players were not considered pros.
After some debate, a contingent of hockey people led by much maligned Alan Eagleson was able to make a famous series of best on best between the Canadians and Russians. Making this even an even more engaging event was that it was during the height of the Cold War creating a huge sense of nationalism on each side.
Eight games would be played, the first four in Canada and the last four in Russia.
During negotiations for the series, the Russians asked for international rule changes and referees which Team Canada agreed to believing they could win easily under any conditions.
Coached by Harry Sendin and led by numerous Hall of Famers such as Phil Esposito, Serge Savard, Bobby Clarke, Stan Makita and breakout star Paul Henderson, Team Canada quickly found out that nothing was going to be easy.
Game 8 - Moscow
Tied at 3-3-1, a series that Team Canada thought would be a walk in the park came down to one game. Work stopped and schools sat in their gyms. Until the 2010 Olympic Gold Medal game, it was the highest viewed sporting event in Canada. The stage was set.
The teams opened the first period trading bad penalties and bad goals The Canadians started to lose their cool with the refs as a call went against Parise who swung his stick at one of the refs who was asked to leave after Game 6 and was ejected. After tempers started the settle, the period ended tied at 2.
The second period was all Soviet, as they started quick scoring seconds in and not stopping getting two more. Canada scored only one but the highlight of the period for Canada was a game saving stop by Phil Esposito on the goal line of an empty net.
The Soviets completely changed their style in the third to protect their lead and the Canadians took advantage. Tension as starting to grow in the building with altercations between fans and more Soviet soldiers entering the arena. Esposito scored followed by Cournoyer tying the game up. Following the goal, the goal judge refused to put the goal lamp on almost inciting an international incident. Eagleson tried to get into the scoring table and was stopped by Soviet police and held down prompting the Canadians to come to his defense. Pete Mahovlich went over the boards swinging his stick to free Eagleson. Once free and crossing the ice to the bench, Eagleson famously shook his fist at the Soviet fans.
Tied with 34 seconds left to play and tempers boiling over, it happened.
The Goal
Paul Henderson’s famous game winning goal, his third straight, is still considered to one of the most famous goals in hockey history. It has commemorated in many tv and movie specials. It has also been featured on Canadian coins and the Tragically Hip wrote the song Fireworks about ‘the goal that everyone remembers’.
The Cache - Drivers Less Directed
The strangest and biggest game deservedly gets the strangest location on Summit Rd. Welcome to the intersection of Sturgeon, Sturgeon and Sturgeon. Apparently at some point, Summit road turns into Sturgeon Access Road, who knew!
Another kid friendly lock and lock that starts with a geocoin and some swag.
Hope you enjoyed the Series!