Canada Russia '72

Gabrielle Fournier:
What Bobby Clarke did tonight was vicious.

John Ferguson:
Ms. Fournier, hockey's a rough game. It gets tough out there. I don't care how we win, just as long as we win.

Harry Sinden:
The only thing that matters now is winning. We win this game... we win the series. We vindicate ourselves - and everything we stand for.

[long pause]

Peter Mahovlich:
Let's do it boys.

Hewitt, Foster:
Here's a shot - Henderson made a wild stab for it and fell... Here's another shot. Right in front. They Score! Henderson has scored for Canada!

[discussing the name of the team]

John Ferguson:
What about "Canada Stars"? "Canada Pro Stars"?

Alan Eagleson:
"Canada Selects"? "Canada's Team"?

Harry Sinden:
"Team Canada"?

John Ferguson:
"Team Canada"? I like it.

Alan Eagleson:
Yeah, I like it too.

Wayne Cashman:
It's the Russians. How hard can this be?

Vic Hadfield:
This is bullshit. Are you blaming us for last night? Is that why we're not playing?

Harry Sinden:
I'm not blaming anyone. Didn't you here what I said in the dressing room?

Rod Gilbert:
No, we heard what you - Look, it just seems that there's an awful lot of "Rangers" sitting.

Harry Sinden:
Don't start with that crap.

Vic Hadfield:
Oh, one bad game, and you bench the best line in the NHL. Come on!

Harry Sinden:
You guys were on the ice for three goals against last night.

Vic Hadfield:
So what? The whole team stunk up the joint!

Harry Sinden:
I can't bench the whole team, Vic.

Rod Gilbert:
So, so we're not playing tomorrow night. Is that it?

[Harry looks at Gilbert and ignores him]

Rod Gilbert:
[in disgust] Oh, man.

[Gilbert leaves]

Vic Hadfield:
Ah, Jesus Christ, Harry! You know, this is humiliating! It's my hometown!

Harry Sinden:
I know where we are, Vic.

Ken Dryden:
[speaking into tape recorder] All this extremism, all this public flogging. It's like a... spasm of self-loathing. It's as if the fragile Canadian ego can't accept the fact that... we might not be the only people in the world who are any good at hockey.

[In the dressing room before Game 1 of the series]

Vsevolod Bobrov:
I've kept this since 1954.

[Bobrov holds up a picture in front of his players]

Vsevolod Bobrov:
Our first year at the World Hockey Championships. It shows me, the captain, sitting at a desk like a school boy, while a Canadian lectures me on hockey. We beat them 7-2. 7-2. Do not be afraid. They are arrogant. They think they can intimidate you. Do not let them.

[watching the Soviets practice]

Peter Mahovlich:
Hey, look guys. It's a game of Commie in the middle!

Alan Eagleson:
[to Phil Esposito] Look, you played under Hull's shadow in Chicago and Bobby's in Boston. Alright? Okay? This is your big chance kid, to show everybody, that you're just not another second banana.

John Ferguson:
Everytime they go in that corner, you make 'em look bad. Make them wish they never got off that goddamn boat.

Wayne Cashman:
Airplane... not a boat.

Ken Dryden:
I played against the Russians as an amateur. We uh, lost 9-3. I was in net for all 9 goals. By the end of it, it got so bad I just wanted to run off the ice and hide, you know?

Harry Sinden:
Yeah. Well, that's the thing about hockey. You can run but you bang into the boards.

Phil Esposito:
[referring to New York Rangers players] All you need to know about those guys is spell Park's name backwards.

Wayne Cashman:
Brad... Krap.

John Ferguson:
And guys, no fighting out there. If you take one, suck it up. Fighting will get you kicked out under these rules.

Gary Bergman:
Okay, Mr. Lady Byng.

[last lines]

John Ferguson:
You wanna join them, Harry?

Harry Sinden:
I think I need a couple of seconds to take this all in.

Alan Eagleson:
Uh, listen. I just got a call from the Russians. There's some kind of mix up with the hotel rooms in Moscow. Something about being overbooked or something. So basically what it means is that there's uh, there's no rooms for your wives. Alright?

Phil Esposito:
Ah, tell them to go screw themselves, Al! Come on!

Alan Eagleson:
You know what, Phil? You know how much I'd love to tell those Commie bastards to go screw themselves, right?

Phil Esposito:
Right.

Alan Eagleson:
Okay. But it's not gonna do any good this time, okay? There are no rooms. You got it? There are no rooms.

Phil Esposito:
That's horseshit, Al.

Vic Hadfield:
That's stupid, Al.

Alan Eagleson:
For Christ's sake, we've got a job to do here! And the only way to accomplish that job is to stop all this goddamn whining, and bitching, and complaining and all this... crap! We are playing for our country here. We are on a leaky rowboat, and unless we all start rowing together...

Phil Esposito:
[interupting] You know Al from day 1...

[Phil stands up]

Alan Eagleson:
...we are gonna go down.

Phil Esposito:
From day 1, we've done everything that's been asked of us!

Alan Eagleson:
We are gonna go DOWN!

Phil Esposito:
Everything! And more! And what have we got in return, huh? Ridicule, and contempt. People coming up to us, saying they're ashamed of us. Ashamed to be Canadians because of us? Not one of these guys has anything to apologize for. Jesus! And as far as I'm concerned, my wife doesn't go to Russia, neither do I.

Phil Esposito:
To the people across Canada, we tried, we gave it our best, but for the people who booed us, I'm really uh - we're disheartened and we're disillusioned, and we're disappointed at some of our people. I mean, we cannot believe the bad press we've been getting, the booing in our own buildings. If the Russians boo their players, the fans... Russians boo their players, and I'm not saying all of them, then I'll come back and I'll apologize to each one of the Canadians, but I don't think they will. I'm, really, really disappointed. I mean, I cannot believe it. Some of our guys are really, really down in the dumps, we know, we're trying like hell. I mean, we're doing the best we can, and they got a good team, and let's face facts. But it doesn't mean that we're not giving it our 150%, because we certainly are. Everyone one of us, 35 guys. We came because we love Canada. And even though we play in the United States, and we earn money in the United States, Canada is still our home, and that's the only reason we come.

Gabrielle Fournier:
Mr. Sinden.

Harry Sinden:
Ms. Fournier. How are you enjoying Sweden so far?

Gabrielle Fournier:
Oh, probably as much as you are.

Harry Sinden:
A 4-4 tie must please you. Everyone gets to go home happy, don't you think?

Gabrielle Fournier:
You don't want to know what I think.

Harry Sinden:
Try me.

Gabrielle Fournier:
I think your players acted like criminals tonight. Do you know what they're calling us? "Team Ugly."

Harry Sinden:
Oh.

Gabrielle Fournier:
And that's just their own people. Can you imagine what the rest of the world is saying?

Harry Sinden:
You know Ms. Fournier, the average Canadian, they might never forgive us if we lose this series. But the rest of you, the intellectuals, you'll never forgive us if we win, will you?

Harry Sinden:
The only way to deal with incompetent referees is to embarres them. Hold them up to ridicule so the whole world can see how bad they truly are.

Game Six Journalist:
You know, Esposito cut Ragulin pretty high with the high stick. Wouldn't that be a major even in the NHL?

Harry Sinden:
Since when is there a penalty for bleeding?

Gary Bergman:
[after a Swede smashes a window on the team's bus] Phil, your wife in town?

[Eagleson notices the camera crew]

Alan Eagleson:
The camera crew with us or them?

Gabrielle Fournier:
Us. The Federal government wants a record of this cultural exchange.

Alan Eagleson:
Alright. Okay. Didn't realize Trudeau was such a hockey fan.

Alan Eagleson:
[to camera] Election coming?

Harry Sinden:
[angrily] Kompalla! Get over here! What the hell kind of a call was that? That wasn't a penalty and you know it!

[Dryden comes over to the bench]

Ken Dryden:
Harry, Harry, you gotta calm down.

Harry Sinden:
You get back in the net! Stop the puck for a change!

Gabrielle Fournier:
[In French] You must leave the country immediately. That was the deal made to free you.

Canadian Fan with Horn:
[In French] They took my clothes and shaved my head. They hung me by my ankes and tatooed my heels. They left me naked in my cell.

Gabrielle Fournier:
I'm sorry.

Canadian Fan with Horn:
Bastards.

Harry Sinden:
What's going on?

Vic Hadfield:
Well, what difference does it make? I'm not even on a line.

Harry Sinden:
Hey, the players decide who plays.

Vic Hadfield:
Well, what do you mean? What the players... made a vote?

Harry Sinden:
No. Every guy here determines how much ice time he gets by how hard he plays. How hard he practices.

Vic Hadfield:
Okay. Well if I'm not good enough then why the hell d'you bring me here?

Harry Sinden:
Same reason I brought everybody else, Vic.

Vic Hadfield:
[angrily] Then play me!

Harry Sinden:
You get out there, you prove to your teammates you belong.

Vic Hadfield:
I have nothing to prove to anyone.

Harry Sinden:
Then get off the goddamn bench and get out of that gear. You make us look foolish in front of the Russians.

[as Gilbert is walking off the ice]

Yvan Cournoyer:
Rod!

[Gilbert stops]

Yvan Cournoyer:
[In French; subtitles] You okay?

Rod Gilbert:
[In French; subtitles] What's up?

Yvan Cournoyer:
[In French; subtitles] Your buddy Hadfield wants to leave?

Rod Gilbert:
[In French; subtitles] Can you blame him?

Yvan Cournoyer:
[In French; subtitles] Do you?

Rod Gilbert:
[In French; subtitles] I know he feels like an outsider on his own team.

[Gilbert stops talking as a Canadian player walks by]

Rod Gilbert:
[In French; subtitles] As a French Canadian, you know what I'm talking about.

Yvan Cournoyer:
[In French; subtitles] I don't feel that here.

Rod Gilbert:
[In French; subtitles] But you're playing.

Yvan Cournoyer:
[In French; subtitles] So are you.

Rod Gilbert:
[In French; subtitles] We'll see.

[Gilbert walks away]

Yvan Cournoyer:
Hey!

[Gilbert stops and turns around]

Yvan Cournoyer:
[In French; subtitles] If you want to find out, you have to stay.

Phil Esposito:
Hey! These Swedes are pissed off, eh? Let's get goin'!

Alan Eagleson:
We can't. Somebody called in a bomb threat at our hotel.

John Ferguson:
Probably the Ambassador.

Harry Sinden:
The other day, Al was talking about us being in a leaky rowboat. Today, three of us jumped ship. After the game in Montreal, I came in here. I gave us all a speech about how we're in this together. Win as a team, lose as a team. And right now, we're losing. Man, that scares alot of people. But it doesn't scare me, because I believe we're gonna win this thing. And I'm gonna fight with every ounce of my being to see that we do. I expect no less from each one of you guys. But if you're not up to it, if you're frozen up at the fear of losing, go home! Go home now! At least if we lose, you'll avoid the shame your teammates will feel. But if we win... and we in. Man, you will have missed the victory of a lifetime.

Frank Mahovlich:
We're not playing for the goddamn politicans here, alright? We're not playing for the goddamn politicans. We're playing the Red Army, we're playing for our way of life.

Harry Sinden:
Did you talk to Vic?

Alan Eagleson:
Yeah. He's going home, Harry.

Harry Sinden:
Then you get him on the first plane out of here.

[brief pause]

Alan Eagleson:
There are others too, you know.

Harry Sinden:
Who?

Alan Eagleson:
Richard Martin, Jocelyn Guevremont for sure, maybe more.

Harry Sinden:
Who?

Alan Eagleson:
I don't know.

Harry Sinden:
Any Bruins players?

Alan Eagleson:
I don't know. None that I know of.

Harry Sinden:
I don't care. Whoever the hell they are, you get them on a plane, you get 'em out of here.

Alan Eagleson:
You - you wanna maybe talk to them first?

Harry Sinden:
Hey, I didn't beg them to join the team, I'm sure as hell not begging them to stay!

Gary Bergman:
You're lucky, Paulie. You know that?

Paul Henderson:
Why's that?

Gary Bergman:
'Cause no matter what happens, people are gonna remember you for what you did in this series.

Paul Henderson:
Yeah?

Gary Bergman:
Oh yeah. I mean that last goal, come on. Your father would've liked that one.

Paul Henderson:
Yeah. Yeah, he would of been proud. I mean, they're gonna remember you too, Bergie.

Gary Bergman:
[Bergman sighs] You think?

Paul Henderson:
Hell yeah.

Gary Bergman:
That'd be good.

Alan Eagleson:
[reading the proposed agreement for the series] Let's see. "Proposed agreement: Canada-Soviet Hockey Series. April 1972." That's pretty good. The rest of this is horseshit.

Harry Sinden:
[at press confrence] Look, you know what the real shame of all this is? The world is witnessing the greatest hockey series ever played, and we're here talking about two incompetent referees. Why aren't we talking about the great game Kenny Dryden had? Or the inspirational leadership of Phil Esposito? Or Serge Savard, playing on a broken ankle. Or guys like Bergman, Henderson, Clarke, Parise. Playing their hearts out. Guys no one thought even belonged on the team! Here we are, talking about two idiot referees. Christ, that's a shame!

Phil Esposito:
Whoever scouted these guys should be killed.

Phil Esposito:
I don't know, boys. We're in a foreign land here...

Yvan Cournoyer:
Yeah, where we're hated.

Phil Esposito:
...thousands of miles from home...

Gary Bergman:
Where we're hated even more.

Phil Esposito:
...losing the biggest hockey series in the history of the world. And just when we thought it couldn't get any worse, we've been deserted. We're on our own, boys. Us against the world. So I say here's to us, and screw the rest of them. Screw the Sweedes, and screw the Russians, and screw the people back home who hate us. Screw the media, screw the governemnt, screw the referees, Cash.

Gary Bergman:
Oh yeah.

Phil Esposito:
Especially screw the referees! Did I leave anyone out?

[Cashman, who has a swollen tongue, attempts to speak]

Gary Bergman:
What's that, Cash?

[Bergman leans up to Cashman to hear]

Gary Bergman:
Screw the nurses.

[Everyone laughs]

Phil Esposito:
Screw the nurses, boys!

[on the radio]

Caller:
I'll tell ya, Stu. We're being taken.

Stuart Gibbons:
What do you mean "taken"?

Caller:
Well, they picked September, before the NHL season begins, 'cause they know our guys will be out of shape. They conned us into playing under international rules with amateur refs. I mean this is like a military operation to these guys. The players have been living in Montreal for weeks just to avoid jet lag. Team Canada is treating this like summer vacation. We're throwing a hundred years of hockey heritage down the drain. I'm tellin' ya, Stu. We'll let the Soviets take us for a ride here.

Phil Esposito:
You know what? These guys are such hypocrites, you know? Thay all want the same things we do: Nice car, big house. But they just won't admit it becasue they're commies.

Wayne Cashman:
Yeah, you tell 'em, Espo.

[Sinden drinks a shot of scotch before Game 2]

John Ferguson:
Maybe you should give vodka a try, Harry.

Wayne Cashman:
[to a Sweede] I've always wondered... where were you guys during World War 2 anyway?

Vsevolod Gresko:
Gentlemen. In the spirit of the Friendship Games, I agree to your proposal. Badder and Kompalla are out, they will officiate no more games. On four conditions. 1: Your coaches and players have to be more respectful to our officials. We hold officials in very high esteem. 2: Mr. Gary Bergman must desist from making rude comments and rude gestures to Coach Bobrov. 3: Canadian fans have to be more respectful for Soviet police. 4: And lastly four. Canadian players have to be more respectful to their opponents.

Harry Sinden:
1: None of this would of happened if you hadn't brought in those two idiot referees. 2: Your players are just as guilty as Gary Bergman for taunting the coaches. 3: Don't blame our fans. We're not used to having armed soldiers at our hockey games. And last, but not least. I am sick and tired of our players taking a bad wrap. You guys are a hell of alot dirtier!

Alan Eagleson:
Harry...

Harry Sinden:
Stay out of it, Al!

Harry Sinden:
[to Gresko] You want respect? You tell Bobrov to cut his chickenshit act.

Wayne Cashman:
Espo, without me buddy you got no one to go into the corners. You want me to sit on the bench with ya? Hold your hand?

Phil Esposito:
Why don't you hold my salami, ass wipe!

Harry Sinden:
I could use a beer. Too bad you bastards stole 'em all from us!

Reporter:
What did you say to your team when you were down 2-0?

[Bobrov responds in Russian]

Russian Translator:
Coach Bobrov told the team that he's going to send them to Siberia.