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'God is Canadian'

Broadcast Date: Sept. 28, 1972

The final hockey game takes place in Moscow so most Canadians catch it on television. Some watch at local pubs. Children listen with squeals in school gymnasiums. Foster Hewitt's play-by-play echoes from a ballet studio's TV set as girls practice at the bar.
The series is in the eighth game and we're down to the wire. Team Canada matches the Soviet Union goal for goal in the first period but they fall to a 5-3 deficit by the second. Then, Phil Esposito scores for Canada! Yvan Cournoyer follows up with another goal.

But will it count? The referees meet and the goal is good. It's a tie game, 5-5 at 12:56 in the third. In the final minutes, Canadian fans nervously puff cigarettes and swill beer. With 34 seconds remaining, Canada crowds the Soviet net and Paul Henderson skates in. Hewitt roars, "Henderson has scored for Canada!" Team Canada captures the series. On this day, according to one fan "God is Canadian."

'God is Canadian'

 • When polled, Canadians say the Henderson goal is one of the country's greatest historical moments.

• The final score of game 8 in Moscow was Canada 6 Soviet Union 5. It drew 15,000 spectators.

• Team Canada's Pat Stapleton said he used to have Henderson's game-winning puck but passed it on to teammate Bill White. White, however, says Stapleton still has it.

• Henderson later became a marriage counsellor, hosting weekend spousal seminars.

'God is Canadian'

Medium: Television

Program: Weekend

Broadcast Date: Sept. 28, 1972

Guest(s): Dave Barrett, Dennis Burton, Morley Callaghan, Gerry Gladstone, Bruce Kidd, John Munro

Host: Jim Eayrs, Charlotte Gobeil

Duration: 8:47

This clip was edited for copyright reasons.

Last updated:
Sept. 1, 2009