Paul Henderson, the pride of Canadian Hockey
If you ask any Canadian sports fan about the 1972 Canada-Russia hockey series which saw Canada overpower the Soviet Union, the name Paul Henderson springs straight to mind.
It was Moscow, September 28, 1972, when the final game of the first hockey series between Canada’s best NHL players and the Soviet Union took place. After fighting against the odds at 1-3 with one game tied, Canada won the next two consecutive games - six and seven - to level the series. Across the nation, in offices, work places and classrooms, millions of Canadians gathered around radios and television sets to gather the smallest bit of information for the eighth and concluding game of the series. The Canadians overcame a two-goal deficit to tie the score at 5-5 in the third period. In the dying seconds of the match – when everybody was expecting the series to end in a stale tie – Paul Henderson from the Toronto Maple Leafs called one of his teammates off the hockey rink and in came the power house player. With play running into the dying seconds, Henderson scored a goal.
This is a brief description from a radio announcer’s perspective:
“Here is a shot. Henderson made a wild attempt. Here is an additional shot right by and scores! Henderson has made it for Canada! Henderson, right opposite to the net and the team and the fans are going wild!”
No other moment in sports has caused such an outburst of Canadian patriotism than the goal by Henderson. Even today, people in Canada still remember the very day and place when Paul Henderson serrated the winning marker with the goal of the century.
Paul Henderson was born on 28th January, 1943 in Kincardine, Ontario who played as a left winger for the Canadian hockey team. He grew up in the city of Ontario and is famous for scoring the winning goal against the Soviet Union in game eight of the 1972 Summit Series.
Henderson played 13 seasons in the NHL for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings and the Atlanta Flames.
The winger from Ontario entered the national hockey league in 1961. He started his career with the Detroit Red Wings in 1962 and was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs by Detroit during the 1967/68 season.
He made it to the NHL after which his performances powered him through the selection procedure and Henderson made it to the national team. Against the Soviet’s in the 1972 Summit Series, he showed his legendry performance by scoring the winning goal for the Canadians in the concluding seconds of the game.
In 1974, he left the National Hockey League and joined the rival World Hockey Association. He played for the Toronto Toros for two consecutive seasons but later joined the Birmingham Bulls. He rejoined the NHL in the 1979/80 season, playing for the Atlanta Flames.
In the following season in 1981, Henderson went back to the Central Hockey League’s Birmingham Bulls and retired in the same year.
He wrote two books after his retirement which include “The Shooting for Glory” and “Fans Go Wild”, as he became an inspirational speaker amongst the Canadian community. Presently, Henderson works in different ministries associated with Campus Crusade for Christ.
Henderson has not been included into the Hockey Hall of Fame, and his omission has led to several debates amongst the general public. The winning goal scored in the last moments of the game made him one of the most well known names in hockey. On the contrary, many hockey fans feel that it is not fair to acknowledge a player's entire career because of one highlight.
Despite the glory, Paul Henderson is battling against cancer. He was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in November last year.
A practicing Christian, Henderson has repeatedly spoken about getting power from his faith and connection with God. Despite grappling against the illness, Henderson still has the same peace of mind.
“I still sleep at night. I am not worried about dying. I know I am going to die someday. I am 67, and man, I can’t think of anybody more fortunate than I am,” said the legend.
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