In the midst of pure spectacle, Paul Henderson was the most spectacular
No one could have ever imagined what September 1972 had in store for Paul Henderson.
Seven times during his NHL career did Paul Henderson score at least 20 goals, a production that peaked in 1971-72 with Toronto when he scored 38 times. It was this last that likely earned him an invitation that fall to training camp for Team Canada right in his home rink, Maple Leaf Gardens, but no one could imagine what was going to unfold in that historic September 1972 series.
The 1972 Summit Series was organized as a result of Canada's frustration at not being allowed to ice a team of professional players at the World Championships and Olympic Games, where the Soviets showed up with only their very best. And so, September 1972 was arranged to settle all bragging rights, best on best regardless of amateur status. Four games in Canada - Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg, Vancouver - followed by four in Moscow.
In the first five games of that series, Paul was neither the best nor the worst player on the team. He contributed, didn't cause any crucial goals against, and played hard. But after five games, the Soviets had the series in hand with a record of 3-1-1.
Canada would have to win all three games remaining, all in Moscow, if it were to win the series and maintain its proud place atop the ice hockey world.
In Game 6, Paul scored the game-winning goal.
In Game 7, he split the Soviet defencemen, and while falling to the ice flipped the puck past a stunned Soviet goalie Vladislav Tretiak to win that game with the series' most spectacular goal.
With less than a minute to go in Game 8, tied at 5-5, Paul screamed at Pete Mahovlich to come off the ice, for no logical reason. It was a rare order at best, but Mahovlich complied and Paul jumped on and skated right to Tretiak's crease. The puck landed on his stick after Phil Esposito and Yvan Cournoyer had done some forechecking, and on the second shot Paul beat Tretiak to give Canada a 6-5 win at 19:26, 34 seconds from hockey death. Fellow Hall of Famer Foster Hewitt made the call—"Henderson has scored for Canada!"—and in that moment the psyche of a country changed forever, as did the life of Paul Henderson.
I had to get out on the ice. Never did it before, and I never did it again. I actually stood up and I started yelling at Peter Mahovlich who was a left winger. Thank goodness Peter thought it was [Coach Harry] Sinden yelling at him. He jumped over, he came off and I jumped over the boards and about ten seconds later scored what’s been known as the goal of the century.
Paul Henderson, interview with Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame
It was one of the most important goals in ice hockey history, and from that day to this and forever it made Paul a hero of untold proportion. He returned to the NHL and had two decent seasons with the Leafs before moving on to the WHA. Although his NHL totals are excellent, indeed - 707 games, 236 goals - it was his play in that month of September '72 that made him the player history now records as being so great.
Paul Henderson is one of only ten Hall of Famers to be inducted to Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame twice. He was first awarded the Order of Sport and inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1995 as an individual. He was again inducted in 2005 as a member of Canada’s legendary 1972 Summit Series team.