-Anatoli Tarasov, former Soviet National Team Coach

Previous to the start of the 1972 Summit Series, many writers offered thier predictions on the outcome of the Series.

"The NHL team will slaughter them in eight straight."

-Gerry Eskenazi, New York Times

"Canada will win handily: they might lose one in Moscow. Say 7-1."

-Milt Dunnel, Toronto Star

"We might lose one in Russia. 7-1 for Canada."

-Claude Larochelle, Le Soleil (Quebec City)

"Canada's two goals a game better. It looks like 8-0 Canada."

-Foster Hewitt

"8-0 Canada - and that's also the score of the first game."

-Fran Rosa, Boston Globe

"Canada 7 games to 1."

-Mark Mulvoy, Sports Illustrated

Vsevolod Bobrov was a Soviet Hockey Legend. He was considered the "Rocket Richard" of Soviet Hockey. He was the coach behind the Soviet bench during the '72 series and recalled this moment:

"Just before our team took the ice in our first game in Montreal, I told our players a story. Our first metting with the Canadians was at the world championships in 1954. Just one day before the game, a newspaper published a cartoon which showed me sitting at a desk like a pupil with this huge Canadian standing at the blackboard explaining the game of hockey to me. That picture made me very angry. The next day, we won 7-2. I told our players not to be afraid, that we could win. And when we won, i felt just the way i did in 1954."

-Vsevolod Bobrov

Alexander Yakushev exploded in the Summit Series scoring 11 points (7-4-11) in the eight games that were played. This Soviet Sports writer described it best:

"Before the series one Soviet hockey observer returned from Canada with the overwhelming impression that Peter Mahavolich looked like Alexander Yakushev. This other impression was that the Canadian was a much better player. Now we know who is better."

-Dmitri Ryzhkov, Sovietsky Sport

Before the ceremonial drop of the puck for the first game of the series in Monreal, the tension was bulding. The two players who were involved in the face-off were Phil Esposito and Vladimir Vikulov. This is what they had to say about it:

"It was only a ceremonial faceoff, but i had to win that draw. I mean I had to win that draw! this guy didn't even try, and it really aggravated me. Try, you know. Try! I remember I drew the puck back and put up my hands like, wow, we won the first face off!"

-Phil Esposito

"I remember the openning faceoff. I knew this faceoff was symbolic. I don't know why, but i really wanted to win it. At the last second, I decided not to fight for the puck. I thought it would look strange."

-Vladimir Vikulov

Valeri Kharlamov is single-handedly, the greatest hockey player ever to put on skates. Period. He continued to display the same brilliant performance that had become his trademark in the '72 Series. Kharlamov led the Soviets in scoring in '74.

"His talents were God-given. He could do practically everything; a smart play, a tricky pass, a precise shot. And everything he did looked so easy, so elegant. His excecution of hockey was aesthetic. He amazed millions. Kharlamov and his unique talent belong to the world he was a part of; all who loved hockey."

 

-Vladislav Tretiak, 1992

"Kharlamov was the greatest individual hockey player i had ever played against in my entire career."

-Bobby Hull

And finally the last quote of this section, by Valeri Kharlamov on Bobby Clarke.

"I am convinced that Bobby Clarke was given the job of taking me out of the game. Sometimes, I thought it was his only goal. I looked into his angry eyes, saw his stick which he wielded like a sword, and didn't understand what he was doing. It had nothing to do with hockey."

-Valeri Kharlamov