1979 Challenge Cup Opening Ceremonies

Unofficially, it's called The Embarrassment. There aren't any books about it. No one issued any cards to commemorate it. In fact, you can barely find any record of it. It was the best of three 1979 Challenge Cup series between a team of NHL All-Stars and the Soviet National team. The international showdown preempted the NHL's regularly scheduled 1978-79 All-Star Game. The Challenge Cup was billed rightfully as the ultimate showdown. The NHL drew on its finest talent - whether Americans, Canadians or Swedes - for the unprecedented confrontation against hockey's version of the Big Red Machine. The league iced an incredible array of talent - Mike Bossy, Guy Lafleur, Gilbert Perreault, Bryan Trottier, Larry Robinson, Bobby Clarke, Bob Gainey, Denis Potvin, Darryl Sittler, and Serge Savard, to mention a few. Who could've imagined this Hall of Fame collection of talent would come up empty? The Soviets meanwhile were unknown to most hockey fans. Still the line-up included Hall f Fame goaltender Vladislav Tretiak, right-winger Boris Mikhailov, Valery Kharlamov, and Vladimir Petrov. Future NHLers, Sergei Makarov and defenseman Vyacheslav Fetisov also manned the Soviet squad. Makarov contributed a goal and two assisted in the three games, while an injury forced Fetisov to sit out. Sure, the Soviets were talented, but no one expected the NHL to lose. Instead of celebrating a decisive victory and winning global bragging rights, the NHL'ers wrung their hands as they watched the ...

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