Paul Henderson, Yvan Cournoyer and Phil Esposito of Team Canada celebrate after the series-winning goal during Game 8 of the Summit Series.Melchior DiGiacomo/Getty Images
For a month in 1972, Canada went to war. It started as a friendly cultural exchange intended to signal a thawing of East-West relations and firmly establish Canada as the world's undisputed hockey nation. Instead, the eight-game series exploded into Cold War proxy battle and, for a while, made every hockey-loving Canadian question if we really were the best.
Forty years later, the series still holds pride of place in the hearts of Canadians beside Vimy Ridge and the War of 1812. Even today, the victors of the 1972 Summit Series are remembered as national heroes. Here is their story.
Get an in-depth look at the faces behind the series, including video and audio interviews, through our exclusive interactive feature.
Patrick White