PrimumHockeyist
Registered User
- Apr 7, 2018
- 691
- 425
When I think of Valeri Kharlamov, I sometimes wonder what kind of posthumous effect he had on the conclusion of the 1981 Canada Cup which came 17 days after he tragically died in a car accident.
Of course, since the Cold War Wall was still standing strong in 1981, people from this side of the world can only speculate what the chatter in Russia was like following the Summit Series. I would think that VK would have been seen at home as a kind of living martyr for what happened with Clarke in 72, with nine long years for that kind of Russia v Canada association to settle in.
VK's stats seem to have held up in the few previous years , so maybe he was still good enough to play with the national team at the age of 33. But what I wonder if that might be the secondary consideration: How much did his sudden death affect the Soviet team? How did this affect the Soviet fans going into CC81? Did his passing give the Soviet players that something special to play for? Did the old, "Let's do it for VK!" elevate the Soviets game?
I would think that it might have, and may even think that was likely given the 8-1 final victory of Canada. But then again, the Canadians beat the Soviets 7-3 four days earlier, and almost won 7-2 but for a late power play goal. So, maybe my speculation is meaningless.
What isn't subject to speculation is sad fact that VK went so soon. A damn shame really. I read somewhere recently that Yakushev said that he was a likeable personality, aside from his world-class play. Had he not passed, I think he may have become rather like Tretiak, another player that Canadian hockey fans held in very high esteem.
Of course, since the Cold War Wall was still standing strong in 1981, people from this side of the world can only speculate what the chatter in Russia was like following the Summit Series. I would think that VK would have been seen at home as a kind of living martyr for what happened with Clarke in 72, with nine long years for that kind of Russia v Canada association to settle in.
VK's stats seem to have held up in the few previous years , so maybe he was still good enough to play with the national team at the age of 33. But what I wonder if that might be the secondary consideration: How much did his sudden death affect the Soviet team? How did this affect the Soviet fans going into CC81? Did his passing give the Soviet players that something special to play for? Did the old, "Let's do it for VK!" elevate the Soviets game?
I would think that it might have, and may even think that was likely given the 8-1 final victory of Canada. But then again, the Canadians beat the Soviets 7-3 four days earlier, and almost won 7-2 but for a late power play goal. So, maybe my speculation is meaningless.
What isn't subject to speculation is sad fact that VK went so soon. A damn shame really. I read somewhere recently that Yakushev said that he was a likeable personality, aside from his world-class play. Had he not passed, I think he may have become rather like Tretiak, another player that Canadian hockey fans held in very high esteem.
