Canada’s ’72 Summit Series team honoured with 2025 Keith Magnuson ‘Man Of The Year’ Award
Posted February 14, 2025 3:43 pm.
Members of Team Canada’s 1972 Summit Series team were honoured in Montreal on Friday.
The National Hockey League Alumni Association (NHLAA) presented the team with the 2025 Keith Magnuson “Man Of The Year” Award – amid celebrations surrounding the 4 Nations Face-Off.
“For many Canadians, the 1972 Summit Series remains one of the most iconic moments in our nation’s history. The team’s resilience, unity, and patriotism during their dramatic victory over the Soviet Union have solidified their place as national heroes in the hearts of Canadians from coast to coast to coast,” said Glenn Healy, president and executive director of the NHLAA in a statement.
“For countless hockey fans, they have vivid memories of watching the pivotal game eight 8 in school gymnasiums and amongst family and friends huddled around living room televisions. We are immensely proud of the NHL Alumni members who played a key role in this landmark moment for Canadian history.”
Back in 1972, Canada and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) took part in an eight-game series, with each country hosting four games.
After trailing the series 1-3-1, Paul Henderson etched his name in hockey lore, scoring the game-winning goal in games six, seven, and eight — the final of them being known to this day as ‘The Goal’ when he scored with 34 seconds left.
Members of the ’72 summit series would go on to claim a combined 58 Stanley Cups, 143 All-Star Game appearances, nine Art Ross Trophies, eight Georges Vezina Trophies, seven Hart Memorial Trophies, five Lady Byng Trophies, five Bill Masterton Trophies, four Calder Memorial Trophies, four Ted Lindsay Trophies, three Conn Smythe Trophies, one Frank J. Selke Trophy and two Jack Adams Awards.
Additionally, 13 members were individually inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, while the entire team would later be inducted in 2005. And, 11 were listed within the NHL’s 100 Greatest Players.
The Keith Magnuson “Man Of The Year” Award was created by the NHLAA to honour NHL Alumni who have personified the intangibles of perseverance, commitment, and teamwork developed through the game into a successful post-career transition.
Members of the ’72 Summit Series team who were in attendance on Friday included, Don Awrey, Red Berenson, Yvan Cournoyer, Ken Dryden, Paul Henderson, Guy Lapointe, Frank Mahovlich, Brad Park, Mickey Redmond, Serge Savard, and Rod Seiling.
