He said one of the reasons for the success of Russian hockey teams is that their hockey enthusiasts were willing to approach the game scientifically. “That is why some reporters in the West are still trying to disbelieve what our coaches and players say whenever they come to Canada. We come to play hockey and to learn.” He said the Russian hockey experts were always alert to learn tactics and skills “in this country where this excellent game was born.”
“Our officials never counted the number of steaks your players consumed while staying in our country. And, of course, I don’t know of any Soviet player who would come out on ice to meet the evils of capitalism while chasing the puck.”
Palladin said he has seen the good hockey has done to international relations. He interviewed Bobby Hull on the eve of his visit to Russia in December. At that time the Golden Jet told him he sincerely believed in the ability of hockey to bring “your and my people at least a little bit closer to understand how other people live and think.”
“Of course I’m not willing to say that all those positive changes in international climate of which we both are witnesses now were only possible through hockey,” Palladin said. He added that he thought the people of North America, with a few exceptions, “are becoming more used to and more receptive to the idea that hockey is only a game, another sport, where defeat should not be equal to a national disaster. We’re optimistically looking to the future. By that I mean the day will come when people everywhere will understand that, like in politics, there can be no room for disrespect or hatred in hockey. In fact, there’s no greater desire on our behalf than seeing dozens of ambassadors of good will as is the case with your legendary player Bobby Hull.”
Palladin ended his formal presentation by saying, ”to use an expression which was popular some time ago, let’s make hockey not war on ice.”
Два года спустя в Нью-Йорке состоялось повторное выяснение отношений между сборной СССР и «всеми звездами» НХЛ (впервые они сошлись на льду в легендарной Суперсерии-72). Это соревнование вызвало большой интерес в нашей стране, и сразу три центральных издания – «Комсомольская правда», «Неделя» (воскресное приложение к газете «Известия») и «Советский спорт» – заказали мне анонсирующие статьи.
В Стране же кленового листа это событие и вовсе стало темой номер один. За неделю до начала турнира многие канадские средства массовой информации командировали своих корреспондентов в Нью-Йорк, и те пустились во все тяжкие, подогревая интерес соотечественников к очередной битве на льду.
