Henderson's fame endures

If you're a hockey fan, or of a certain age, and certainly if you're Canadian, you know of Paul Henderson.

While it's said fame is fleeting, Henderson's fame has endured for 37 years. It was his goal in the final game of 1972 Summit Series against the Soviet Union that beat the Russians, gave Canada a win for the ages and set off celebrations all over the country.

"From the country's point of view, it was the greatest goal of all," Canes general manager Jim Rutherford said today.

Henderson, who spends much of his time as a motivational speaker, will appear at the RBC Center on Wednesday night in an event hosted by the Canadian Expat Network and in conjunction with the Raleigh Youth Hockey Association. While he said he may talk of "pursuing dreams," he surely will talk of the dreamy events of '72.

"The Russians had been winning the Olympics but (Canada) had always sent amateurs, and the Russians were a professional team in nearly every sense -- they were all in the Army -- and had played together for years," Henderson said today. "That was the first time we were able to play them with a professional team.

"Plus there was that mystique -- the big, bad Russians trying to take over the world. All that was going on at the time. We hated them -- their system of government, not the players."

The Russian team went 3-1-1 to start the September series, only to have the Canadians win the last three games to clinch it. Henderson, then a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, scored not only the series winner but also had the winning goal in each of the last three games.

"The Russians caught us by surprise with their skill level," Henderson said. "I hate to say it but they seemed far more skilled than us and had played together for years. We were like an All-Star team with 35 guys and trying to keep everybody happy. It took a while to come together."

In the final minute of the eighth game in Moscow, with the score tied 5-5, Henderson took two whacks at the rebound of a Tony Esposito shot before getting the puck past Vladislav Tretiak. Just 34 seconds were left -- a moment frozen in time for Canada.

Rutherford likens the goal to Bill Mazeroski's seventh-game homer that clinched the 1960 World Series over the New York Yankees. Or Willie Mays' amazing over-the-shoulder catch for the New York Giants in the 1954 Series.

"One of those single moments for a player in a game," Rutherford said. "It  was his place in history and one of the most memorable events in Canada."

Henderson's goal, in fact, was voted the greatest sports moment of the 20th century in Canada. 

"I scored seven goals in the series. Six were nice goals and one was a garbage goal -- the last one," Henderson said, laughing. "But that's the one they remember.

"The great thing about it was there was no downside to it. It was all win/win -- for the team, for me, for Canada. It was just pure delight, to put on that sweater, represent your country and win for your country."

Henderson, 66, lives outside Toronto and said he still receives a lot of fan mail asking for his autograph.

"And whenever I meet a Canadian who's old enough, they always say they know exactly where they were and what they were doing when the goal was scored," he said. "I'll bet you I'll meet a few more in Raleigh."

For information on Wednesday's event, go to www.canadianexpatnetwork.com.