SEPTEMBER 1972 SOCIAL STUDIES CLASS WITH MRS. HOLENSKI - HISTORY OF HOCKEY IDENTITIES
Posted: 5/7/2009 12:00:00 AM
“The Cold War has been escalating since the end of the second world war. Tensions between Russia and the western country allies have continued to grow over how the world should look in the aftermath of the Great War,” said Mrs. Holenski. (My 5th grade social studies teacher).
“The Soviet Union believes in a communist system of government and politics, while countries like the United States and the Canada believe that the world should be free of communism and we should live in a society governed by democracy,” continued Mrs. Holenski. ““The Soviet Union believes in a communist system of government and politics, while countries like the United States and the Canada believe that the world should be free of communism and we should live in a society governed by democracy,” continued Mrs. Holenski. “
“As a result of two differing political philosophies, there is a growing dislike between the west and the east and a desire to see who has the better hockey players,” added Mrs. Holenski. “This will be Canada’s peaceful hockey participation in the Cold War,” explained Mrs. Holenski.
“In this series we carry the hopes of hockey world and more importantly the hopes of a free democracy,” added Mrs. Holenski. “I guarantee there will be more people in Canada that watch the Summit Series than who watched the Lunar landing in 1969, said Mrs. Holenski.
Democracy, Communism, Cold Wars, Lunar landings, peaceful war measures, the hopes of the free world, underdogs and hockey supremacy. That Mrs. Holenski had me thinking. A war on ice to clarify who is right. “US versus Them.” Freedom versus Oppression. Capitalism versus Socialism. Everything we stood for was at stake. I am almost positive my Senior Social Studies teacher Mr. Dudley in February of 1980, in Great Falls, MT echoed Mrs. Holenski’s exact lecture 8 years later.
As with most historic events, the further we have moved away from Feb. 22, 1980 and September 28, 1972 the less we remember the details.
Leaves little doubt on how those out of shape NHL Stars in ’72 or the unknowing amazingly fit, Herb Brooks driven US college players overcame the “Russian Bear” on both occasions. It was an economic, political, individual and social crises of the most important.
Is it not a great thing today that Russia has been liberated and we can cheer for Ovechkin, Crosby or Kane and the only thing our kids think about is how great these athletes are and how much they mean to hockey? Thank you Mike Eruzione and teammates, thank you Paul Henderson and teammates and thank you to the Russian people who voted to liberate their country in 1991. Thank you to the humility of the Russian Teams of 1972 and 1980. Thank you Military Service Personnel of yesterday and today.