In 1972, in the thick of the Cold War, tens of millions of Canadians and Soviets were captivated by what became known as the "Summit Series." In a time of mounting tensions and potential military escalation, Canada chose to address its conflict with the Soviet Union on the ice, engaging in a historic best-on-best hockey series that provided common ground between the two nations. These matches not only expanded the role of sports diplomacy but also humanized communism and reduced the risk of war.
On the ice, Canada expected to dominate, but after 7 games, the series sat at 3-3 and 1 tied-game, shocking Canadian hockey culture and NHL talent. Could the Soviet team’s cohesiveness and dominance be credited to Communism?With more than hockey at stake, the decisive final game was watched by 150 million Russians and 16 million Canadians, marking the largest TV audience in Canadian history.
This film uncovers untold, exclusive stories from the legendary series, featuring insights from diplomats, NHL icons, Soviet players, fans, broadcasters, and more. With appearances by Wayne Gretzky, Vladislav Tretiak, and Margaret Trudeau, ICE-BREAKER highlights the enduring impact of these games and the unifying power of sports.
“The ‘72 Summit was an ice-breaker for a lot of reasons. It was the greatest hockey ever played” – Wayne Gretzky
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