1979 Challenge Cup (ice hockey)

NHL All-Stars roster

Soviet Union roster

Uniforms

The NHL vastly simplified their white All-Star uniforms, removing most of the striping and stars. The NHL shield on the front was enlarged, while the logos on the shoulders remained the same. The striping was reduced to two thin stripes, orange over black, separated by a thin white stripe. The names on the back remained in black with orange trim, and the numerals remained orange with black trim.

The Soviet team used their standard red national uniforms, which they also used when touring against the teams of the World Hockey Association (while billed as the "Soviet All-Stars"). The jerseys featured two white stripes at the waistline - one thin stripe over a wider stripe studded with red diamonds. The sleeve stripes followed a similar pattern, but without the diamonds on the wide stripes, and an additional white stripe below the wide band. While the Soviet team normally used the Russian language on its uniforms, the names on the back of the jerseys for the Challenge Cup were romanized for the event. The front of the jerseys retained the Russian СССР initials.

Game log

Game 1

• Date: Thursday February 8, 1979
• Time: 8:00pm
• Location: New York City: Madison Square Garden
• Attendance: 17,438

Score

NHL All-Stars 4 – Soviet Union 2

Officials

• Referee – Bob Myers CAN
• Linesman – Ray Scapinello CAN
• Linesman – John D'Amico CAN

Game 2

• Date: Saturday February 10, 1979
• Time: 2:00pm
• Location: New York City: Madison Square Garden
• Attendance: 17,438

Score

NHL All-Stars 4 – Soviet Union 5

Officials

• Referee – Viktor Dombrovski URS
• Linesman – Matt Pavelich CAN
• Linesman – Ron Finn CAN

Game 3

• Date: Sunday February 11, 1979
• Time: 8:00pm
• Location: New York City: Madison Square Garden
• Attendance: 17,545

Score

NHL All-Stars 0 – Soviet Union 6

Officials

• Referee – Andy Van Hellemond CAN
• Linesman – Leon Stickle CAN
• Linesman – Claude Bechard CAN

Broadcasters

In the United States, Game 2, which was held on a Saturday afternoon, was shown on CBS as part of CBS Sports Spectacular. The network refused to expand CBS Sports Spectacular to carry the game in full so instead, the show came on during the second intermission, showed taped highlights of the first two periods, and then showed the final period live. The lead-in to Sports Spectacular was The World's Strongest Man. The then-CBS affiliate in Boston, the old WNAC-TV, broadcast a local college hockey game that led into Sports Spectacular.

The network, the show and their sponsors had a problem with the rink board advertising that the NHL sold at Madison Square Garden, and refused to allow them to be shown on television. As a result, CBS viewers were unable to see the far boards above the yellow kickplate, and could only see players' skates when the play moved to that side of the ice. Games 1 and 3 were shown on the NHL Network, where the advertising was no problem.

Dan Kelly and Lou Nanne called the game for CBS while Dick Stockton served as the host.

References

References

1. [http://www.greatesthockeylegends.com/2011/01/1979-challenge-cup.html 1979 Challenge Cup on greatesthockeylegends.com]
2. Yuri Fedorov's surname on the back of his shirt was listed as "Federov" // [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zvotpb8LuzU 1979 Challenge Cup Game 2 Goals - NHL vs USSR]
3. "SOVIETS EMBARRASS NHL ALL STARS 6-0 TO WIN CHALLENGE CUP". [[International Ice Hockey Federation]].
4. Eskenazi, Gerald. (1979-02-08). "Soviet Six Now Taking N.H.L. Series Seriously (Published 1979)".
5. (February 10, 1979). "Sports BRIEFING". Tribune Publishing.
6. Fachet, Robert. (February 8, 1979). "NHL Stars Challenged By Soviets". The Washington Post.
7. Anderson, Dave. (February 11, 1979). "The Empty Cup". New York Times.
8. E.M. Swift. (February 19, 1979). "Run Over By The Big Red Machine". Sports Illustrated.
9. (January 14, 1979). "Argus-Leader from Sioux Falls, South Dakota · Page 26". Newspapers.com.
10. Quinn, Hal. (February 26, 1979). "Exploding the myth of hockey supremacy". MACLEAN’S.
11. (February 15, 1979). "Sports BRIEFING". Tribune Publishing.
12. Bob Verdi. (February 8, 1979). "Soviet 'pupils,' suspicious NHL stars open 3-game war". Tribune Publishing.