Ice Breaker has World Premiere in Perth

Ice Breaker has World Premiere in Perth - theHumm September 2022

By Rob Riendeau

September 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the 1972 “Summit Series”, considered one of the most important events in Canadian history alongside Confederation, Vimy Ridge, and the adoption of the Maple Leaf Flag. Ice Breaker – the ’72 Summit Series is a new film that explores the subject with passion, diversity and an impressive cast of participants who offer their unique analyses and untold stories. theHumm contacted director Robbie Hart to find out more about his new film and its connection to Perth, Ontario.

theHumm: I remember watching the final game of the series as a grade school student in suburban Montreal. It seems that every Canadian older than 55 has a memory of Paul Henderson’s series-winning goal (it’s even mentioned in a Tragically Hip song). Robbie, what are your memories of the series?

Robbie Hart: I was 12 years old in September 1972. I loved hockey and the HABS and was very much aware that this series between the two countries was a big event. I also knew that seven players from Montreal were invited to try out for Team Canada, including #27, Frank Mahovlich, who was my favourite player at the time.

However, in 1972-73, I was living in South Florida and did not get to experience the memorable game eight like thousands of kids across Canada, who were crowded into school gyms and watching on small TVs, often with sketchy images. That scene is well depicted in my film. It’s September 28, 1972, and all of Canada has come to a grinding halt to watch this decisive hockey game. Businesses close down, classrooms empty — the whole country is listening on radio or watching on a TV.

I really wanted to re-create the tension, atmosphere and drama of that historic day and believe that now it’s been well achieved with Ice Breaker. I hope audiences feel the same.

Do you find that younger generations are aware of the Summit Series and its importance?

The genesis of the Ice Breaker documentary project actually begins with a personal discovery. Nearly two years ago, I found a book titled Cold War — The 1972 Canada-USSR Summit Series. The book was abandoned on a Montreal street corner, but the dramatic cover photo of a Soviet hockey player standing nose to nose with Canadian hockey icon Phil Esposito caught my attention. I picked it up and began reading and before long came to a wonderful and unexpected realization. Despite being a passionate hockey player, a history buff and lover of our national game, I actually knew little about the 1972 Summit Series and the intense drama, debate and desperation of those 27 days in September.

Of course, I knew that Canada beat the Russians in an epic eight-game series; that we had to win the last three games to pull off an unbelievable comeback; that Paul Henderson scored the winning goal in game eight with 34 seconds left and became a national hero; and that all of Canada was mesmerized during the month of September 1972 — glued to their radios and televisions to root for Team Canada.

I remember all of that… But I really didn’t know much more. And I realized that people around me knew little about the Summit Series, especially younger Canadians. My kids, now in their 20s, didn’t even know it happened! One night at dinner I recounted some of the story, and they were fascinated. So what happened? Did Canada beat the Russians? Who won? Hard to believe that my own kids didn’t know who Paul Henderson was.

This realization only grew more pronounced in the following days and weeks when I began sharing my discoveries with best friends, colleagues and neighbours who also knew very little of what took place and how it happened. I found it hard to believe that one of the most important events in Canadian political and cultural history of the 20th century, often compared to Confederation, the maple leaf flag and Expo 67, was not on the radar screen for most people under the age of 50. A significant generation gap was not only sitting right there in my own home but across the street as well. A monumental chapter of Canadian history — its legends and legacy — were not properly remembered or recognized by younger Canadians.

So my motives were now in place, giving me the purpose and passion to embark on this documentary journey. I was determined to give it a go.

How did you first become aware of Gary Smith’s role in the series, and how did he and his book influence the documentary?

When I was convinced to make this documentary, I reached out to a close colleague of mine, Peter Raymont, who is a veteran filmmaker and producer based in Toronto. I felt that this film would benefit from his experience and wide network of contacts.

I felt that a monumental subject like the ’72 Summit Series required a strong team. Peter and I quickly agreed to co-produce and that I would be the director. Peter then introduced me to a close friend of his, award-winning hockey writer and journalist Roy Macgregor. Roy was quick to advise us that a gentleman named Gary Smith of Perth, Ontario — a former Canadian diplomat based in Moscow in 1971-72 — was writing a book about the Summit Series and the untold stories of how it happened and his key role behind the scenes.

Gary quickly became an ally of the project, and the rights to his upcoming book were optioned by White Pine Pictures. It was obvious to me from the get-go that Gary’s story and his political and diplomatic involvement were fascinating narratives not yet shared with a wide audience. I really wanted Ice Breaker to look at ’72 from a new lens and tell the story from fresh perspectives. With Gary on board, it was clear we had a unique angle on the Summit Series. In fact, former Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau essentially mandated Gary to foster exchanges with the Soviets in an effort to create détente and reduce Cold War tensions.

Today, Gary’s book Ice War Diplomat is a nationally acclaimed bestseller. Gary also came with me to Moscow on my Ice Breaker shoot and the two of us have become good friends.

Do you think your documentary provides any direction for dealing with the global political conflicts of today? Was the ’72 Summit Series a model that could hopefully bring countries together in this day and age?

One of the key lessons from this project, and what comes out strongly in the film, is the power of sports to unify, to transcend differences. It’s clear that the ’72 Summit Series was an “ice-breaker”. It really opened the door to improved relations between Canada and Russia and cemented a friendship that endures today. When I was filming in Moscow in October 2021, I was well received and treated like a hockey brother by legendary Soviet goaltender Vladislav Tretiak.

However, what is often referred to as the “hockey bridge” between our countries is today threatened with Putin’s unethical invasion and war in Ukraine. One can only hope this comes to an end very soon and that sports like hockey will cornerstone the resolution process.

It’s important to also note that the ’72 Summit Series transformed the game of hockey and took our sport to a whole new level. I often like to say that although Canada came out victorious at the very end, the big winner was the game of hockey itself.

1972 transformed the sport and globalized the NHL with players from around the world. It was the launching pad for the Swedes, Finns, Czechs, Slovaks and Russians to share their skills and hockey DNA. In 1972, 85% of NHL players were Canadian. Today, nearly half of the world’s most important hockey league is nurtured by players from other countries.

Besides viewing the film, what else (and who else) can audiences expect from the screenings at Studio Theatre Perth?

I believe audiences will be treated to an entertaining and dramatic experience watching this story unfold on a big screen. In addition, they will get to meet and talk with me during the Q&A, as well as meet my special guests — political cartoonist Terry Mosher (aka AISLIN), who is featured in Ice Breaker, and Perth’s very own Gary J. Smith.

Please also note that both Smith and Mosher will be in the lobby of the Studio Theatre Perth, post-screening, to sign copies of their new books.

Tickets to the September 6 and 7 screenings of Ice Breaker – the ’72 Summit Series are available from Tickets Please (485–6434, TicketsPlease.ca).

Don Bruner —The Pleasures of Rerouting - theHumm September 2022

By Sally Hansen

Art… and Soul

Or should it be re-rooting? Painter Don Bruner is still rejoicing over the quirk of fate that found him the perfect place to put down new roots in this next phase of his life. Almonte suits him perfectly. His exuberant paintings of his new locale and the surrounding countryside are convincing evidence of what a perfect fit it is.

Further affirmation of that statement came his way recently when his painting of a scene in Almonte titled “The Night Market” w......

Ice Breaker has World Premiere in Perth - theHumm September 2022