Canada had just taken a beating by the Soviets in Game 4 of the 1972 Series. The stadium was filled with boos as Phil Esposito and his teammates exited the ice. Esposito, discouraged by the loss, delivered a speech that rallied his team, proving to be the turning point in the series. The following game, held in Moscow, Canada came out fighting and never looked back. Here is an excerpt from the speech, caught on microphone by reporter Johnny Esaw:
"For the people across Canada, we tried. We gave it our best. For the people who booed us, all of us guys are really disheartened and we're disillusioned and we're disappointed in some of the people. We cannot believe the bad press we've got, the booing we've gotten in our own buildings. If the Russian fans boo their players like some of the Canadian fans -- I'm not saying all of them -- some of them booed us, then I'll come back and apologize to each and every Canadian. But I don't think they will. I'm really, really. I'm really, really disappointed. I am completely disappointed. I cannot believe it. Some of our guys are really down in the dumps. We know -- we're trying. What the hell -- we're doing the best we can. They've got a good team and let's face facts. But it doesn't mean we're not giving it our 150 per cent because we certainly are...
Everyone of us guys, thirty five guys, who came out to play for Team Canada, we did it because we love our country and not for any other reason. They can throw the money for the pension fund out the window. They can throw anything they want out the window -- we came because we love Canada. And even though we play in the United States and we earn money in the United States, Canada is still our home and that's the only reason we come. And I don't think it's fair that we should be booed."
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