Canada Russia '72 (2006)

Booth Savage: Harry Sinden

Quotes 

• Harry Sinden : The only thing that matters now is winning. We win this game... we win the series. We vindicate ourselves - and everything we stand for.

  [long pause] 

  Peter Mahovlich : Let's do it boys.

• [discussing the name of the team] 

  John Ferguson : What about "Canada Stars"? "Canada Pro Stars"?

  Alan Eagleson : "Canada Selects"? "Canada's Team"?

  Harry Sinden : "Team Canada"?

  John Ferguson : "Team Canada"? I like it.

  Alan Eagleson : Yeah, I like it too.

• Vic Hadfield : This is bullshit. Are you blaming us for last night? Is that why we're not playing?

  Harry Sinden : I'm not blaming anyone. Didn't you here what I said in the dressing room?

  Rod Gilbert : No, we heard what you - Look, it just seems that there's an awful lot of "Rangers" sitting.

  Harry Sinden : Don't start with that crap.

  Vic Hadfield : Oh, one bad game, and you bench the best line in the NHL. Come on!

  Harry Sinden : You guys were on the ice for three goals against last night.

  Vic Hadfield : So what? The whole team stunk up the joint!

  Harry Sinden : I can't bench the whole team, Vic.

  Rod Gilbert : So, so we're not playing tomorrow night. Is that it?

  [Harry looks at Gilbert and ignores him] 

  Rod Gilbert : [in disgust]  Oh, man.

  [Gilbert leaves] 

  Vic Hadfield : Ah, Jesus Christ, Harry! You know, this is humiliating! It's my hometown!

  Harry Sinden : I know where we are, Vic.

• Ken Dryden : I played against the Russians as an amateur. We uh, lost 9-3. I was in net for all 9 goals. By the end of it, it got so bad I just wanted to run off the ice and hide, you know?

  Harry Sinden : Yeah. Well, that's the thing about hockey. You can run but you bang into the boards.

• [last lines] 

  John Ferguson : You wanna join them, Harry?

  Harry Sinden : I think I need a couple of seconds to take this all in.

• Gabrielle Fournier : Mr. Sinden.

  Harry Sinden : Ms. Fournier. How are you enjoying Sweden so far?

  Gabrielle Fournier : Oh, probably as much as you are.

  Harry Sinden : A 4-4 tie must please you. Everyone gets to go home happy, don't you think?

  Gabrielle Fournier : You don't want to know what I think.

  Harry Sinden : Try me.

  Gabrielle Fournier : I think your players acted like criminals tonight. Do you know what they're calling us? "Team Ugly."

  Harry Sinden : Oh.

  Gabrielle Fournier : And that's just their own people. Can you imagine what the rest of the world is saying?

  Harry Sinden : You know Ms. Fournier, the average Canadian, they might never forgive us if we lose this series. But the rest of you, the intellectuals, you'll never forgive us if we win, will you?

• Harry Sinden : The only way to deal with incompetent referees is to embarres them. Hold them up to ridicule so the whole world can see how bad they truly are.

  Game Six Journalist : You know, Esposito cut Ragulin pretty high with the high stick. Wouldn't that be a major even in the NHL?

  Harry Sinden : Since when is there a penalty for bleeding?

• Harry Sinden : [angrily]  Kompalla! Get over here! What the hell kind of a call was that? That wasn't a penalty and you know it!

  [Dryden comes over to the bench] 

  Ken Dryden : Harry, Harry, you gotta calm down.

  Harry Sinden : You get back in the net! Stop the puck for a change!

• Harry Sinden : What's going on?

  Vic Hadfield : Well, what difference does it make? I'm not even on a line.

  Harry Sinden : Hey, the players decide who plays.

  Vic Hadfield : Well, what do you mean? What the players... made a vote?

  Harry Sinden : No. Every guy here determines how much ice time he gets by how hard he plays. How hard he practices.

  Vic Hadfield : Okay. Well if I'm not good enough then why the hell d'you bring me here?

  Harry Sinden : Same reason I brought everybody else, Vic.

  Vic Hadfield : [angrily]  Then play me!

  Harry Sinden : You get out there, you prove to your teammates you belong.

  Vic Hadfield : I have nothing to prove to anyone.

  Harry Sinden : Then get off the goddamn bench and get out of that gear. You make us look foolish in front of the Russians.

• Harry Sinden : The other day, Al was talking about us being in a leaky rowboat. Today, three of us jumped ship. After the game in Montreal, I came in here. I gave us all a speech about how we're in this together. Win as a team, lose as a team. And right now, we're losing. Man, that scares alot of people. But it doesn't scare me, because I believe we're gonna win this thing. And I'm gonna fight with every ounce of my being to see that we do. I expect no less from each one of you guys. But if you're not up to it, if you're frozen up at the fear of losing, go home! Go home now! At least if we lose, you'll avoid the shame your teammates will feel. But if we win... and we in. Man, you will have missed the victory of a lifetime.

• Harry Sinden : Did you talk to Vic?

  Alan Eagleson : Yeah. He's going home, Harry.

  Harry Sinden : Then you get him on the first plane out of here.

  [brief pause] 

  Alan Eagleson : There are others too, you know.

  Harry Sinden : Who?

  Alan Eagleson : Richard Martin, Jocelyn Guevremont for sure, maybe more.

  Harry Sinden : Who?

  Alan Eagleson : I don't know.

  Harry Sinden : Any Bruins players?

  Alan Eagleson : I don't know. None that I know of.

  Harry Sinden : I don't care. Whoever the hell they are, you get them on a plane, you get 'em out of here.

  Alan Eagleson : You - you wanna maybe talk to them first?

  Harry Sinden : Hey, I didn't beg them to join the team, I'm sure as hell not begging them to stay!

• Harry Sinden : [at press confrence]  Look, you know what the real shame of all this is? The world is witnessing the greatest hockey series ever played, and we're here talking about two incompetent referees. Why aren't we talking about the great game Kenny Dryden had? Or the inspirational leadership of Phil Esposito? Or Serge Savard, playing on a broken ankle. Or guys like Bergman, Henderson, Clarke, Parise. Playing their hearts out. Guys no one thought even belonged on the team! Here we are, talking about two idiot referees. Christ, that's a shame!

• Vsevolod Gresko : Gentlemen. In the spirit of the Friendship Games, I agree to your proposal. Badder and Kompalla are out, they will officiate no more games. On four conditions. 1: Your coaches and players have to be more respectful to our officials. We hold officials in very high esteem. 2: Mr. Gary Bergman must desist from making rude comments and rude gestures to Coach Bobrov. 3: Canadian fans have to be more respectful for Soviet police. 4: And lastly four. Canadian players have to be more respectful to their opponents.

  Harry Sinden : 1: None of this would of happened if you hadn't brought in those two idiot referees. 2: Your players are just as guilty as Gary Bergman for taunting the coaches. 3: Don't blame our fans. We're not used to having armed soldiers at our hockey games. And last, but not least. I am sick and tired of our players taking a bad wrap. You guys are a hell of alot dirtier!

  Alan Eagleson : Harry...

  Harry Sinden : Stay out of it, Al!

  Harry Sinden : [to Gresko]  You want respect? You tell Bobrov to cut his chickenshit act.

• Harry Sinden : I could use a beer. Too bad you bastards stole 'em all from us!