As part of the Canada 150 celebration, Canada Post has partnered with Team Canada 1972 to release a commemorative stamp celebrating the historical hockey tournament.
On Wednesday, May 31, members of the Canadian team who participated in the prolific Summit Series against the U.S.S.R – Pat Stapleton, Bobby Clarke, Yvan Cournoyer, Pete Mahovlich, Frank Mahovlich, Eddie Johnston, Brad Park, Wayne Cashman and Jean Ratelle – gathered at Canadian Forces Base Winnipeg for the unveiling. Also on hand were Sean Goldsworthy (representing his father Bill Goldsworthy) and John Ferguson Jr. (representing his father John Ferguson).
After 17 Wing Winnipeg Commander, Colonel Andy Cook helped the hockey greats debut the stamp, a Q&A session was held between the players and those from the Air Force.
This ’72 Summit Series stamp is one of 10 stamps Canada Post has created for the Canada 150 celebration. Those already revealed relate to: Expo 67, The Constitution, Canadarm, Marriage Equality, Trans-Canada Highway, Marathon of Hope, Nunavut and Paralympic and Olympic Spirit.
According to Canada Post: “Each of the 10 maple-leaf shaped die-cut PermanentTM domestic-rate stamps measures 40 mm x 40 mm and is printed in 6 colours plus tagging. The self-adhesive stamps are available in a booklet of 10 (4 million stamps). A gummed pane of 10 stamps, with circle perforations 4.5 cm in diameter, is also available (80,000 panes). Official First Day Covers, one for each stamp design and each cancelled in Ottawa, ON, are available in a pack of 10 (10,000 packs). The stamp issue was designed by Roy White and Liz Wurzinger of Subplot Design Inc. in Vancouver, B.C., and printed by the Lowe-Martin Group.”
On Friday, June 2, many of the Team Canada 1972 members listed above will appear at the Zoomer Hall Studio, in Toronto’s Liberty Village, to participate in a special episode of theZoomer. Here, the players will reflect on their memorable series against the Red Army squad, as well as what their lives are like nowadays. Click here for more information.
To learn more about the Summit Series, check out this video Canada Post filmed with members of Team Canada 1972.
-Adam Grant
