By Susan Lulgjuraj | Beckett Hockey Editor

Forty years ago, Canada and the U.S.S.R. forged an undeniable rivalry. The 1972 Summit Series pitted the two countries in an eight-game match up. Two international powerhouses on the same stage.

The Russians shocked Canada and the hockey world with their dazzling play in the first game. Trailing by two goals in the first period, Russia came back to win 7-3.

That game changed the tone of the Summit Series and turned it into a slugfest. Canada couldn’t take the Russians lightly.

The Summit Series was an interesting time for hockey. The World Hockey Association just formed and Canada only picked players from the NHL to compete. Guys such as Bobby Hull and Gordie Howe weren’t included. But, of course, there as Bobby Clarke, Bobby Orr, Stan Mikita, J.P. Parise and so many others.

Canada eventually won the series 4-3-1, after winning the final three games of the series.

“I could not believe that there were so many good players on one team,” said Parise in a New York Times article on Sept. 1. “As we got more in shape and more competitive it evened out, but that first game, they were prepared – they had been preparing for years. I was in awe.”

The rivalry wasn’t just contained to the ice where many say there was dirty play. The Canadian team had food stolen and when they were in Moscow were getting phone calls to their room in the middle of the night.

This month, some of the members from Team Canada will head to Russia to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Summit Series.

But hockey fans have been celebrating it for years.

There have been a number of card sets commemorating the series over the years starting with the 1972-73 O-Pee-Chee Team Canada cards. The cards featured floating heads of 28 players that participated for Team Canada in the Summit Series. Some of the most popular cards in this set include the singles for Ken Dryden (high-book value $50), Tony Esposito ($30), Paul Henderson ($30), Bobby Clarke ($25) and Phil Esposito ($25).

These cards were issued as an insert with OPC’s second series that year, and the backs were written in English and French.

Another popular set associated with the Summit Series was the 1997-98 Pinnacle Certified Summit Silver, although these cards were solely about Henderson, who scored the winning goal in Game 8.

These cards featured a five-card set and then three autographed cards with different print runs. The most rare being the gold parallels numbered to 100, which has a book value of $200.

The latest cards dedicated to the Summit Series came from In The Game.

In 2011-12, ITG had a series “Canada vs. The World Summit Series.” These cards featured Canadian and Russian Players. ITG also had a series in 2009-10 called “1972 The Year in Hockey,” which had autograph cards from players such as Guy Lapointe, Ron Ellis, Mikita and Frank Mahovlich.

Susan Lulgjuraj is the editor of Beckett Hockey magazine. You can email Susan here with ideas, comments and questions. Follow her on Twitter here.

By Susan Lulgjuraj | Beckett Hockey Editor

In The Game’s hockey products have been around for more than a decade. Now, Dr. Brian Price is bringing together a product that highlights its past with History of Hockey.

There are just four cards in each box: a memorabilia card, a PSA/DNA certified autograph, a Rookie Card and a buyback.

ITG hasn’t released dates or pricing yet, but there are plenty of pictures and early information about History of Hockey for hockey collectors.

Most of the original work comes in the 145-card set Great Moments in Hockey. These are all memorabilia cards and includes an extensive checklist.

Some of the highlights include Paul Henderson‘s “Goal of the Century” in 1972 to clinch the Summit Series against the USSR, Wayne Gretzky’s record-setting 802nd goal, Bobby Orr’s flying goal to complete the sweep of the St. Louis Blues in 1970 and the Miracle on Ice.

These first two group of cards in Great Moments in Hockey will have artwork by Jared Kelley and Mike James, whose cards will include vintage authentic memorabilia. Each card will feature hand-painted artwork with nine silver versions and just one gold version. The final 85 in the group will also have artwork, but will have 30 silver versions and 10 gold.

ITG’s buy backs will be cards from past products starting with 1998-99. There are some huge names that are going to be included such as Steve Yzerman, Mario Lemeiux and Patrick Roy. ITG will include 4,000 buy backs (which should give you an idea of how many boxes will be made of History of the Game).

Half of the 4,000 will be autographs and the other will be memorabilia cards.

ITG has combed the years to find some of the best Rookie Cards of top players. There are opportunities to snag Orr’s 1966-67 Topps RC or Maurice Richard’s 1951-52 Parkhurst RC. Some of the Rookie Cards will be more valuable than others, but there is a chance to pull some great cards.

The final card in the box is an authentic autograph on cards various sets and companies such as a Gretzky on a 1981 O-Pee-Chee or Phil Esposito on 1975 Topps. All the autographs have been verified by PSA.

Each of the cards are encapsulated, clearly labeled and serial-numbered.

Susan Lulgjuraj is the editor of Beckett Hockey magazine. You can email Susan here with ideas, comments and questions. Follow her on Twitter here.