Buddy Blom Led DU Against The Russians
From: Denver Post
by Irv Moss
(left) Buddy Blom starred for DU in the Sixties and then played professionally for the Ft. Worth Red Wings
There's obviously more to the story why Buddy Blom considered a 5-0 loss to the Russian national team his best game as a goaltender for the University of Denver hockey team.
The game was played Dec. 21, 1963, at The Broadmoor's World Arena in Colorado Springs. The Pioneers, coached by Murray Armstrong, had played the Russians much closer in other games in the series.
It was during a time when the Russians had regained the throne as king of international hockey after their 1960 loss to the gold medal-winning United States team at the Squaw Valley Olympics. Cold War tension also was at its highest.
"That probably was the best I ever played," Blom said last week, looking back on 54 years in hockey. "They outshot us 50-9 and almost all of them were point-blank. It could have been 25-0."
As a Canadian, Blom believed the best hockey in the world was played in his native country.
But that game and a few other experiences with the Russians convinced him that times had changed.
"The Russians revolutionized the sport," Blom said. "They opened up the game. They did it by rolling or rotating the wings as they brought the puck up the ice and bringing the defensemen up for rebounds. I don't think the game in Canada ever would have changed if the Russians hadn't forced it."
Blom came to DU with great credentials. He was the goalie for Hamilton, which won the Memorial Cup, the equivalent in junior hockey to the Stanley Cup in the NHL. But instead of continuing his career in Canada, he came to DU. It turned out to be a controversial decision. He learned just how seriously his countrymen took their hockey.
"The story went out across Canada on the national wires that I had jumped ship and had gone to the States to play hockey," Blom said. "I think everyone in the country frowned on it. They weren't happy with me, that's for sure."
While playing for Hamilton, Blom's roommate and teammate was Paul Henderson, who went on to be a hockey hero in Canada's competition with the Russians. The battle reached a roaring level in 1972 when the Russian national team played a nine-game series in cities across Canada against Canadian NHL players. Henderson scored the winning goal that gave the series edge to Canada.
"He's like an icon in Canada," Blom said of his former roommate. "That series was huge for Canada. It was like a war to reclaim dominance in hockey."
Blom's career at DU blossomed despite the rough going against the Russians. The Pioneers won the Western Collegiate Hockey Association championship in 1964 and 1966. They finished second in the NCAA Tournament in 1964 and third in 1966. Blom's DU teammates included Wayne Smith, Jim Wiste and Lyle Bradley.
While Henderson prospered in the NHL, Blom didn't make it to hockey's highest level. He played in hockey's professional minor leagues until a back injury convinced him to call it a career in 1970.
Blom still wonders about his lack of NHL playing time. Henderson claimed in a book that the NHL hierarchy never forgave Blom for departing the junior leagues for DU.
However, Blom has another story. It begins at a Sunday night practice at DU called by Armstrong after a disappointing road trip. In a shooting drill, a slap shot by Smith caught Blom in the temple.
There's obviously more to the story why Buddy Blom considered a 5-0 loss to the Russian national team his best game as a goaltender for the University of Denver hockey team.
The game was played Dec. 21, 1963, at The Broadmoor's World Arena in Colorado Springs. The Pioneers, coached by Murray Armstrong, had played the Russians much closer in other games in the series.
It was during a time when the Russians had regained the throne as king of international hockey after their 1960 loss to the gold medal-winning United States team at the Squaw Valley Olympics. Cold War tension also was at its highest.
"That probably was the best I ever played," Blom said last week, looking back on 54 years in hockey. "They outshot us 50-9 and almost all of them were point-blank. It could have been 25-0."
As a Canadian, Blom believed the best hockey in the world was played in his native country.
But that game and a few other experiences with the Russians convinced him that times had changed.
"The Russians revolutionized the sport," Blom said. "They opened up the game. They did it by rolling or rotating the wings as they brought the puck up the ice and bringing the defensemen up for rebounds. I don't think the game in Canada ever would have changed if the Russians hadn't forced it."
Blom came to DU with great credentials. He was the goalie for Hamilton, which won the Memorial Cup, the equivalent in junior hockey to the Stanley Cup in the NHL. But instead of continuing his career in Canada, he came to DU. It turned out to be a controversial decision. He learned just how seriously his countrymen took their hockey.
"The story went out across Canada on the national wires that I had jumped ship and had gone to the States to play hockey," Blom said. "I think everyone in the country frowned on it. They weren't happy with me, that's for sure."
While playing for Hamilton, Blom's roommate and teammate was Paul Henderson, who went on to be a hockey hero in Canada's competition with the Russians. The battle reached a roaring level in 1972 when the Russian national team played a nine-game series in cities across Canada against Canadian NHL players. Henderson scored the winning goal that gave the series edge to Canada.
"He's like an icon in Canada," Blom said of his former roommate. "That series was huge for Canada. It was like a war to reclaim dominance in hockey."
Blom's career at DU blossomed despite the rough going against the Russians. The Pioneers won the Western Collegiate Hockey Association championship in 1964 and 1966. They finished second in the NCAA Tournament in 1964 and third in 1966. Blom's DU teammates included Wayne Smith, Jim Wiste and Lyle Bradley.
While Henderson prospered in the NHL, Blom didn't make it to hockey's highest level. He played in hockey's professional minor leagues until a back injury convinced him to call it a career in 1970.
Blom still wonders about his lack of NHL playing time. Henderson claimed in a book that the NHL hierarchy never forgave Blom for departing the junior leagues for DU.
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