Ok this is kinda cool — Vladimir Tretiak (left), the goaltender who just about stole the 1972 Canada-Russia series, was hanging about the foyer of the House of Commons this afternoon. Tretiak was in Parliament to push the idea of another bout between Canada and Russia’s best, this time to commemorate the 35th anniversary of that famous series. He also met hockey fan Stephen Harper.
Here’s a transcript of the brief scrum he did with reporters in the foyer. I have edited it for clarity:
Tretiak: (Speaks Russian which, sadly, only a few Parliament Press Gallery reporters are able to speak and I am not one of them)
Tretiak’s Interpreter: We're very interested in launching the series again in Russia because the two hockey superpowers have to meet again, at least out of Canada and Russia.
Reporter: Are you going to meet Mr. Dryden? (The MP for York Centre – ed)
Tretiak: Frank Mahovlich too. (Now the Senator from Ontario)
Reporter: Can you tell us about your meeting with Mr. Dryden?
Tretiak: (More Russian)
Interpreter: We're just going to a meeting with him.
Reporter: Who's your favourite player in the NHL today?
Tretiak: Crosby, I think. Crosby. Plays very well. Yeah. ( Speaks more Russian)
Interpreter: He's a very good player.
On his way out of the House of Commons, Harper stopped on the stairs up to his office to offer a couple of comments:
Reporter: [Tretiak] wants to talk about the future of hockey with you, sir? Any thoughts about that?
Harper: Well, he probably knows a lot more about that than I do. I'm just worried about the future of the country. I think it's looking good.
Question: Is [meeting Tretiak] a perk of the office, sir?
Harper: Yes. (The Prime Minister, at this point, has a rather broad grin on his face).
Question: Can you get him to play for the Senators?
— The PM declined to answer and continued up the stairs —