Last Updated on Wednesday, 02 March 2016 09:47
By Kevin Hartzell
Let’s Play Hockey Columnist
It is state tournament time. It is our homecoming for the State of Hockey and we have much to be thankful for. I am excited to be back from a trip to Germany and the Czech Republic. I plan to appreciate everything here at home even more, including the anthem we all stand for before our games.
I believe in the concept of America and the freedom for which we stand. We sing our national anthem before each of our hockey contests to honor and remind us of such, but sometimes it takes a trip away from the one you love to come to a clearer understanding of why you love them so much to begin with.
As we traveled about Germany and the Czech Republic, I thought a lot about America. With all the World War II history surrounding me, my natural curiosity got me wondering where my father exactly toured through his WWII experience.
In this history mode and while driving to Prague, a story of hockey history hit me. I share that with you today and hope there is an American lesson in there for us all.
First, some historical facts. 1945, WWII comes to an end. The war started in a complex mess of interests worldwide. At the war’s conclusion, in effect communist Russia and the Eastern Allies split up the world with the U.S. and the Western Allies. Hockey superpower Czechoslovakia ends up on the communist-eastern bloc side of things. These people of Bohemia-Bavaria had for a long time enjoyed freedom, and many were not happy about being placed under the watchful leadership of a communist regime. Matter of fact, prior to WWII, Czechoslovakia was possibly the best democracy in the region. That is until communist Russia became their keeper. The Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, as it was to be called, was controlled by “big brother” and freedom was a scarce dream.
1968. As Czechoslovak people become more determined to break away from communist rule, the Russian government sent tanks into Czechoslovakia to squash any revolt for a country working towards independence and self-determination. The Czech people were quickly brought back “in line.” This caused more consternation within the Czech society that greatly wanted their freedom and independence.
Now to hockey. 1969. The Czechs had an arena to make a statement about those tanks – the World Ice Hockey Championships. Indeed, the Czechs beat their “big brother” at the world tournament. Their hockey victory over the Russians sent the country into celebration. There were news reports of as many as a half million Czechs taking to the streets to celebrate the win and also as a protest to continued communistic oppression.
1980. The U.S. beats the Russians in the Olympics – the Miracle on Ice. I recall a news report of a post-game phone call with Herb Brooks being congratulated by the President of the United States. Coach Brooks refers to a “way of life” triumphing over another. Herbie understood many of the political ramifications. To many, it was more than a win by a bunch of U.S. amateurs.
1983. I am coaching the St. Paul Vulcans in an international tournament that includes two top “select teams” from Finland and Czechoslovakia. We beat a great Finnish team but lost to the Czechs who had Dominic Hasek in goal. Our gritty performance during the tournament led to an invite from the Czech Ice Hockey Federation to visit their country. The Vulcans would be the first ever U.S.-based team to be invited to their country… outside of a U.S. Olympic or National Team. Quite the honor.
1984. We tour the country for 19 days and play many junior games as well as a few games against senior teams. We win the Brno Cup, a Christmastime tournament for junior teams in the city of Brno. We win the final on Czech national TV. We visit cities that had never seen Americans. People come to watch us get off the bus, I suspect to see what we wear and how we walk. It is quite the experience. We were truly ambassadors for our country. It goes so well that we are invited back two years later and we go again.
I have been asked many times since, “What did the Czech people say to you?” My answer has always been the same. So very few could speak English, but the few who did all said the same thing: “Tell Ronald Reagan we love him.” Basically they were saying they hoped the U.S. would keep the Cold War pressure on Russia to help move them from communism to a more democratic society and allow the Czechs the freedoms they so desperately desired.
As we all know, the Berlin Wall came tumbling down in 1987. Reforms accelerated everywhere. When we crossed the Czech borders in 1984 and 1986, it was highly controlled and patrolled. Nobody in and nobody out without their consent. Today, you simply drive in and drive out. If you don’t see the sign on the side of the road, you would barely know you are entering the Czech Republic.
There is a great lesson in there for us all on something we take for granted every day. Basic freedom. When it is taken away, there is nothing more precious. Let’s continue to honor and enjoy ours. Let the words to our national anthem sink into your very pores. Enjoy the tournament and everything that goes with it.
Kevin Hartzell is the director of player development for the NA3HL’s Twin City Steel. A St. Paul native and forward for the University of Minnesota from 1978-82, Hartzell coached in the USHL from 1983-89 with the St. Paul Vulcans and from 2005-12 with the Sioux Falls Stampede. He was the head coach of Lillehammer in Norway’s GET-Ligaen from 2012-14. His columns have appeared in Let’s Play Hockey since the late 1980s. His book “Leading From the Ice” is available at amazon.com.
