Not to be confused with the game between the Junior Canadiens and the Soviet Union one year later on December 15th, 1965, in which Jacques Plante was outstanding.
The Soviets arrived in Montréal on the evening of December 10th after a flight of 20 hours. In Montréal they had a meal and then checked into their hotel around midnight. The next day they played against the Junior Canadiens. Not an easy schedule. (20 hours plane flight:
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search. Arrival and check in:
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search)
Other games on the 1964 North America tour:
Dec. 13, Toronto: Canada - Soviet Union 0-4
Dec. 15, Fort Williams: Lakehead Senior All-Stars - Soviet Union 3-3
Dec. 17, Winnipeg: Canada - Soviet Union 1-6
Dec. 18, Saskatoon: Saskatoon Quakers - Soviet Union 3-11
Dec. 20, Winnipeg: Canada - Soviet Union 1-4
Dec. 26, Colorado Springs: Czechoslovakia - Soviet Union 2-8
Dec. 27, Colorado Springs: Canada - Soviet Union 3-5
Dec. 29, Colorado Springs: Czechoslovakia - Soviet Union 3-5
Dec. 30, Colorado Springs: Canada - Soviet Union 5-7
Interesting that the Junior Canadiens were coached by Scotty Bowman. Bowman and the Russians, a long history, from the 1964 Junior Canadiens to the 1995 Russian Five.
The Soviets and the Montréal Canadiens, another interesting story. When in Canada for the first time in 1957, Anatoli Tarasov didn't miss the chance to watch the Canadiens. Ever since that the Soviets were huge admirers of the Canadiens. They sure would have loved to play the Canadiens instead of the Junior Canadiens, but in 1964 it would've been a blow-up of course.