“Ice Breaker” doc to have world premier in Perth

Aug 31, 2022

Former Arden resident Gary Smith, who lives in Perth now, released the book “Ice War Diplomat” earlier this year.

The book chronicled Smith’s integral role in the 1972 Canada Russia Hockey Series while serving as a Canadian diplomat who was assigned to Moscow, and was published on the 50th anniversary of so-called Summit series.

The book, which has been a top seller all summer, was also used as source material for “Icebreaker” a documentary by Montreal based film-maker Robbie Hart and Toronto film-maker Peter Raymont.

In the press package promoting the film, the film-makers talk about the unique take they took on the events, by looking beyond the well chronicled history of the games themselves, into the back story of how the series came about, how close it was to collapsing at various points, and what is legacy has been,

“While other films have looked at the ’72 Summit Series from the players’ point of view, ICE-BREAKER enlarges the canvas to tell the story from the unique perspectives of a diverse cast of participants who are rarely heard: diplomats, NHL hockey legends, Soviet players, journalists, fans, broadcasters, business leaders and Team Canada’s Chairman - all reveal untold, exclusive stories about what happened before, during, and after September ‘72.” Wayne Gretzky, Ron Maclean, Margaret Trudeau, Harnarayan Singh, Angela James, Danièle Sauvageau, Mike Keenan, Brian Conacher, Alan Eagleson, Terry Mosher (aka cartoonist AISLIN) are among the people interviewed in the film, in addition to Russian hockey legends Vladislav Tretiak, Alexander Yakushev and Boris Mikhailov - all bring their colourful, highly engaging perspectives to the film.”

The film is being screened in Kingston at the screening Room on September 9, but will have its work premieres in Perth on September 6 and 7 at the Perth Studio Theatre.

The film-makers and Gary Smith will be at the Perth screening on September 6, as will Terry Mosher whose drawings were extensively used in the film, along with hockey writer Roy McGregor, who was a consultant on the film.

Tickets are available at www.ticketsplease.ca