Jim Genac

Author ‘Path to the Summit’: Anatoli Tarasov & the History of Soviet Hockey Part II - Available now on Amazon. See also @pathtothesummit

[Jim Genac @Jim_Genac]

Dennis Hull, the two-way NHL forward who starred alongside superstar brother Bobby Hull with the Chicago Blackhawks and was a member of Team Canada in the 1972 Summit Series, passed away today. He was 81.

While brother Bobby was excluded from playing for Canada against the Soviet Union in '72 because he was in the World Hockey Association, Dennis went and had two goals and two assists in four games, playing on a line with New York Rangers stars Jean Ratelle and Rod Gilbert.

Hull had 303 goals and 351 assists for 654 points in 959 regular-season NHL games. He had another 67 points in 104 games in the playoffs, during an era Chicago came close but never won the Stanley Cup. #teamcanada72 #1972SummitSeries

[Jim Genac @Jim_Genac]

Just hearing that Gary Smith, Diplomat, Storyteller, and a man who played a prominent role in the 1972 Summit Series, passed away unexpectedly on May 12, 2026 at the age of 81.

Gary joined the Canadian Foreign Service and his career took him to Canada’s mission at the United Nations in New York City and then, in 1971, to the Canadian Embassy in Moscow.

During his posting in Moscow, Gary played an instrumental role in organizing the historic 1972 Summit Series between Canada and the Soviet Union.

The experience became one of the defining passions of his life, blending his love of diplomacy, storytelling, hockey and Canada itself. In 2022, he published Ice War Diplomat, a behind-the-scenes account of the Summit Series from his unique perspective as a young Canadian diplomat who accompanied the Soviet team in Canada and served as liaison to Team Canada in Moscow. Shortly afterward, the bilingual feature-length documentary IceBreaker: The Legacy of the ’72 Summit Series, featuring Gary and inspired in part by his book, premiered during the 50th anniversary celebrations of the famed series.

On a personal level, we exchanged numerous emails while I was writing Path to the Summit Part I & II.

A celebration of Gary’s life will be held in Perth, Ontario, on Saturday, June 6, 2026.

[Jim Genac @Jim_Genac]

@Sz1909_Szemberg Anatoli Tarasov & I talked at length about NHL ‘development’ in 1987. His plan was pitched to the Leafs & Canucks in 1997. That will be the central topic in a future book.

[Jim Genac @Jim_Genac]

In June 1975 Guy Dyotte and André Ruel were part of a Concordia University hockey study internship that travelled to Moscow to study the Soviet hockey system. In 1976 they published this french language book detailing their visit and what they learned. Path to the Summit: Part II compares the Soviet Youth development system to the Canadian system in the lead up to the 1972 Summit Series. Available now on Amazon. #soviethockey #teamcanada1972 @usahockey @HockeyCanada #anatolitarasov #stanleycup

[Jim Genac @Jim_Genac]

Checking out the Amazon New Release Bestseller list. This is a humorous ‘blank book’. 100 employ pages - lampooning the Maple Leafs. Seems the troll gods are getting their Christmas stocking shopping done to needle their Lesf fan friends #GoHabsGo

[Jim Genac @Jim_Genac]

History of Soviet Hockey leading up to the 1972 Summit Series now available on Amazon. #anatolitarasov

[Path To The Summit @pathtothesummit]

“𝘑𝘪𝘮 𝘎𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘤 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘐𝘳𝘰𝘯 𝘊𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯." #russianhockey #usahockey #1972SummitSeries #anatolitarasov

[Jim Genac @Jim_Genac]

@codyghosthost @VinnysCorner1 @S_U_Network One of the planned books in the ‘Path to the Summit’ series will cover the period 1972 up to the 1980 ‘Soviet Olympic Disaster’

[Jim Genac @Jim_Genac]

History of Soviet Hockey leading up to the 1972 Summit Series now available on Amazon #russianhockey #usahockey #teamcanada1972 #1972SummitSeries #anatolitarasov

[Jim Genac @Jim_Genac]

The smaller one my Dad acquired from a vintage shop in the early 70s. We’d polish it up each year at the start of the Finals & on Stanley Cup night we would celebrate hockey with a drink of ginger ale from our ‘Cup’ as the players celebrated with theirs.

I’ve maintained that tradition since he passed away. Each year I toast his memory with that little bowl and have now added this full size rose bowl to the ritual as well.

[Jim Genac @Jim_Genac]

The Stanley Cup tournament has started & hope springs eternal for 16 different teams. Montréal Canadiens launch their #Drivefor25 with a win tonight. One down, fifteen to go. Will we drink to a Canadian team victory this year?

[Jim Genac @Jim_Genac]

Always fascinating to watch the dynamics for interest in Path to the Summit Part II. 68% of sales have been to buyers in the U.S. Gratifying to see the strong interest.

#soviethockey #anatolitarasov #teamcanada72 #usahockey #nhl #NHLHockey #tmltalk

[Jim Genac @Jim_Genac]

Hockey’s reach is international. So far this week copies of Part II have sold in Germany, Italy & France. This comes from France. So awesome to hear from those who are interested in this topic.
#soviethockey #anatolitarasov #1972summitseries

[Canucks de France 🏌🏻‍♂️ @France_Canucks]

La saison morte va être studieuse... avec les 2 livres @pathtothesummit sur l'histoire du 🏒 de @Jim_Genac

[Jim Genac @Jim_Genac]

@France_Canucks @pathtothesummit Merci de m’avoir informé. J’espère que vous apprécierez les livres.

[Jim Genac @Jim_Genac]

Path to the Summit Part II has received its first rating on Amazon. A solid 5 stars ⭐️. Thanks for the feedback as we inch up to #7 on the new release bestseller list.

#Anatolitarasov #soviethockey #teamcanada72 #usahockey

[Jim Genac @Jim_Genac]

Path to the Summit Part II is starting to arrive in mailboxes. Thanks for your patience on this release & I hope you enjoy.

#Anatolitarasov #soviethocket #teamcanada72 #usahockey

[INNOhockey™ @innohockey]

Received my copy!
Part I was excellent - been anxiously waiting for Part II.
Thanks @Jim_Genac

[Jim Genac @Jim_Genac]

@innohockey Thanks for letting me know. I hope you enjoy ☺️

[Jim Genac @Jim_Genac]

Path to the Summit Part II is finally available on Amazon. At 418 pages, it offers a captivating deep dive into the tumultuous world of Soviet hockey from 1957 to 1972 and highlights Anatoli Tarasov’s unwavering quest for greatness. Essential reading for fans seeking the raw, unvarnished story of Soviet hockey’s golden era.

[Jim Genac @Jim_Genac]

I’m happy to announce that Part II (1957-1972) of "Path to the Summit: Anatoli Tarasov and the History of Soviet Hockey" is now available through amazon in both hardcover and paperback formats.

Thank you to all who have enquired & patiently waited for the release. I hope it meets, and exceeds, expectations.

https://t.co/2PwA0AGYUM

[Jim Genac @Jim_Genac]

@seanshapiro @SEllisHockey I think they should have one of each.