Paul Henderson - Legacy

Legacy

Henderson's career spanned 19 professional seasons during which he played over 1,000 major league games in the NHL and WHA. He scored 376 goals and 760 points between the two. He was a two-time NHL all-star, playing in the 1972 and 1973 All-Star Games. His career, however, was defined by the goal he scored on September 28, 1972, to win the Summit Series for Canada. It was the most famous goal in Canadian hockey history, and was the defining moment for a generation of Canadians. Four decades later, Henderson remains a national hero. His game-worn jersey from the series was sold at auction for over $1 million in 2010, thought to be the highest price ever paid for a hockey sweater.

Sportswriters and fans have frequently called for Henderson to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on the strength of his performance. Commentator and former coach Don Cherry argued that Henderson's status as hero of the "greatest series in hockey history" was enough to qualify him. Henderson himself does not believe he belongs: "So many Canadians get upset that I’m not in the Hall of Fame, and I tell them all the time if I was on the committee, I wouldn’t vote for me. Quite frankly, I didn’t have a Hall of Fame career." Henderson has been inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame on two occasions. He was first inducted as an individual in 1995, and again ten years later along with his 1972 teammates. He will be inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in May 2013.

Frank Lennon's photograph, taken moments after the goal and showing a jubilant Henderson being embraced by Yvan Cournoyer, has been "etched into the visual cortex of every Canadian." The photo won a National Newspaper Award and has been reproduced by the Royal Canadian Mint on coins. It was also named Canadian Press photograph of the year.