Many consider it the defining moment in Canada's hockey history: Game 8, Paul Henderson scores the winning goal in the final moments of the Canada versus USSR series in 1972, clinching the victory at the height of the Cold War.

Now, fans have a chance to re-live the iconic Summit Series with the release of a new 35th anniversary DVD chronicling the event.

Four members of the team -- Ron Ellis, Tony Esposito, Marcel Dionne and Peter Mahovlich -- visited CTV's Canada AM studio on Tuesday to talk about their experiences on the 1972 team.

One of the reasons the series is still talked about after 35 years, Esposito said, is because it was the first time Canada's best hockey players faced off against Russia's, and no one knew what to expect.

"We sure didn't know what their best was, but we learned in a hurry," said Esposito.

Ellis added: "I think one of the main reasons it's still in folks' minds is the fact that we had to make the big comeback. It was sort of the big Canadian comeback. We had to win the last three games, and showed a lot of spirit."

The Soviet Union took Game One, Canada came back to win Game Two. Game 3 was a tie, followed by two back-to-back wins for the Soviets in the fourth and fifth matches. Canada regained some ground in Game 6 with a victory, then another in Game 7, and finally with the final win in Game 8 to take the series.

The series was seen by many as a battle between the forces of communism and democracy, and Canada's success was heralded as a national victory over the Cold War enemy.

Canada had expected to easily win the series, and was taken by surprise by the plucky Soviets, said Mahovlich.

"It was supposed to be seven to three every night, for us. The problem was they didn't read the script," he said.

Esposito added: "The scouting reports were that we were going to blow them away. So we weren't ready emotionally."

Dionne was a 22-year-old rookie, and didn't play but went on to do great things in the National Hockey League, where his accomplishments have often been compared to those of Wayne Gretzky.

"As much as a series and the hockey itself, it was something new for everybody and for myself, not so much after we won, years after, and I think we all look back and think of it as the greatest time in our lives," Dionne said.

The DVD series, '72 Complete, is available now.