 Controversy ensued when the Soviets wanted to back out of the refereeing agreement . The Soviets wanted to include the German pair of referees , originally scheduled for the game . Eagleson threatened to pull Team Canada from playing the eighth game . In a compromise , Kompalla refereed along with Bata instead of Baader . The ill will spilled over into the presentation of a totem pole as a gift from Team Canada . The pre @-@ game presentation was cancelled by the Soviets , but restored on the insistence of Team Canada . According to Coach Sinden , Eagleson stated that they " were going to take this totem pole and bring it to centre ice and they 'll have to take it or skate around it the whole game . " 
