On December 21 1975 the NHL’s Chicago Black Hawks played a hockey game against one of their most difficult opponents; Sesame Street!

The game was conceived earlier in the month of December ’75 when after a Black Hawks practice session they happened upon the Sesame Street crew preparing for holiday ice shows in Chicago. The NHLers, lead by future Hall-of-Fame goalie Tony Esposito, challenged the Muppets to a 5-on-5 exhibition game to be held during the team’s annual Christmas Party. The Sesame Street Gang were not about to back down and accepted the challenge. The Black Hawks starting lineup consisted of centerman Ivan Boldirev, wingers Alain Daigle and Darcy Rota, defender Dale Tallon, and Esposito in goal. The Sesame Street squad hit the ice with Grover(erroneously referred to as Oscar the Grouch by ABC News commenter Greg Dobbs,) at center, Bert and Ernie on the wings, the tall and imposing Big Bird on defense, and Cookie Monster protecting the goal.

The game, played on the Hawks’ home ice of the historic Chicago Stadium, started out looking as if the Black Hawks would run away with the game when they scored a goal quickly off the opening face off, but the Sesame Street Gang quickly responded with a goal of their own. Sesame Street then took the lead after an altercation between Big Bird and Bert against Tony Esposito lead the Chicago goalie inadvertently knocking the puck into his own net. The Black Hawks tied the game up at 2 goals apiece when they scored on a breakaway a few minutes later. Much to the chagrin of the players on the ice the game was delayed multiple times because Sesame Street’s goalie Cookie Monster kept confusing the puck for a cookie; constantly trying to eat the puck whenever it came near him. With the score tied at 2 in the waning moments of the game, Hawks’ Daigle had control of the puck in his own defensive zone. Big Bird cross-checked in to the board and managed to intercept a pass intended for Boldirev. Big Bird passed the puck to Ernie as he skated towards the Black Hawks’ net. While his roommate Bert controversially interfered with Esposito, Ernie passed the puck over to a wide open Grover. The blue monster easily scored with seconds left to lead the Sesame Street Gang to a 3-2 upset victory! The dejected Black Hawks recovered quickly however, and would let out their frustration over the loss by defeating the New York Islanders 5-2 later that night.

Most of the footage of the game is now lost media. What remains, all of which is included in the preceding video, is a few clips that aired on Sesame Sesame episodes throughout the years, and a short ABC News segment, with Greg Dobbs’ commentary, for Chicago area affiliates