The University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds will wear commemorative Team Canada jerseys. (UNB)

The University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds hockey team is gearing up for a pair of games this weekend to commemorate the 1972 Summit Series.

This fall marked the 40th anniversary of the legendary eight-game hockey series between Canada and the Soviet Union.

UNB is taking on a team of 20- and 21-year-old all-stars from a Russian junior league.

Coach Gardiner MacDougall expects to face some tough competition.

"I think they'll certainly have a very good team. And, you know, we'll look forward to the challenge," said MacDougall

"We've had a few of our players that have played internationally at the under-18 level against Russia. So, I think, you know, any time you get to put the Maple Leaf on, it's very special. And then the double opportunity to play Russia, is, I think, pretty unique for our group."

Russians highly skilled

This weekend's series came together through a U.S. promoter

"It will probably be the last true event for the 40th anniversary. I think earlier in the day the world juniors will play Russia over in Russia. And then it's kind of neat that we get to play a Russian all-star team over here in Canada in Fredericton."

Thursday night was UNB's first practice and only half the team made it due to the storm.

Practices are scheduled for Friday night and Saturday.

MacDougall said it remains to be seen how close the teams will be in skill level

"We don't know a whole lot about them. They're going to have some games under their belt before coming up here. The Russians have a high skill level. We'll have to be very good with the puck and take advantage of our opportunities."

MacDougall said the 1972 series was one of those real special moments in international hockey for Canada. As a young Canadian fan, he said he was "a little dumbfounded" at how tough it was going to be to beat the Russians.

He said the final winning goal by Canada's Paul Henderson "unified the country a bit."

There are no more tickets available online for Monday's game in Fredericton, but still plenty for the first game Sunday afternoon in Saint John.