Hockey Day in Canada
Oh, the good ol’ hockey game, it’s the best game you can name... come on everybody, sing along. You’re more likely to know the words to “The Hockey Song” than Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.”
Hockey Day in Canada is a major marketing campaign for Scotiabank and Sportsnet, but what the heck, our nation’s love of hockey is a great thing to celebrate.
All seven Canadian NHL teams are playing on Saturday including three games that are head-to-head. Sportsnet will be bringing out some beloved figures from the past.
Today, rather than say what’s bad about hockey, let’s stress the positive.
We were a nation that only a generation ago vowed never to leave the house on a Saturday night for fear of missing Hockey Night in Canada.
Ice hockey has continually evolved over the past 100 years, nowhere more obvious than in the women’s game and oldtimers hockey.
More Canadians are playing more than ever. Thanks to programs like Jumpstart, underprivileged kids can experience Canada’s game at the recreational level. Some cities offer teams for Special Olympians.
There are also continued efforts to improve player safety through various rule changes and awareness programs.
There’s joy on the faces of every fan watching a Rockets, Warriors, Vees or Vipers game.
Thinking back, those of us over a certain age can recall trading hockey cards with classmates. Then there was the anticipation of a gift under the Christmas tree, hoping it was our favourite team’s jersey or one of those cool stand-up games where you battled with a mini puck.
Those of us over the age of 50 will always remember where we were when Paul Henderson and later Sidney Crosby scored their “goals of the century.”
There’s nothing more joyous on a cold winter’s day than seeing families skating together at Stuart Park in Kelowna or little kids playing shinny hockey on the outdoor rink at the Penticton Lakeside Resort. I’m getting goosebumps. Quick, somebody cue Stompin’ Tom. Thanks Sportsnet and Scotiabank for making us stop and remember that hockey is a great part of Canadian culture. —James Miller Valley Editor