Hockey's Influence on Canada- A 5-page essay on the impact the game of hockey has on Canadian culture...

Maurice “Rocket” Richard, a legendary hockey player of the mid-twentieth century for the Montreal Canadiens, is recognized for his profound dedication and impact for the game of hockey. His influence, nevertheless, extends beyond hockey, especially for French Canadians in Quebec. As French-English relations in the province and in the National Hockey League were strained during the 1950s and 1960s, French Canadians looked to Richard as a culturally significant figure. While Maurice Richard himself would say that he was simply a hockey player, his effect on French Canadians impacted politics and culture in Quebec. This essay will argue that Maurice Richard’s identity as a French Canadian was in constant struggle within the English

“There was a prejudicial feeling toward American players that the 1980 Winter Olympics helped to turn around,” adds ESPN analyst Bill Clement, a Canadian who was playing in the NHL in 1980. “Before then, the criticism of American players was that they weren't tough enough, couldn't score when they had to, and couldn't win big games for you or with you. That mentality began to change after 1980.”

The most memorable moment in hockey history came thirty-four years ago with the 1980 Miracle on Ice. The Americans defeating the dominant Soviet team at the Olympics was not only an important triumph for USA Hockey, but for the entire nation. Contrary to popular belief, the underdog win was not only the result of a miracle; it was also the result of a hard-working team led by Coach Herb Brooks. With increasingly negative views on the position of the United States in the Cold War, the Miracle on Ice and the gold medal win lifted the spirits of the nation and brought hockey into the American spotlight.

The cost of playing in hockey at the elite level is simply just too expensive for a typical middle class Canadian family to be able to afford. Hockey Academies are private schools, which are a luxury where you go to school and practice and perfect your skills as a hockey player at the same time. Personal Training and Hockey Schools are tools that could be used to become a better hockey player by getting stronger, faster and more practice time during the off-season. The raise in prices for ice time, leagues and Equipment has crippled families’ earnings every season. The middle class family simply cannot afford these luxuries to help their kids become better hockey players. The middle class families are looking for other ways of getting money to support their child throughout sport. These factors are making hockey less competitive at the younger ages as there is an income discrimination within the sport of hockey, the numbers of participants are lower, less players are keeping with the sport, and kids are joining other cheaper sports. Well, Violence is the reason why the are moving away from the sport. Violence is an issue, but there was more violence in the sport in the earlier days. We still have the best hockey team nationally in the world and the best players in the National Hockey League, so why worry? Canadian Families are still going into debt as they are chasing their kid’s dream of joining the 0.1% of Canadian hockey players that make the NHL. Simply, playing hockey

From watching his dad become Prime Minister to becoming one himself, this fellow Canadian has impacted Canada the most!

The attempt of cultural reassertion by the Aboriginals into society advanced for a short time, however, in the National Hockey League from the mid 1970s to 2000, the amount of Aboriginals participating in hockey were at a very low number. Valentine (2012) demonstrates that Aboriginal representation in the National Hockey League consisted of at least 1 percent of the league’s players, which is a direct relation to the cultural racism experienced in sport in Canada (pp. 107-108). Aboriginals were segregated from the dominant white culture, which further created challenges for them to leave Aboriginal communities to pursue sporting opportunities (Canadian Heritage, as cited in Valentine, 2012, p. 111). Valentine (2012) makes an excellent point

The Oxford English Dictionary defines a nation as “A large body of people united by common descent, history, culture, or language, inhabiting a particular state or territory”. With this in mind, we can easily define Canada as not only a country, but a country with a nation, fitting all of the above criteria. While Canada can be thought of as one huge nation, we can also point out that within Canada, there are smaller nations. For the express purpose of this essay, the smaller nation to be pointed out is the one of the Hockey Nation. Fitting the criteria from the definition, the Hockey Nation was formed from a common descent (the people of Canada), has its own history (of how it came to be), it’s own culture and language (hockey terms have developed

When Team USA beat the Soviet in 1980 it was important for the US hockey world because that team was seeded seventh entering the game against the Soviet Union. During the 1980 Olympic run the average was 22 and all the players were that year were both amateur and college players and the Soviet’s team was mainly professional and experienced players. This win gave coach Herb Brooks a place in history because he did something no other USA coach has done for the last twenty years and that is beat Russia, and he was named sportsman of the year in 1990.

Considering the significant effect that hockey has on the Canadian economy, the millions of Canadians entertained, and the countless decades of celebrated, memorable history, hockey should be named Canada’s true national sport.

The greatest moments in Canada are not based on the past but on the future "Canada's best days lie in the future rather than the past."(Nicholas Kohler) In the past, Canada was never known for all the wonderful stuff we did. As we take a look now we realize that we are progressively improving. We have a free health care we have a clean and beautiful landscape and we have a superstar representing our country and more to come.

The vastness of Canada ranges from the metropolis of Vancouver to the idyllic Nova Scotia. Through the seasons from summer to winter, Canada carries the sporting heritage. As a pastime for young children out on the snowy land hockey is catered to all ages. Canada has come into its own while taking the best bits of pieces from other countries. Hockey through and through is a keystone for Canadians - All Canadians whether they speak French or English.

Bowling argues, just how modern Hockey is become too political and is affecting the authentic of players performances skill due to economic gain through marketing and endorsements. “That Don Cherry can use his few minutes of nationally televised screen-time every week to lobby for increased support of Canada's armed forces proves just how powerfully the hockey/nationhood .This explains notions of patriotism and manhood

They have also had a hand in reaching out to the international community and establishing International Day of the Girl. In closing of my essay I come to the conclusion that Canada is a very diverse country with many different kinds of people from all walks of life. There have been natives that have lived there for thousands of years before it was colonized by Europeans. Many of their customs have been influenced by their founding European nations as well as making customs and traditions for themselves.

The story of the United States Olympic Hockey team has been presented as feature films, documentaries and books. The miracle may have happened over three decades ago, but it continues to ring loudly in the hearts of Americans as if the initial celebration was still carrying on in the streets of Lake Placid that were bursting with national pride. Sports have a uniting factor on countries around the world and the United States is no different. A look into our history and you will find plenty of moments where Americans stood together to chant "U-S-A, U-S-A!" to those chosen to represent our country. The United States hockey team's defeat of the Soviet Union was just that. It wasn't just a hockey game. It was so much more.

Hockey: Yes, of course I play hockey...and OF COURSE I root for Canadian players. No I’m not a professional fighter, you get kicked out of the league for