Team Canada hockey player Sidney Crosby opines in a recent commercial that: “Tim Hortons celebrates hockey as it brings together all Canadians, our passion grows on the ice.” It appears that Canada’s most popular coffee chain is trying to cash in on the marketing opportunity offered by the upcoming Olympic Games in Vancouver. However, their message is correct, as hockey really does bring together all Canadians, no more so than in the Olympics.
Hockey is more than a game for most Canadians; it is a way of life, a sense of pride, and above all, provides a distinct identity. Hockey carries great resonance in the hearts of all Canadians, making it a unique institution in the culture. With the upcoming Olympics on Canadian soil, fans are expecting a high medal count. The inflated pre-Olympic projections are adding fuel to the fire. It seems as though every channel on television, particularly CTV, the main broadcaster, has featured commercials and specials about athletes looking forward to winning a gold medal in their home country.
The expectations are especially high for the Canadian men’s hockey team. Executive director Steve Yzerman and head coach Mike Babcock named the roster last month. It featured the expected choices for the team, but there were some surprises mixed in. A few members played themselves into contention for a spot on the team, such s the young Drew Doughty, and Patrice Bergeron, who was not even invited to the orientation camp. Defenceman Scott Niedermayer will captain the team and Sidney Crosby, Jarome Iginla and Chris Pronger will line up as alternate captains. Interestingly, only seven players carryover from the embarrassing eighth-place showing for Canada in Torino four years ago.
Although the nation’s experts have projected a high medal count, they may not mean much to the most Canadians if the men’s hockey team does not bring home the gold. If the average sports fan choose was forced to choose between a top three overall medal count for Canada, and a gold medal in men’s hockey, the decision would not be difficult. Arun Srinivasan, a third year student at University College remarks: “After the failure in Torino, nothing less than a gold medal would satisfy the most ardent hockey buff.” The implication being that many Canadians are ardent hockey buffs, and not as interested in other winter sports.
Not everyone is willing to embrace such a claim, as some people would rather win more overall medals. However, there are an estimated 11 000 people in Canada that have a job that in some way relates to hockey, and these people will certainly have a rooting interest. The power of hockey may not be measured by statistics or sociological studies. The societal importance of hockey cannot be understated. One should examine the Canadian five dollar bill, which features a scene of, among other sports, hockey, alongside a quote from Roch Carrier’s The Hockey Sweater, mentioning that “Our real life was on the skating rink.” For many anxious and hopeful hockey fans, their real life is tied to the possibility of witnessing the men’s hockey team win a gold medal.
The Olympic hockey tournament goes by in a flash, and is extremely unpredictable. So when the games begin, men’s hockey players Sidney Crosby and Jarome Iginla might not be able to develop chemistry on a line. Russian Olympian Alexander Ovechkin may be hesitant to cross-check Washington Capitals teammate Nicklas Backstrom, who will be playing for the Swedes. Team USA’s line-up is undersized, and they may get dominated physically. There are many stories that will play out on the ice between now and the Gold Medal game, and these games will be monumentally important for hockey fans.
