National Hockey League lockouts

I was secretly relieved when the NHL locked out the players. I know many enjoy it. But I am not one of them. Stephen Lewis says 'It's always easier being a critic, and to denounce.' Yet, I've seen more harm done in schools in the name of team spirit than anything else. A I wrote previously, Let's go back to a time when pick-up, shinny rinks made the sport affordable and fun. This is what Hockey Day is all about!

I do not like hockey. I don't watch hockey, except in the case of an Olympic game, which holds to a higher standard than the NHL. I loathe the Enforcers. The Summer 2011 deaths of enforcers, from head trauma, has led to journalists like Roy MacGregor to write of them. His summary of the latest game was telling. Unacceptable.

I loathe the Canadian juniors who played in the way of the NHL, with more penalties than goals.
"Canada's junior hockey team has to avoid penalty box: Coach"
Some blamed anything but too many penalties and fighting, with our player suspended for 4 games:
Canada's travel to the tournament was the most arduous since Moscow hosted the event in 2001. Hockey Canada had a comprehensive plan to deal with jet lag and travel fatigue.

We live in a country where diet, nutrition, high level training, and a high standard of living ensures that our athletes are well-taken care of. In fact, some report sitting in a waiting room for an MRI booked months ago, only to see someone like an NHL player waltz past them.
Having lived in Muskoka, we heard many tales of out of control NHL cottage owners, in their $2 - 3 million summer homes. What a world where the Ontario government attacks its teachers, yet hockey players, who flip a puck into a net, are worshipped and followed.

Russia, however, is improving in their treatment of its citizens. Their players, who live and play in North America, are learning how to play. But they lower themselves to the lowest common denominator, rather than a good, clean game.

Yes, I was secretly glad they were locked out. I had hoped that we would hear, see, read, news reports of other sports. Sports so little covered in Canada, with amateur women who continue to play their favourite games while holding down full-time jobs. No more than small headlines as women continue to race to fantastic positions on podiums.

Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport ...

On yard duty!

the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport is in business to encourage girls and women to get out of the bleachers, off the sidelines

Some things have changed. While teaching, my girls began to be much more active. It was a gradual change over 25 years teaching gym and doing yard duty.
We are finding Canadian women sports heroes:

• Soccer's Christine Sinclair named CP female athlete of the year

Little about Christine Sinclair's brilliant performance at the London Olympics came as a surprise to her teammates. - December 28, 2012 ....More

Hockey day in Canada

This is the 9th edition of Hockey Day In Canada, 2009. It's an annual celebration of shinny, the best of what hockey is all about. No fights, just fun. Outdoors, there will be games across Canada, on 233 outdoor hockey rinks.

Rick Cornaccchia, a Torontonian, is currently coach of the Italian national hockey team. He will provide colour commentary on a Italian-language broadcast of Hockey Night In Canada. What is fun, in this global world, are Canadians who go abroad to share their expertise with the rest of the world. What a great opportunity to work with people in another country whose infrastructure does not support the kind of amateur play we enjoy here in Canada.

We only watch hockey if Canada plays.
My children are avid fans, but I can't stand the fighting!

Not that we don't have team spirit...When I taught in Ottawa it was an interesting, if thought provoking rivalry!

We had fun with hockey in the old days. I remember my father taking us to see the Maple Leafs in downtown Toronto. My brother had all the paraphenalia. The cost of attending games in Ottawa precluded the expense for me. Parking is exhorbitant, the snacks expensive and exclusive!

I cannot stand the game anymore. The fighting just revolts me. I like the finesse of gaining and keeping control of the puck on that slim surface of a hockey stick. But controlling your opponents by coach-provoked blind-sided hits is a disgusting way to PLAY a game. I am all for taking fights and such hits out of the game.

Concussions in all sports abounds. It is a life threatening, serious problem with players and coaches who do not take this issue seriously. Much discussion ensued after the death of Don Sanderson. Each year, according to a 2004 healthlink post, 40,000 high school football players suffer concussions. The symptoms are debilitating and many over the course of a life time of play must have a profound effect on a person. Even one concussion can have a lasting effect, they say.

Let's go back to a time when pick-up, shinny rinks made the sport affordable and fun. This is what Hockey Day is all about!