Hockey eh

You don't really realize the importance of hockey as part of the Canadian national identity until you step outside of Canada. Suddenly, the world seems a lot bigger and emptier without the comforting knowledge that Saturday's Hockey Night in Canada is just around the corner. You find yourself wondering what absurd suit Don Cherry is wearing? and what comment will he make that will cause Ron Maclean to cover his face with his hands trying to hold back calling him an idiot? Without the daily update from Dan O'Toole and Jay Onrait you are lost in the world of sports. You have no idea what the TSN turning point of the day was and you can't even begin to guess how the Canucks finished off the third.

Whether you grew up around hockey or not, whether you knew the rules to offside, or when a ref should call slashing or roughing it doesn't really matter. You knew that come May long weekend when the weather started to get nicer there would be a line up of boys on the road curving sticks and dragging hockey nets out of the garage. The sound of chatter and chirping interspersed with the universal call for time out - CAR! Playoffs meant that your Dad would start to sport and unusual amount of facial hair (and complain about it itching the whole time), game 7 meant an undeclared bank holiday and overtime meant you were to follow an undeclared house rule to duck in front of the TV if you had to get up (and it had better be a good reason).

You learned a lot of lessons from watching games too. You learned that its ok for grown men to cry over a loss, that you should stick up for your teammates and that a black eye or a broken jaw didn't mean sit this one out, it means persevere. From hours spent at the rink, either on the ice or in the stands you learned to cheer for a common goal and shake hands no matter the outcome. On the drive home you learned to give praise when deserved and simply say "Next time" when it was not (because there was always a next time). But most of all, you learned that the Canadian national anthem  is sung at the beginning of games not only because of tradition and out of respect, but because hockey is undeniably a part of Canada, and is indelibly painted, just like the blue line on the ice, into the mosaic of this country.