Canada's Greatest Sport

Have you ever wondered why so many Canadians love the game of hockey? “You've got to love what you're doing. If you love it, you can overcome any handicap or the soreness or all the aches and pains, and continue to play for a long, long time.” - Gordie Howe. Hockey is a Canadian game and a lot of people love to play or watch the sport. They play the game whether it is inside rinks, or outside on ponds. It is played across the country.

Many people debate about where hockey originated. Some believe that it began in Canada and others believe started in England. You might be wondering why people believe hockey is from England? In my research, I found many articles stating that hockey began in England. One author from the National Post said “....hockey isn’t our game. Not originally. Rather, it is a creation myth knotted up with our national identity.”  The author went on to say, that Canada has maybe two or three references saying that it is the birth places but then you see England and they have hundreds of references. Some even state that it started in the 1790s. When looking online, I also found an article which explains that hockey was first called ice hurley in early 1788 and slowly became known as ice hockey.

The game that everyone loves started in Windsor, Ontario. A published author, Garth Vaughan, said that ice hurley was first a field sport called Hurley. Hurley then became Ice Hurley when the boys of Canada's first collage started playing on ponds. After many years Ice Hurley became Ice Hockey. Many people think hockey is Canada’s national winter sport, but if you do your research, you will learn that might not be true.  Regardless, hockey is fun no matter where it originated because it brings people together and it doesn’t matter how old you are or how good!

Many people play hockey for the fun of it. They don't care if they win a medal or if they lose because they are enjoying a passion shared by many people. One of the reasons so many people have fun playing the game is because you get to meet so many new people. In my personal experience, I've met someone new each year I have played the sport. I like meeting new people in hockey because you can become really good friends when you spend the whole season together. It's exciting to meet new people on a team because it's easy to get along when you share the same passion. I also know that even if you don't play on the same team, you are bound to share power skating lessons or practices and you see the same people around the arena all season long. You just end up talking with everyone! Playing hockey is exciting because it helps you learn new skills and learn to work as a team with a common goal. When everyone is working as a team toward winning, it's an enjoyable game to play and watch. See what you're missing out on yet? It could also have some other benefits too. You don’t need the latest equipment or expensive arenas, just grab a stick and ball and a couple of goalposts and play. Hockey can be played in an arena, at a community outdoor rink, or even on the road or driveway.

Not only is hockey fun to play, but it can also have some health benefits. Hockey makes you exercise your body and requires a combination of aerobic and anaerobic fitness. You work your muscles and get your heart rate up when playing the game, which helps you maintain a good physical condition. Hockey can help you burn about 475-700 calories per hour.  Mentally, when playing, you can focus on the game and leave all your worries behind. You don't have to worry about stress from school or work. Stress is an unhealthy habit that some people have. I took a small survey sample asking people who played hockey if they think about their school stress or if they just focused on the game and don’t worry about anything else. The majority of the people I surveyed said they don’t think about their school worries when they are playing. I asked a goalie her perspective and she said “When you're a goalie you have to stay focused on the game even when it's in their zone. Especially if you're having a good game, you have to be really focused and you have to think about the saves you're about to make because if your mind wanders you're not going to be ready.” Another player said “Sometimes on the bench, I think about school stress but when I am on the ice I am usually focused on the game.” Hockey is a very vigorous sport that makes you sweat, think and work hard. Do you see why hockey is so good for your body and mental health?

I reason I keep playing hockey is because I love the dedication that everyone puts into having a good time and the way you feel when you win a game or score a goal can’t be beat. Across our country many people get enjoyment and exercise by playing the game of hockey. Lots of Canadians still play shinny and pond hockey. No matter who you are or how good you are, everyone plays for the love of the game.