Canadian Hockey's Effect On Canadian Society

Canadian hockey is an important component to Canadian identity and way of life and if hockey had a less prominent place in Canadian society, this would change Canadians in many ways. Hockey impacts Canadians at all levels including youth hockey, minor hockey and professional hockey in the NHL. As hockey is one of Canada’s national sports, it demonstrates how valued the sport is in Canada. Hockey to Canadians is not just a sport, but is also a means of community and unity. It is also one of the most widespread sports across Canada and influences Canadians directly through individual or family participation or indirectly by cheering for local or professional NHL teams or by watching Olympic hockey.

In Canada, hockey is commonly referred to as

“Canada’s game”. In Module 1 it states, “In 2010, 80% of Canadians watched the Olympic gold medal final between Canada and the U.S. the most watched event in Canadian history” (Nestor, Module 1, 2018). In 2010 5.3 million Canadians united and watched this hockey game between Canada and the United States (Nestor, Module 1, 2018). This shows how many people enjoy hockey in Canada and that people are brought together by this sport, making it extremely influential in Canada. Based on a CBC News article, there are over 600,000 young Canadians under the ages of eighteen registered and participating in hockey in 2012 and 1.24 million Canadians fifteen years and older playing hockey in Canada (CBC News, 2013). Based on this information, at least 80% of Canadians have been impacted by Canadian Olympic hockey alone, not including those who actually participate in the sport themselves. According to the article, “Hockey, Canada's game, not its most popular”, Hockey is the 2nd most practiced sport, behind golf, among adults fifteen years and older at 4.4% of Canadians (CBC News, 2013). This article also states that based on a poll from 2012, 48% of Canadians believe that hockey is an important component of personal or collective pride in Canada (CBC News, 2013). Not only is hockey among the most practiced sport, but also almost half of all Canadians are influenced by the individual and team pride associated with Canadian hockey.
Across Canada, Hockey can be found everywhere from local small town rinks, to NHL games, or even in advertisements. Canadian hockey establishes community across the country. If hockey were less prominent in Canada, the community and cohesion that is created by hockey from coast to coast would be vastly reduced. Not only is hockey viewed as a pastime in Canada, but it also a professional sport that is a public spectacle available to all Canadians. This means that many people would be involved in hockey in some way whether a they or a family member plays hockey, they watch and cheer for a local team, cheer for a professional team in the NHL or even team Canada at the Olympic games. Almost every Canadian will have been involved in hockey in some way throughout their life in Canada.
Across Canada, there are also many NHL fans that would be able to support additional teams across Canada.

Based on the information provided in the document, The new Economics of the NHL, by T. Keller, it states, “Only one 5fth of the NHL’s teams are Canadian, yet the country’s fans account for nearly one third of the league’s revenues” (Keller, 2011). This demonstrates that despite Canada’s relatively low population to the United States and lower team numbers in the country, Canada still accounts for one third of the NHL’s revenues. Even when Canadian dedication is compared to hockey in the United States, who has more NHL teams and higher population, Canadians still contribute significantly to the leagues overall sales. If Canada had even more teams in different locations, such as Quebec, this revenue contribution could possibly grow even more and further establish the bond Canada has with hockey

overall.
Despite the hockey factors that define Canadians, there are many challenges that have negatively influenced hockey and possibly reduce the outlook of hockey in Canada.

Some of these factors include high costs and time commitment of hockey participation, increasing violence issues in hockey and diversity. Although other factors, may be negatively impacting the view of hockey to some, the information from Forum 1 outline how hockey is crucial to the Canadian identity. NHL hockey teams and professional players influence youth hockey players and Canadians by uniting people, and allowing young hockey players the opportunity to see their individual potentials. If hockey in Canada wishes to continue it’s growth, these challenges will have to be addressed as hockey is becoming more expensive to participate in. As a result the sport is becoming less assessable to lower income families, which could be negatively influencing participation rates as other alternatives aside from hockey are being chosen for youth. The sport can be seen as violent, which also may be straying participation to other “perceived safer” sports. There is also racism that is demonstrated in hockey, which occurs in most sports. Canada will have to create plans to reduce the racism in hockey to ensure equal treatment to all

players.
Regardless of the challenges the sport faces, Canadian hockey influences people in many ways. This ranges from developing local community relationship by having children or family participating in the sport to watching a professional or Olympic team play. Without hockey, Canada would have a void that builds relationships and is a well-know pastime across the country. Hockey is not only “just a sport” but rather is an aspect that helps define and shape Canada. As a result, it is important to address the concerns and hurdles Canadian hockey is experiencing to ensure the continued growth of the sport and have new participants each year to be involved in this sport and continue it’s Canadian legacy for years to come.