Growing up in Canada, hockey was part of life. My earliest memory is going to a game that my dad played in. I mostly remember being freaked out by the blood and all the men with missing teeth.
I learned to skate as soon as I could walk. My hockey coach grandfather bought all the cousins our first skates. There seemed to always be a hockey game on at any house we visited. We played in driveways, on the street, on frozen ponds. There were little games with slots and tiny players that could only move so far. Everyone I knew had a stick, wrapped lovingly in black electrical tape.
Last night we watched a hockey game.
It was part of a four country series between Sweden, Finland, Canada and the U.S. The game was between Canada and the US.
Now this particular game made me nostalgic for hockey from my childhood. Was it because of the three fights that broke out in the first nine seconds? Maybe, but that was just the first nine seconds.
The rest of the game was fast and serious and every single player on both teams seemed to be very passionate about winning.
At the end, we couldn’t believe it was over. It was like watching playoff hockey, only more intense.
I found out after the game was over, that this was only the beginning of the series. Wow.
I guess they’re saying the fights were staged. Still. It was fun to see no one taking the fighting too seriously, kind of how it was back in the day. Kind of fun to see a good, well balanced contest between two teams playing hard to win.
This series should be an advertisement for the NHL. It was compelling and fun and yeah. Anyone remember old school hockey? There were some watchable games back then. I’m glad we were able to see this one.
Also watchable, very much so…
Oh and about being patriotic? I was feeling pretty Canadian. My brother was watching the same game up in Calgary on a big screen with a whole group of friends. A childhood friend was watching in Las Vegas, while his brother was watching in Sweden, where he now lives.
OK. I admit it, I wanted Canada to win. In overtime, in a dramatic nail biting conclusion.What can I say? I’m Canadian 🤷🇨🇦
Peace Kit 