tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3367546586408407055.post3129906203059601244..comments2023-10-20T11:05:22.970-05:00Comments on a capital wasteland: Hockey and whitenessAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17610362516643225493noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3367546586408407055.post-30256342426276151312010-08-24T19:32:53.504-05:002010-08-24T19:32:53.504-05:00Good piece, Jake. Your Dad steered me to you site....Good piece, Jake. Your Dad steered me to you site.<br /><br />I got to see Willie O'Ree play for the San Diego Gulls when i was a kid. He was a real fan favorite.<br />John HolbrookeJohnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06298969273594493964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3367546586408407055.post-90207524477947016282010-08-10T13:07:36.536-05:002010-08-10T13:07:36.536-05:00The biggest reason for the lack of colour in hocke...The biggest reason for the lack of colour in hockey is definitely that it favours a cold climate. The second biggest reason is definitely the cost of the sport. Probably the third reason would be racism/prejudice. <br /><br />First Nations players definitely face the most racism, they kind of have a double whammy against them. There are plenty of them in cold climates, but they generally face enormous financial disadvantage (live in poverty, high costs to leave community to go to hockey camps, etc.). Guys like Cheechoo and Tootoo probably faced more racism than players like Brashear and Iginla did, though those players certainly encountered their fair share. <br /><br />We are starting to see black Swedish players, brown Canadian players and even Newfies. But the financial barriers are probably tougher to overcome than racial ones. Hockey isn't lagging behind, it's the larger issue of the long standing financial advantage whites have had in these countries.saskhabhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05301193127732448418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3367546586408407055.post-22478095678276417202010-08-10T09:29:41.996-05:002010-08-10T09:29:41.996-05:00Canadian mom: I'm glad you got something out o...Canadian mom: I'm glad you got something out of my writing. As much as I love hockey, I don't think I'll ever have the perspective someone like you brings to the table. And your quibble with my depiction of Canadian pond hockey is well taken!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15733493821560041542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3367546586408407055.post-48145137146928252572010-08-10T05:38:33.124-05:002010-08-10T05:38:33.124-05:00Jake,
Great job analyzing the apparent monocultur...Jake,<br /><br />Great job analyzing the apparent monoculturalism of hockey. I think your basic argument is right on. People who live in cold climates are more likely to play hockey. Until recently, Canada has been a pretty white place, however, we also have really high immigration rates, so I think you'll see the racial/cultural profile of the Canadian contribution to the NHL change within the next half-generation.<br /><br />A small quibble with your depiction of Canadian pond hockey - it's not really that common. Most people don't have access to ponds or the inclination to get the ice in shape. for play What is more common are Dads who flood the back yard at midnight with garden hoses (and frozen hands) to make a rink for their little Gretzkys. Also, in the cold provinces (almost all of them) municipal officials will set up free outdoor rinks in parks and playing fields. Usually hockey players take over the rinks at night. Nevertheless, despite the free access, it's still an expensive sport. Most kids don't get the coaching and experience they need to excel in the sport in one of those community rinks so (costly) organized league play is required. Also, the cost of equipment for growing kids can run into serious dollars. (Parents pray their child won't become a goalie.)<br /><br />We came from BC (a warmer province) to Ont when my son was 11 and he had few ice skating or hockey skills. However, his college roommates were dedicated hockey players so he took up the sport at age 18 - rather late for a Canadian boy - and now plays rec hockey pretty regularly.<br /><br />Final point - check out the challenges of Cdn First Nations people in hockey. First Nations (Indian and Inuit) players are not well represented at higher levels because of the cost of participation, but also because good players are reluctant to break with family and community to enter junior and college hockey programs. (And also, there continues to be too much discrimination against First Nations people in Canada by their non-native countrymen.) There are exceptions of course - Jordin Tootoo and Kenny Nolan come to mind - but there are still very few First Nations players in the professional ranks.<br /><br />You write very well. Hope you keep it up.Canadian momnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3367546586408407055.post-61724422202565348462010-08-07T19:25:15.659-05:002010-08-07T19:25:15.659-05:00SwedeTom: You should write a book about it! A Swed...SwedeTom: You should write a book about it! A Swedish version of the famous Canadian children's book The Hockey Sweater, with a Mats Naslund jersey instead of a Maurice Richard jersey.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15733493821560041542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3367546586408407055.post-30077653254772428532010-08-07T18:34:38.154-05:002010-08-07T18:34:38.154-05:00interesting piece.
I grew up in a small village i...interesting piece.<br /><br />I grew up in a small village in the northern part of Sweden, still live there actually. Back then 2-300 people lived here and maybe 30 kids, everyone of us were on the ice every day after school (there were no rink but we had ice) and a lot of fun matches were played (me in a Mats Näslund-jersey if you care to look him up). Northern part of Sweden (Norrland in Swedish) is like that, small towns, smaller villages and nothing much to do but skate or ski in the winter. In all those years I was on the ice, only one black guy showed up and when that happened the first time, everyone stopped, It was his first time on ice and it were our first time to se a black guy. <br />Nowdays, at a age close to Mike Modano and Niklas Lidström, I pop a beer together with my best friend (that black new guy) and laugh about the old days.<br /><br />no real comment on your post,<br />just a small snapshot of my life.SwedeTomnoreply@blogger.com