Last night I watched Canada dismantle Russia in Men's Hockey at Mike Place, the graduate student pub here on campus. It was a fun atmosphere. At one point, near the end of the second period, I was in line for a beer. There was a gentleman standing near the line wearing a Team Canada Hockey jersey. He looked visibly uncomfortable and was pacing back and forth as if he were trying to work up the nerve for something. I couldn't tell if he was trying to talk himself into or out of another beer.
With just a few minutes left to play in the second, I heard him mutter to himself (and perhaps the hockey gods), "This is the hardest thing I ever had to do." He quickly averted his eyes from the television. He might have even held his breath. Then he ducked his head and hurried quickly out the door.
I'll never know what it was that ripped this poor, tortured soul from his beloved team, but here's hoping it will always be the hardest thing he ever has to do.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
It's a sad day in Canada
For the second time since I've been here, in a major tournament a Canadian hockey team has lost to an American hockey team on Canadian ice. A professor suggested today that the sluggish response of the class was a result of everyone mourning the loss. A classmate pointed out that at least one of us wasn't sad. All eyes shifted to the American in the room. I'd love to gloat, but it feels a little hollow considering how little I know about hockey compared to how much the Canadians know.
The first week I was here I was in the commons room watching a little TV. There were a couple of nice Canadians there watching the final of the World Junior Hockey Championships. This is an international tournament of under 19 hockey players...the Future of the NHL. The tournament takes place from December 26 to January 5 each year and it is a Canadian holiday tradition to watch. While I was watching the final almost everyone passing by in the hallway stopped in to see what the score was. Everyone knew about this game...except for me.
This year Canada was the heavy favorite and had already beaten the US team in earlier preliminary rounds. Other than that game, they blew everyone else out of the water. AND they were playing in Canada. The game was close, but I left early, before it had finished. The next day I stopped into a pub for some lunch. At some point the network on all of the televisions began a replay of the WJHC final game from the night before. There was an audible groan from almost every person in the bar and the bartender quickly changed the station on all the televisions. I knew from their reactions the US had pulled an upset...winning 6-5 in a dramatic shootout.
So last night, when the US defeated Canada in the Olympics on Canadian home ice I imagine there was a collective groan across the country. I wasn't watching.
I do appear to be good luck for American hockey, however. My presence in Canada must have created some cosmic hockey magic for the US. We'll see. This was only the preliminary rounds. The US and Canada may meet again before I leave.
The first week I was here I was in the commons room watching a little TV. There were a couple of nice Canadians there watching the final of the World Junior Hockey Championships. This is an international tournament of under 19 hockey players...the Future of the NHL. The tournament takes place from December 26 to January 5 each year and it is a Canadian holiday tradition to watch. While I was watching the final almost everyone passing by in the hallway stopped in to see what the score was. Everyone knew about this game...except for me.
This year Canada was the heavy favorite and had already beaten the US team in earlier preliminary rounds. Other than that game, they blew everyone else out of the water. AND they were playing in Canada. The game was close, but I left early, before it had finished. The next day I stopped into a pub for some lunch. At some point the network on all of the televisions began a replay of the WJHC final game from the night before. There was an audible groan from almost every person in the bar and the bartender quickly changed the station on all the televisions. I knew from their reactions the US had pulled an upset...winning 6-5 in a dramatic shootout.
So last night, when the US defeated Canada in the Olympics on Canadian home ice I imagine there was a collective groan across the country. I wasn't watching.
I do appear to be good luck for American hockey, however. My presence in Canada must have created some cosmic hockey magic for the US. We'll see. This was only the preliminary rounds. The US and Canada may meet again before I leave.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Missing American Commercialism
So I watched the Super Bowl here in Canada. Great game! The Saints rock. If the Cowboys couldn't win it all, I'm glad they did. Drew Brees is probably my favorite quarterback in the NFL.
It didn't occur to me until two commercial breaks in that we don't get the same commercials here in Canada. I usually think the commercial hype is lame and most commercials are disappointing at best. But tonight I found myself missing them. Even the lame ones. We got a few, but no very many. I couldn't help but feel like I was missing out on some sort of pop culture experience.
Here we had commercials for Canadian Tire, Scotiabank and Rogers Cable. Oh, and just in case you were not aware, the Olympics are about to start...and they are in CANADA! No really, the Olympics are in Canada this year. REALLY!
I also learned the secret for adapting American products to the Canadian market. Just add hockey and stir. If I were Walmart, what would I do? Make a commercial centered around Walmart products that involves getting up early to take my little girl to hockey practice. Masterful! If I were Gatorade or Nike or some other sporting good company, what would I do? Well, if there is football in the American version, replace it with hockey. Want to show runners, put them in tights and a toque (Canadian for hat) and make them look cold. If you can show their breath, all the better. People playing soccer? Go out of your way to show that it is happening indoors. No one plays soccer outside here, in the cold. Is there any way to integrate ice skating other than hockey? If so, add it.
So I missed all of the ridiculous American commercials. If there were any you really liked, please share them in the comments. I need your help.
Oh, and did you know the Olympics are coming to Canada very soon?
It didn't occur to me until two commercial breaks in that we don't get the same commercials here in Canada. I usually think the commercial hype is lame and most commercials are disappointing at best. But tonight I found myself missing them. Even the lame ones. We got a few, but no very many. I couldn't help but feel like I was missing out on some sort of pop culture experience.
Here we had commercials for Canadian Tire, Scotiabank and Rogers Cable. Oh, and just in case you were not aware, the Olympics are about to start...and they are in CANADA! No really, the Olympics are in Canada this year. REALLY!
I also learned the secret for adapting American products to the Canadian market. Just add hockey and stir. If I were Walmart, what would I do? Make a commercial centered around Walmart products that involves getting up early to take my little girl to hockey practice. Masterful! If I were Gatorade or Nike or some other sporting good company, what would I do? Well, if there is football in the American version, replace it with hockey. Want to show runners, put them in tights and a toque (Canadian for hat) and make them look cold. If you can show their breath, all the better. People playing soccer? Go out of your way to show that it is happening indoors. No one plays soccer outside here, in the cold. Is there any way to integrate ice skating other than hockey? If so, add it.
So I missed all of the ridiculous American commercials. If there were any you really liked, please share them in the comments. I need your help.
Oh, and did you know the Olympics are coming to Canada very soon?
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