Just a little over two and half years ago, an event occurred in our nation that made everyone stop. It was surreal moment. I remember where I was, what I was doing and remember a tear shed down my face. On April 6th, 2018, the Humboldt tragedy took place. It weighed heavy on a lot of Canadians as it became extremely personal to most of us. The tragedy struck chord with Canadians as it made many of us realize how that bus could been someone they knew and loved. Almost every Canadian, has a loved one that has played hockey and spent endless hours driving on buses.
Hockey is a language that is shared across Canada. If you take a fisherman from the east coast and put him on oil the rigs of Alberta with guys from Fort MacMurray, they will surely be able have something in common to talk about. And that is Hockey. Hockey plays a critical role to Canada as a society. It’s interesting to observe, that our nation has its own subculture’s that vary from region to region. Hockey is a true constant for our nation. It breaks down the walls of those subcultures. In terms of attachment to the Canadian identity, the Humboldt crash was up there with Sidney Crosby’s “Golden Goal” at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Both incidents were moments of extreme emotion, but on two opposite ends of the spectrum. Seeing Canadians placing hockey sticks outside their doors of their houses to honour the victims of this tragedy touched Canadians differently.
It was so relatable for people coast to coast and it was evident to see when you look at the amount of proceeds that were raised to help out the victims and their families. The response of our nation made me prouder than ever to be Canadian.
IDK
Sport, Not Games ⚽ 