Wow! What a game! I'm talking about Wednesday night's thriller between Canada and Sweden in the Four Nations Face-Off tournament. It was one of the best games I've seen in a while. It was fast and entertaining. It was everything hockey should and can be. Here are some comments about the game, which Canada won 4-3 in overtime.
* There was no fighting. In fact, I think Canada had only one penalty, in the third period. However, every NHL player will always parrot the party line. "It's part of the game," they will invariably claim. I doubt there is a single player who doesn't echo those words. Players are too afraid to go against the grain, to stand against the macho narrative. They fear being ostracized, of having their manliness questioned. If referees called more penalties and there were longer suspensions for fighting, teams would not feel the need to recruit enforcers to protect the more skilled players. The NHL has highlighted fighting as a means of marketing the game in the United States. There are too many teams in the league, and too many games in the regular season. The playoffs last far too long. Thus, the quality of play has been watered down. Furthermore, late June is not the right time for the Stanley Cup championship.
* Kudos to Nova Scotia's Sidney Crosby for his three-assist performance in the game against Sweden. At 37, Sid is no longer a kid, but he still has it. He has been a real leader for Canada in international competition. Thanks, Sid.
* The Swedish team played well, and they deserve credit for their performance.
* It was good to see Mario Lemieux greet the fans in Montreal. Lemieux, a Montreal native, sent the crowd into a frenzy. But where was Wayne Gretzky, Mario's teammate in the 1987 Canada Cup. Gretzky should have been there to lend his support for Team Canada. Instead he was a commentator on TNT, an American cable and satellite television network.
* The All-Star game should be permanently replaced by international competition. Nobody really cares about the Campbell Conference or the Western Conference.
* The NHL puts money about all else. I understand that it's a business. However, the integrity of the game doesn't seem to be a priority. The fans are not respected enough. Many people can't afford to attend a game. Here in Toronto, the corporations fill the arena. On top of all the that, some games are only shown on streaming services. which prevents people from even watching the game on television.
I urge Canadians to refrain from booing the U.S, national anthem. I understand the frustration, and I am appalled by how Trump is treating Canada. Still, the best way to deal with the tariffs is to buy Canadian and refuse to travel to the United States. We must stand up to the bully, but booing the American anthem is not the way to go about it. We can still sing the Canadian anthem louder and with great pride.
- Joanne
