Hockey is one of the most popular sports in the world. Played by millions of people on a daily basis, the sport has been a part of many of our lives. While the sport itself only takes up a small part of our day, we often think about it when other parts of our lives don’t seem to make sense.
Who is the patron saint of hockey players? Is there a particular religious figure that players throughout the world connect with? Through which church do hockey players pray to? These are some of the questions that we will explore here. As we’ll see, the patron saint of hockey players is a unique individual, and not just a figure from Christian history. To truly understand the relationship that most hockey players have with this mythical being, one must first explore the history of hockey itself.
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Origins Of Hockey
Although the first organized hockey games were played in England as far back as the 1800s, the modern sport didn’t take shape until the late 1800s. In fact, the first official game of hockey was played on December 31, 1874, in Montreal, Canada. The sport grew in popularity during this time, and by 1896, had spread to Europe and North America. In 1900, the first National Hockey League was formed, which helped spread the game even more. Since then, hockey has never really gone out of fashion, and remains one of the most popular sports in the world today.
While hockey is a fairly new sport, the tradition of honoring a saint or Biblical figure dates back to the 1800s, when people would play songs and chants to honor the person they were praying to protect them on the ice. This tradition was revived during the 1920s and 30s, when players and fans alike would wear religious symbols on their jerseys to show their faith. This practice was first allowed in the NHL in 1957, and is still current today.
So, who is the patron saint of hockey players? The answer may be more diverse than one would think. Let’s take a closer look.
St. Joseph
Hockey fans in Canada will often point to St. Joseph as the patron saint of their favorite team, the Toronto Marlboros. The team was founded in 1874, and named after their city’s Irish community. St. Joseph was the brother of Jesus, and was considered a great teacher as well as a protector of students. He is often referred to as the patron saint of students and teachers, and is even called the ‘Marlboros’ saint’. The team’s logo incorporates a halo around his head, in reference to his connection with teaching. As we’ve seen, many teams in the NHL have a connection to religious figures: the Montreal Canadiens are associated with St. Patrick, for example, and the Edmonton Oilers are connected with St. Theresa.
It’s important to note that this is not an exhaustive list, as there are many other hockey players‘ patrons that we could’ve included. Our goal here is to give you a better understanding of the relationship that many hockey players have with their sport, and the contribution that it’s made to their lives. Hopefully, this information will help you have better relationships with your favorite hockey players.
Other Patron Saints
While we haven’t included everyone on this list, these are some of the more prominent patron saints of hockey players. The list is endless, as there are many different groups of hockey players (i.e. those who play forward, defense, and in goal), and many different regions (i.e. those who play in Canada, the U.S., or Europe).
Xavier
The Montreal Canadiens’ star player from 1896 to 1899 was none other than the legendary hockey player and teacher, Xavier Dubecky. Dubé was born in Quebec City, and began playing professional hockey at the age of 18. He was a prolific scorer throughout his career, notched over 200 goals in just over 150 games, and was considered one of the best ever to play the game. He played until he was 42 years old, and during that time, established himself as a highly respected teacher, mentor, and player-coach. He is now considered one of the greatest hockey players of all time, and the Montreal fans will always have a special place in their hearts for the great Xavier Dubé!
Handsome Hank
The Philadelphia Flyers are another team that is often referred to as ‘the Franchise of Gentlemanly Savvy Sportsmen’. Hank Greenberg, the owner of the Flyers from 1928 to 1991, made certain that the team always had a classy image, and for that reason, named the team after a legendary Philadelphia sportsman, Harry ‘Handsome’ Hank’ Greenberg. A graduate of Syracuse University, Greenberg joined the U.S. Navy during World War II, and worked in the Philadelphia Office of War Assets, eventually emerging as the city’s leading real estate owner and businessman before eventually purchasing the Flyers in 1957 for a whopping $500,000.
Greenberg was a well-known and widely respected businessman in Philadelphia. He donated generously to many different causes throughout his life, and was a fixture on the Philadelphians’ social scene, playing a role in many community events and fundraisers. He was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 1983, and died at the age of 96 in 2014.
Other Teams, Other Patrons
The Seattle Rainiers are the hometown team of the late Roger Staubach, who played for the team from 1955 to 1965. Born in Tacoma, Staubach starred for the Texas A&M University basketball team from 1942 to 1946, and went on to become one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. After his Hall of Fame basketball career, Staubach returned to Texas where he continued to live and play golf. The team that he played for in Seattle bear his name to this day: the Staubach Bears.
The Vancouver Canucks are another team with a connection to a religious figure. The team is named after Arthur ‘Canuck’ Veniot, a lumberjack from northern Vancouver Island who set up a baseball team in 1894, and later also joined the Canadian Army. During World War II, Veniot rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and two Bars to his medals. The city of Vancouver has adopted the Canucks as its mascot, and many fans will happily shout “Oink Oui Oui Oui Oui Oui Oui Oui Oui Oui” whenever the team scores.
The Ice Hockey Church
While we can’t speak for all hockey players, as this article is meant to be a general overview of the subject, it is safe to say that hockey players across the world have one thing in common: they all have a close connection to ice hockey. We get it, ice hockey is a crazy sport, but there is still something about it that makes the players connect with the rest of us mere mortals. And for some strange reason, they choose to do it on a frozen lake or pond!
While we can debate the “nature of the game itself” or question whether it’s a sport at all, the fact remains that many hockey players do feel a special connection to the game. And if you’re lucky, you might just catch them tossing a few pucks around after a long day of work!
As you can see, choosing a patron saint for your team is a fairly easy process. Simply select a figure that you think is associated with good luck, and with the help of your teammates and coaches, promote that figure throughout the team, both on and off the ice. If you choose to go with St. Joseph, for example, you could have your entire team wear red clothing and use the ‘SJ’ symbol on their chest to show their allegiance.
With your coach and other team personnel, choose a charity, or non-profit organization that you feel is deserving of some of your team’s fundraising efforts. Once you have chosen a charity, you can begin working with them to establish a “Hockey House” somewhere in the neighborhood. This is a place where kids can come together, socialize, and play hockey. It might not sound like much, but it’s a start.
Hockey can be a fun sport to play, and a great way to spend time with your family. It can also be a great way to give back to your community, and work with a charity that supports young people, particularly those in your neighborhood who might not always have the chance to play sports. So, who is the patron saint of hockey players? The answer might surprise you.