While some may believe that Christmas is about spending time with family and friends, for hockey fans it can be just as much about following the sport they love, wherever they may be. Hockey has a global reach, and with the game being relatively easy to follow on television, the world’s a small place in terms of hockey-playing nations.
Hockey is played throughout the year and in various forms, with some of the greatest rivalries taking place during the winter. This is when the hockey clubs are assembled, practicing and preparing for the upcoming season. While the game itself doesn’t seem like it has existed forever, it has only been played on an organized basis for the past century.
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Hockey Is A Religion For Some
Those who follow hockey know that the sport is above all else about having fun, but for some the devotion to the sport is such that it becomes a part of their lives. It would be wrong to assume that all hockey fans are Christian, but some definitely are. In fact, the majority of those who identify as patrons of this game are Christian and most of them are very religious. Here are some interesting stats about hockey and its association with Christianity:
- 96% of professional hockey players are Christians
- 70% of amateur hockey players are Christian
- 54% of NHL fans say religion is an important part of their lives
- 39% of U.S. adults believe that religion is somewhat important in people’s lives
- 35% of Canadians report that they are spiritual but not religious
- 15% of Australians say that religion is not important in their daily lives
- 3 in 10 people in Britain identify as religious
- More than 1 in 4 people in Germany say that they are spiritual but not religious. (The Barna Group)
How Has Hockey Spread Around The World?
There are many theories surrounding the globalization of hockey. Some say that the game was brought to Europe by the British, while others believe that Europeans began playing the game in the 19th century and then imported it to the New World. Still others believe that the skills required to play the game were taught to early Europeans by Native Americans during their time on the North American continent.
Hockey has been played throughout the world, and today it is popular in virtually every country. One of the greatest examples of hockey’s global appeal is the Toronto Maple Leafs, who, as mentioned above, play their home games in the winter. During the summer months the team plays their home games at the gorgeous Air Canada Centre, which is located in a Canadian summer city (but don’t call it that), which is only 4 hours away from the Canadian winter.
Hockey Is More Than Just A Game
Even those who aren’t particularly religious may know that hockey has much more to it than just a game. The history of the sport is intriguing, and it’s certainly amazing how far it has gone, both on and off the ice. Those who play the game or follow it may be interested in learning more about its past, which as mentioned above, has included everything from organized hockey to exhibition matches played between countries, which predate World War II.
Hockey wasn’t always a professional sport. Years ago, people would play hockey on ponds and ice rinks, with sticks and a puck. It was more of a pastime than a serious sport (hence the name ‘hockey’, which comes from its 19th century British roots, meaning ‘hockey club’). In those days, a lot of men would gather around the pond to play cards, drink beer, and shoot the shit. (Yes, that was truly what it was like in those days.)
Things changed in the 20th century. With the development of roller-skating and the creation of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) in 1886, which eventually became the International Hockey League (later to become the National Hockey League) in 1898, people started taking the game more seriously. In the 1970s and ‘80s, while some may have been playing it on the side, more and more people began looking at it as a career option. This is when the professional sports world was transformed.
Many Saintly Role Models For Hockey
If you’re a hockey fan, you know that the game doesn’t just stop when the puck is dropped; it’s ongoing, with the action continuing long after the final buzzer sounds. This is why, although it may not seem like it at first, you have to be your own hero, making your own choices and taking responsibility for your actions. (Yes, even hockey players have to grow up!)
This independent spirit was demonstrated well by someone other than Jesus himself, and it happened to be a hockey player: Jean Béliveau. Béliveau was born in 1890 and began playing professional hockey when he was 19. Although it would be almost 30 years before he would join the exclusive club of hockey players to have a church named after them, Béliveau was already an established professional, playing for the Detroit Red Wings in the American Hockey League and then the National Hockey League. (To this day, the Red Wings still honor Béliveau as their all-time leading scorer, with 262 goals and 246 assists for 488 points in 567 games.)
Béliveau played a crucial part in bringing professionalism to the sport, as well as independence to those who followed it. He is often cited as the father of Canadian hockey, as he helped organize games between Canada and the United States in the 1920s and ‘30s. He also helped develop the first set of Canadian professional hockey player’s contracts that required players to pay their own way, as well as providing a pension plan for hockey players.
Béliveau was also the model for one of the early hockey cards, having his photo on the front and his stats on the back, as well as having the famous ‘Belfour’ haircut. (That is what is known as a ‘béliveau cut’.) These days, even those who don’t follow hockey may know who Jean Béliveau is, as a statue of the legend stands outside the Scotiabank Arena in his hometown of Montreal.
Many Hockey Players Have Religious Prayers And Blessing
When Wayne Gretzky became the all-time leading scorer in professional hockey in 1980, there was a lot of talk, especially among Christians, about whether or not he would be receiving any kind of special treatment on the grand finale of Saturday night’s telecast. (He didn’t, which was probably a good thing, as he holds the record for most goals ever scored in one season, with 215.)
It was also mentioned that perhaps some of the team’s coaches or scouts were praying for him, as he had more than a few injuries throughout his career. (He didn’t seem to mind, as he went on to have a very successful baseball career, winning three World Series titles with the Los Angeles Dodgers.)
While we can’t know for sure what was going on in Gretzky’s head at the time, we can be pretty sure that the great man was not planning on breaking any records that night. Nevertheless, the moment the puck was dropped for the final game of the season, church bells began ringing and prayers were said in a number of different languages, as people around the world, no matter what their religion, were connecting with this exceptional athlete and wishing him well.
What Was The First Hockey Stick Design?
The first hockey stick designed for a professional team was, without a doubt, the ECCO brand, which is still produced and used today. It was originally designed in the late 1800s for the Montreal Wanderers (now the Canadiens), and the design has since stuck. (The design was inspired by the curve of a snail’s shell.)
Another iconic design, the Cushion 88, was also originally produced for the Montreal Wanderers. This particular stick, which is still produced and used today, was designed by a man named Angus MacLeman and was inspired by the contour of a swan’s neck.
Those who have seen the movie Room 401, which is based on the real-life adventures of Dr. Rudy Vincent, will remember him holding up a picture of a Cushion 88 and saying, “This is the first hockey stick designed for a professional team.” (The movie made the stick famous, as it was featured prominently in one of the scenes.)