Hockey is more than a game. It’s a lifestyle. A culture. A passion. It’s a way of life. And it’s one of the most popular sports in the world. Why? Because hockey connects us with something bigger than ourselves – our love for the game is inspired by the unifying power of competition and teamwork.
Here are just a few of the incredible reasons why hockey is important:
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It Has Inspired Many A Marvelous Movie
You may know that hockey is quite the movie industry favourite. Many great films have been inspired by the sport, including some of the most popular movies ever made! If you are a big hockey fan, you have no doubt seen many of these films. Some of the more memorable ones include:
- Singular Sensation – the story of Wayne Gretzky
- Slapshot – the Karate Kid meets hockey
- Miracle – Michael Jordan’s underdog story
- Miracle II: The Sequel, starring Mr. Jordan himself!
- Rocky IV – with its iconic theme song, “Everlovin’”, which was inspired by “Dry Ice” by KC and the Sunshine Band.
- White Men Can’t Jump – the best movie ever made about race in sports
- Ghostbusters
- A League of Their Own – Penny Marshall’s hilarious and eye-opening exploration of women in sports
- Goofy Golf
- Scottish Highlands – starring Christopher Lambert and featuring the great British composer, Andrew Lloyd Webber.
It Has Given Us Some Pretty Great Traditions
Did you know that many NHL teams have incorporated band concerts into their schedule? Or that before a game, the players and coaches often visit the bench to exchange a few words? These are just a few of the unique and memorable traditions that hockey has inspired.
The tradition of the band came from none other than Glenn “Good-looking” Gosselin, the drummer for the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins. In 1995, he took a band of players on a road trip to England, where they performed concerts at famous hockey arenas such as Twickenham Stadium and the Coliseum.
The tradition of visiting the bench is more recent. It started with a group of players who were frustrated by the lack of action in the NHL in 2005. They came up with the idea of visiting the opposing team’s coach after the game to get some inspiration for their next game. Today, players often head to the bench to talk with the other coaches after the game.
Hockey is more than a game. It’s a way of life. And many great movies, songs and traditions have been inspired by this incredible sport. It has helped many people connect with something bigger than themselves – helping them to discover new passions and hobbies, and making them feel part of something special.