"Our Game"

There is a bad habit to which we Canadians cling to. In marketing hockey, we are always sure to mention how it is "our game."

Many scratch their heads in bewilderment at the stark reality that hockey is not that popular in the United States outside a few major centers like Detroit, Boston, Philadelphia and Minnesota. Much sweat (and possibly tears) has been poured into selling the game of hockey in the USA.

The irony of course is that we want the game to be international while reminding everyone that it's "our game." Love "our game", but remember it's "our game"

Canada invented hockey. Most of its legacy and developments happened in Canada. However, Canadians advertisers and sports channels are having a hard time coming to terms with the fact that hockey belongs to the world now. Indeed, many European nations have been playing it for decades. They have their own leagues, superstars and tournaments. Some of the NHL's best talent comes from both from the USA and Europe. Ah, but it's "our game."

As we push the cheesy hockey clichés, the demographics point to it being a sport that kids are increasingly overlooking.

I thought about whether there is any sport a country can purely and permanently lay claim to. None of soccer, tennis, cycling, squash, rowing, basketball, hockey, volleyball, various motorsports, boxing, golf, badminton, cricket, rugby, track, swimming or skiing (to name a few) belong to any country. Some may excel at it better than others. Some may even have a passion that exceed all nations for a particular sport. But none wholly belong to a specific country per se. Not even the great American pass time of yesteryear baseball is an American sport anymore.

The closest thing would be North American professional football. But history points to this being a sport shared between two countries (USA and Canada). There is no doubt that football finds its ultimate expression in terms of a social phenomena in the USA.

Overall, maybe Canadians are to hockey as Brazilians and Italians (and a couple of others like Argentina and England) are to soccer; Australians for rugby; Americans for football. Essentially, that we are mad for the game. This should be good enough in a world gone interactive.

We should be proud of the fact that ice hockey has been accepted like it has. With this reality in mind, it is now safe to drop the "our game" bit.