Hockey

I hear that’s a four letter word in Canada right now, but you know how I like to stomp where angels fear to tread….

But that’s not what I’m writing about today. Today, I’m defending hockey, and here’s why:

Travel legend has it, the easiest way to insult a Canadian is to call them American, but I disagree. (For the record, I am not insulted if called American, but I will correct people if they call me American. Why? Not because I’m ashamed of anything/everything American, but because I’m proud to be Canadian. Just as I suspect many Americans would prefer not to be called Canadian – contrary to some news reports I’ve seen lately…)

The greatest insult to a Canadian? Being asked "so do you like/watch/play/(insert any verb you like here) ice hockey.

Newflash: hockey is played on ice. If a derivative of the game is played on any other type of surface, then the type of surface is denoted prior to the word hockey. For example, hockey played on a field surface becomes ‘field hockey’. Likewise, hockey played on tarmac surface or road becomes ‘road hockey’.

Hockey played on ice is called hockey. Not ice hockey. Just hockey.