Hockey Seen as a Religion

Hockey Seen as a Religion

If the question is, do Canadians treat hockey as a religion, the following might help solve that mystery.

Olivier Bauer, a Swiss theology professor was so struck by the team's followers that he teaches a course at the University of Montreal on the "Religion of the Montreal Canadiens."

For a lot of people, the Canadiens truly function like a religion," said Bauer, 45, co-editor of a book about the Canadiens as religion that shows a giant team jersey draped around the Mount Royal Cross on its cover. "Some fans build their lives around the team. They adopt its values. They recognize that in order to win, you need to suffer" (Tomesco).

Some take that literally. Bauer said fans tell him they climbed the 100 steps at the city's Saint Joseph's Oratory on their knees seeking divine intervention on behalf of the Canadiens, just like the pilgrims who do it with hopes of miracles (Tomesco). He's serious. They really do.

When Maurice Richard died in 2000, thousands of admirers jammed the cobblestone streets outside Notre Dame Basilica in the city's old section during his funeral Mass. He lay in state at the team's downtown arena for a day, and 115,000 people filed past his open casket.

An NHL player in the United States can work his way through a slump without being pilloried by the media, while a coach can survive a losing streak, work toward a better team and stick to it until the plan is achieved. No such luxuries are available in Canada. The reason being, quoting an observation from Brian Burke, the Anaheim Ducks General Manager, who, during his team's 2007 Stanley Cup victory over the Ottawa Senators, said: "I mean hockey is not a sport in Canada. Everyone knows that. it's a religion" (Sibley).

Now, granted there are a hundred different definitions of the word "religion." Webster's New World Dictionary (Third College Edition) defines "religion" as "any specific system of belief and worship, often involving a code of ethics and a philosophy. And what is the meaning of worship? Merriam-Webster's online dictionary defines it as "extravagant respect or admiration for or devotion to an object of esteem" (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary).

So, do the Canadians have "a system of belief and extravagant admiration for an object of esteem that involves a code of ethics and a philosophy?"

Is that hockey...or what? No one can deny that Canadians love, admire, and believe in their hockey teams -- at almost any level. Does hockey involve an object of esteem? That would be the players and their incredibly athletic, artistic performance on the ice night after night. Is there a code of ethics involved? Well, sort of. I mean there is one; it may not always be followed to the "T," but you can't say either the players or the game itself is not ethical. and, finally, does hockey have a "philosophy," which, again according to Merriam-Webster, means "the most basic beliefs, concepts, and attitudes of an individual or group." Well, if hockey isn't basic, I don't know what is. Don't the hockey players on a team all have common beliefs and attitudes about winning? Of course they do. And common beliefs and attitudes about taking the other teams' heads off with a hockey stick -- well, we won't go there.

I think we've just proved that hockey can truly be defined as a religion -- at least in Canada.

Now, as to its "ritualness." Is hockey played "in accordance with social custom or normal protocol?" That would be the question our friend Merriam-Webster would ask in order to define hockey as a ritual (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary).

My question would be how could anyone look at the game of hockey and not see that there are social customs and normal protocols involved with it? Those customs might include ramming the opposing player into the glass, slashing him with the hockey stick, high-lowing the opposition in order to put him out of the game but hopefully not in the hospital, generously standing directly in front of the opposing goalie "to protect him" from those mean, onrushing players with the big sticks, swearing, and just general fighting. Now, those are some social customs! I'm not sure about the players protecting the opposing goalie. I may be wrong there.

That brings us to "normal protocol." Does hockey involve protocol or "a code prescribing strict adherence to correct etiquette and precedence?" As our friend Merriam describes the term protocol (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary).

Well, duh! How about, wait until the player's back is turned then crush him into the boards? Or how about a player using the middle finger to signify his comaraderie with opposing players?

Maybe you think of the bench-clearing gatherings on the field of play to enjoy one another's company...and at the same time smash his face? Of course, there is etiquette, and the precedence of, "he did it to me in the last game, so now I can kill him."