I continue to be moved by two hockey stories that filled the airwaves and newspapers just a few weeks ago. I know it is old news when you read this, but it's still fresh (maybe even raw) news as I write it. And we're still feeling the effects of them both.
In one story, it was the happy end to a seventeen-year journey for the Sedin twins; in the other, it was sad end of the lives of many hockey personnel (players, coaches, and support staff). Either way, it was a very emotional weekend for the hockey world.
I am speaking, of course, of the retirement of the Sedin brothers and the crash between the Humboldt Broncos hockey team bus and a semi truck. (Dig a little deeper and you will find that the number "17" is linked between the two accounts.)
One is a story of triumph, that of two of the best ambassadors in decades of this glorious game called ice hockey; the other, a story of tragedy, with many lives cut short, and absolutely no hope of professional hockey careers.
On the one hand, there is the near-fairy tale ending of the careers of the Sedin twins, who received the overwhelming honour from the hockey world everywhere; on the other hand, there is the nitty-gritty tale of death, grief, and injuries.
In the face of two very opposite events, namely, the "mountain" of the strong finish of two careers and the "valley" of life-changing tragedies at the beginning of others, I suggest that the genuine response by the Canadian public has quite likely been a significant part of these two events.
Like most people who have been following both events, I knew neither the twins nor the Humboldt Broncos. I follow the Canucks from a distance, and even less than that of the Broncos.
Furthermore, regarding the name "Broncos," I know that the Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL) were once called the Broncos (and later moved to Swift Current), so no real connection at all, other than that. In fact, I had to look up "Humboldt" on Google Maps to find out exactly where it is. My only link to that town was that a cousin of mine once worked there.
Back to the Sedins: I was thrilled to see the support that the Coyotes and Oilers gave them in the final two games of the season-- from hugging them, to forming at the end of the game to shake hands, to treating the occasion like a play-off game. And beyond that, players and management from other teams were able to voice their respective admiration. Very, very classy on everyone's part—and so Canadian.
The "reassuringly Canadian" connection in the bus catastrophe was, for me, the overwhelming support that all of Canada came up with. And it's still being felt to this day.
Even south of the 49th parallel, I was amazed at the news outlets, athletes in other sports, politicians plus other leaders, that expressed their condolences to the team itself, their families, and the town of Humboldt.
All hockey, and junior hockey in particular, represents what is good about this grand country of ours. It honours the maple leaf more than each level of baseball, football, basketball, and soccer...combined
It pulls this kid in from the local farm, or that young man in from the small community in the next county, or from some hamlet in the South or city in the North. It embodies the work ethic, family life, cultural roots, and all those necessary personal and collective qualities—such as perseverance, discipline, and resilience—that makes this country great.
It's very sad that so many of those Broncos lost a chance to grow up and be outstanding, classy NHLers...like the Sedin twins.
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