View From the Legislature

Steinbach’s hosting of Rogers Hometown Hockey earlier this month was another demonstration that for Canada, hockey really is more than a game. So many of our most vivid memories are tied to the game itself and help to define different generations of Canadians.

When Paul Henderson scored to help Canada defeat the Soviet Union in the Summit Series, Canadians who were watching will always remember the moment. When Wayne Gretzky passed to Mario Lemieux who scored to help capture the Canada Cup, it defined a new hockey memory for a different generation. And when Sidney Crosby scored the Golden Goal to give Canada the victory at the Olympics our country cheered with one voice.

So hockey is very much part of the Canadian fabric and is closely connected to many of the most memorable moments in our nation.

But the love of hockey is seen most deeply not on the large national stage, but in our smaller communities and local rinks. This passion for hockey was on full display at Rogers Hometown Hockey in Steinbach. It was evident in the work of the host committee and the many volunteers who came to lend a hand at the various displays and activities. Parents and children were able to play the game, either in real or on video, and friends and neighbors got to hang out and talk about their hockey memories. There were also some former NHL stars to meet and get autographs from.

One of the highlights of Rogers Hometown Hockey was the viewing party in the evening to watch the Winnipeg Jets take on the Washington Capitals. In attendance doing part of the broadcast where Ron MacLean and Tara Slone from Hockey Night in Canada. Both had been meeting local residents throughout the weekend. I had the opportunity to meet Ron MacLean and it was quickly apparent why this friendly and easy storyteller has become a Canadian icon.

While the outcome of the hockey game wasn’t what most local viewers were hoping for, it was almost secondary to everything else. The opportunity over two days to come together as a community and celebrate a game that means so much to Canadians and to be part of a national broadcast was a unique and special opportunity. It was another time that memories were formed through a game that has become much more than that to Canadians.

Thank you to Rogers Hometown Hockey for making Steinbach one of your stops on your cross country tour. Thank you also for leaving a legacy, with your donation of $15,000 to the Headway Program in Steinbach to help youth. And a special thank you to all the organizers and volunteers who helped make the weekend so enjoyable.