Slap Shot
Written by: Julie Ovenell-CarterHockey is a big hairy deal around our house. It’s like a white noise (well, sometimes more like a black noise) that hums along in the background between October and April. And while I myself am not a hockey-head, I cannot escape its influence: since he discovered the sport in Grade 5, my now-teenaged son’s moods have been inextricably linked to his team’s divisional standings. I find Adam’s loyalty to the Canucks rather endearing: he will not abandon them, even though he knows they will inevitably break his heart.
So how do I–the woman who once embarrassed her son by cheering for another team’s goal because she didn’t know they switched sides after each period–plan to bond with my hockey patriot this spring break? Easy: we are going to the movies. Hockey movies.
We’ll be heading downtown to the Vancouver International Film Centre to catch a few of the 11 hockey-themed flicks on offer from March 9- 20. The Hockey Nights in Film series runs the gamut from beloved national classics (The Rocket) to Hollywood joyrides (Slap Shot) and cinéma vérité documentaries (Junior). And at just $10 a ticket, it’s way cheaper than a hockey game.
WANT TO WIN TICKETS?
Is hockey a part of your family dynamic too? I’ve got a couple of pairs of tickets to give away, so leave a comment here with a hockey-related family memory and I’ll give the best story-teller a pair of tickets to see either Slap Shot on March 9 at 7 pm, or Junior on Thursday, March 12 at 8:45 pm. (If you blog and would like to write about this contest or share your memory on your own site, please just leave a short comment below to direct me back to your own post).
Remember to leave your e-dress or blog URL so I can contact the winner. Contest closes Thursday, March 5, 2009 at 8 pm.
Fiona Burrows
on February 27th, 2009The love of hockey became a way of life for me at a very young age. Saturday nights were spent huddling around the small black and white tv with mom and dad in the living room with the blaring sound of the hockey night in Canada anthem followed by loud cheers and shouting. My dad was so passionate about the game and I’d find myself wondering why he was yelling at the tv. Curiosity would pull me away from the toys I was playing with or the family dog that was my dress-up playmate to run over to the tv to see what all the commotion was. It was always the same thing, “Oh so-and-so missed the shot or so-and-so let in a bad goal”, but my dad would quickly ease back into his chair. And this rollercoaster of emotion routine would continue for the duration of the game. Fast forward to today and you can see the influence my dad had on me. Five minutes before game time, the phone rings and it’s my dad asking for my prediction on the final score in tonight’s game. We banter about our choices and quickly end the conversation as soon as the national anthem is being sung. I run to the closet and put on my beloved home team jersey, either the home or away one depending on what my beloved Canucks are wearing that game. By the time the puck hits the ice for the face-off, I am perched on the end on the couch as close to the tv as possible in anticipation of another great game. My husband laughs as he watches the antics and my babbling-I’m sure it’s similar to what I experienced with my dad 30 years ago. In a couple of weeks, it’s my dad’s birthday and his present will be two tickets to see a Canucks game…Mom, I’m sure you’ll hear Dad and I cheering from GM Place.
thesebootstravel
on February 27th, 2009That’s a lovely story, Fiona! In a way, I think that’s how all of us get sucked into the hockey vortex–only in my case it was my son and not my dad who was shouting at the TV!
thesebootstravel
on February 27th, 2009Fiona, I just went looking for this little YouTube clip of a kid who can’t be a day over 18 months naming all the Canucks and demonstrating reffing calls–it’s just too adorable and I think you’ll get a kick out of it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8x-URiGVlo
Fiona Burrows
on February 27th, 2009Yes I am well aware of this cutie…she won the ultimate fan contest earlier this season. She’s just so darn cute!!!
christa
on February 27th, 2009that little girl..Gracie…was actually my downstairs neighbour and one of the reasons I lived in the war-zone some folks refer to as the Commercial Drive Skytrain station as long as I did. Her dad was a great guy who LOVED his team, much like your Adam, wouldn’t abandon them no matter how badly they stamped on his heart. The fan contest was actually a few season ago…but she DID win it!
I’m likely not in the running for any movie tickets, but I have to say taking my brother to the game that turned the losing streak around, and reminiscing about the game HE took me to (my first) back in the old coliseum, was pretty amazing. I am a Canucks fan of convenience…I simply love the game, not the team (don’t tell Adam) but wow do I love watching this sport, and watching a sport with a winning team is just that much better, hey?