Viewpoint

I was amazed today, at how the commentators of the game jumped on the Detroit bandwagon. At some point the Calgary Flames had to stand up for themselves. When the Refs didn’t call Holmstrom for Running Stewart over Kipper at the beginning set the tone for the day. At the end of the game when the commentators where jumping all over one of the Calgary players for slashing at Drapper for Detroit, if they had run the play back just a little further back they would have seen that Drapper was the one that started that one, and that was the way it was all day and all series for that matter. Seems to me if your team has to play Detroit you have to play Detroit and the refs, and if you beat them you really have accomplished something.

Yes Calgary crossed the line, but the Officials set the tone early in the day, and one does have to stand up for themselves, if you can’t get a fair shake. Yes indeed I know what your g0ing to say, that there were 7 penalties early on again Detroit, but is really should have been more like 10.

To Bill in Windsor: don't confuse the game with the organized game: none of my kids are "in" hockey, but they all play every week outside on whatever ice we can find. Money doesn't have to have anything to do with it.

And talking about losing our game... I don't think the NHL has anything to do with that, I think that can be blamed on Nintendo and Sony - anything that gets our kids active is a good thing, so I'm all for a holiday that promotes sport (any sport)!

And what of the children of families who cannot afford to put their kids into hockey?

Glorifying hockey more than it already is is would be a mistake. Even in Canada, hockey is not universal or inclusive enough to warrant a national holiday.

How about a Maple Leaf Day on Feb. 15. Of course, plenty of hockey events could be held that day/week to co-incide with it...

I am glad to see this idea still has interest, our community stared a petition last year that now has over 5,000 signatures for a national day of recognition for hockey. A holiday in of itself will not fly; the cost's on our economy would be to great, that said, a day of recognition can happen if the will is there. There is support for this idea throughout Canada, but we need a co-ordinated effort to make this a reality. The west has taken the lead, but we need the passion of the east to go any further, can we become a collective and get as many signatures as possible for this idea ? we also have some political backing as well, but again, we really need the east to work with us. Please visit www.smithershockeyville.com to sign the petition, please note, this is not a signature of support for Smithers Hockeyville, simply for the petition to bring to parlament. If there is an entity out there that would like to take a leadership role in this mobiliztion, we would support that and forward all our signatures, if this is going to happen we need orgnaized mobilization, with an agressive passionate approach.
Thanks, Tom

I absolutely second your motion Scott! Last year as part of our bid to be Hockeyville, the people of Smithers BC started a petition to have a day of recognition for the greatest sport on ice. Some of our competitors in O'Leary PEI also joined in and took it a step further by asking for a statutory holiday. After our town of 5,000 gathered over 5,000 signatures, we handed it off to our local MLA and MP. Both presented the bill
in legislature and parliament, unfortunately, it was very busy time and the bills didn't go very far. Our bill was asking that we commemorate Sep 28 (yes, the big goal) but we aould be just as happy to see Feb 15th! If this movement gets going, I've got 5000 signatures to help you on your way.

I couldn't agree more! Hockey is one of the few things that unites Canadians coast to coast...not even our beloved flag does that. And we wouldn't need federal politicians to send money into Quebec to promote hockey. Actually, once it's made into a national holiday, politics at all levels should be banned from all events that day to ensure it doesn't get hijacked by someone's personal agenda.

My nephew is currently doing an NHL tour with his Dad. He has flown home from Australia to go to every NHL homegame in North America. He started in Edmonton. It has taken him a year to plan this trip, 30 cities, 30 games in 90 days. He has a blog pondhoppa.blogspot.com Very interesting to read as he is quite funny as well. Just thought that Ron MacLean might be interested to know what he is doing and that it would make quite an interesting story. You can reach me at the above email address if more info is needed.

To Mike Beamish -
Does Canada Day not include this?
Flag Day is simply another label on the product!
Hockey IS Canada eh!
Give it a holiday!

YES! We should celebrate canadian hockey with a national holiday. Most retail outlets are open now on holidays so it should still be recognized with its own day!

HOCKEY DAY IN CANANDA, would take a new meaning.

PM Harper should introduce a bill in the house of commons acknolodging Hockey Day In Canada. He is a hockey fan!

We need a national day celebrating the flogging the canucks gave to the oh so mighty leafs at the ACC, hope that brought smiles to your faces scotty, it sure brought them to mine

I think this is a fabulous idea Scott...for years people have talked about some kind of holiday in February...this could be it!!
In a nation often divided by many things, hockey is the one thing that unites all of us. Prime Minister Harper: here is your chance to step up. If you are looking for ways to enhance our national unity, here is a "slam dunk".
For you too CBC, fabulous job yesterday...this former Camrose resident and Kodiak fan thinks this was wonderful exposure for one of the great teams/towns in our great land. Here's to you Camrose! And to you Nelson! Thanks to you all.

I think that have a national holiday to celebrate hockey, our national sport, is a fantastic idea. And since PM Stephen Harper is a huge fan of the game, I believe that he would not have a problem declaring a national hockey holiday.

GO SENS GO!!!

Thanks for a day to bring young and old together recognizing Canadians' present and past history.
Not just in promoting fitness, teamwork, and the gathering of friends and family, but for remembering we Canadians are fun loving, a big community of cultures and a little competitive! We should continue this ritual day every year and keep the spirit alive in a great sport.

It's great to salute the many volunteers to the game of hockey. Thanks for that. But if they don't do something about the destruction of the game there won't be anything to volunteer for. I tried to enjoy the Vancouver / Toronto game but with the littany of borderline calls for nothing it just became so boring that I had to read the paper. Can nothing be done to stop this slide into mediocrity foisted on the fans by a league led by people who don't understand the game?

I think that is a great idea! Hockey is our nations past time. I am a huge hockey fan and collector. However alot of work estblishments especailly retail would not reconigize it as a holiday as they are open 363 days of the year, so there is no such think as a holiday for most. Just have shorter hours. Fantastic idea though! Hockey Night in Canada Rules!

Hockey isn't a Canadian game anymore, thanks to Bettman, perfect example was the Vancouver vs Toronto game, penalties, penalties, and penalties. Not even a Vancouver fan was happy with that game....terrible
We're losing our game

Every country has a flag, not every country has a national passion for a something as deep as Canada has for hockey.

In terms of holding on to Canada's identity, and promoting it around the world, a Hockey Day would be much more beneficial and specifically canadian than a simple flag day.

Go Sens Go!

Just want to vent that I am not receiving Hockey Day in Canada being blacked out via Centre Ice programing .I suppose it has something to do with NBC showing games today.THIS REALLY SUCKS!My wife and I live for Hockey Day in Canada and subscibe for that reason.Do not miss any broadcasts on saturday nights as CBC RULES hockey as far as I am concerned!Do not know where else I can complain.Best regards to HNIC from a couple of die hard fans from San Jose,California.Betty and Joe Ramirez.

A great idea! This could just be the replacement for the other great "happy holiday".

Hockey Day in Canada,

I am seconding the idea of "Feb.15" being a national holiday in recognition in Hockey, in Canada! I think Canada would appreciate this holiday for its greatness, I know I would.

Samantha Tenasco

My wife and I are very proud that our grandson - Justin Moriarty - is participating in Canda's Hockey Day with his team from Spokane, Washington. They all drove up to Nelson last night. He is there with his parents Mike and Gina and they called us already this morning to say that Justin's team played their game and won 5-3 and that Justin scored a goal. He is 8 years old and has been playing hockey since he was 3. We have the live Webcam from Nelson up and what a beautiful town it is to host such an event. We just wish we could be there too. Hockey is a wonderful sport for young people to play and they are fortunate to have so many youth and adult volunteers supporting the players. This will be an experience that our grandson will remember for the rest of his life. Our son Mike is in the Air Force and he helps out with coaching and his Mom Gina is at every practice and supports the team in watever way she can. Have a wonderful Hockey Day celebration Canada and thank you for making such a wonderful experience available to so many kids from Canada and the USA. We need more good wholesome activities for today's youth!

Sounds like a great plan and we do need a holiday before Easter across Canada ( note some provinces do grant a holiday but some work places may not give you the day off). I would think it would be a tough sell since Rememberance Day is not a true day off across the nation and humm well how many hockey players did not or won't come back ?

Regardless a nation wide holiday is needed and hockey is a true part our heritage.

Whether it be Hockey Day, Gretzky Day or Mario day, we just need more holidays here in Canada.

A HOCKEY DAY Affiliated "BREAK" or
Holiday in mid-winter would be a substantial
boost in assisting Canadians (both born here
and emigrating to our Commonwealth) skate
through our coldest season.
Anyone in Alberta during mid-winter will
observe their lovely use of a FAMILY DAY
Holiday where all are encouraged to get out
to the snowhills or outdoor ponds for a day
of healthy recreational comraderie &
sportsmanship.
Scott Morrison's theory of a HOCKEY DAY Celebration
in January is pursuasive and would be
a little reflection of our American neighbours
who honour this time of year with Martin
Luther King's Day.
So...for those in the helm of making political
choices on the SS CANADIANA - heed the word
of Morrison & our engrained memories of where
we have been since the '72 summit series
& Paul Henderson's shot echoed from the ROCK
& the Maritimes to
to the ROCKY mountains & BC. And as
my travels thru our First Nations (both
Cree & Ojibwa) locations have discovered
our Aboriginals always host a day to honour
& play & reflect on the beauty of hockey.
THEY call it, in EGLISH: Hockey RAGE Day!
Good on them, eh.
Now, we'll heat up another hot cuppa cocoa &
get back to trimming our rural ice rinks.
Cheers! RONN & family

We certainly are losing our identity!
Unless we stress what we are (HOCKEY EH!), the semi-Canadians will decide what we will be!

Eliot,

Ron and Don are having a good time at the Big House in the Niagara Region tonight. Everything is set to go for tomorrow evening.
We're expecting a big crowd and you should be prepared to say a few words on behalf of the network. You're having a great year and everyone has lots of good things to say about your professionalism.

Greetings,
The Bruiser

Hockey holiday? Wouldn't it make more sense to recognize a day honouring our flag?
For years, people have discussed the idea of a national holiday to mark the introduction of the Maple Leaf flag -- a symbol that unites all Canadians since its introduction on Feb. 15, 1965.
Not only would such a holiday be a pivotal point for national unity, but it would dovetail nicely with the lack of holiday time between the Christmas/New Year's break and Easter.
A national Hockey Day in Canada holiday is a concept that should take secondary priority. Flag Day deservedly rates more serious consideration because it encompasses all Canadians, not just hockey fans.
Heavens know, governments, businesses and schools won't be keen to add another yet another unpaid vacation day between January and April.
So park the hockey holiday idea at the end of bench. And rightly give the flag more power-play time.