Our national anthems are a nice touch before a hockey match, it’s respecting the two nation’s for which NHL hockey is played in. But removing them isnt going to hamper the NHL’s identity.

Hockey is a Canadian sport, not a north american sport. It has been played here as early as 1746, one of the first hockey related article’s had been found in an add selling wood hockey stick’s at a shop in i believe it was digby nova scotia. It’s realistic to believe it had been prevalent much further back. The origin of the game and it’s birth place are both argued by two different opinion’s. The origin’s are either believed adapted from an irish game comparable to hockey or were adapted from the a native game in canada by french canadian. The birth place either in Quebec or Nova Scotia. I personally believe the latter of both arguments.

Then came Fredrick Arthur, Lord Stanley of preston, an englishman who was vary fond of the canadian game, He Purchased and donated it to the Amature Hockey champion’s of canada in 1893 and held an annual Lord stanley’s cup challenge were a hockey team could challenge the local champ’s for the cup – all of this was held in ottawa. It’s the oldest trophy competed by professional athletes in north america. One team from the Yukon travled across canada by dog sled, foot then train for month’s to challenge for the cup – they lost. Then came the league’s in the latter 19th century and early 20th. The most natable the NHA which took official control of the Cup in 1910. And later the NHL took official control in 1926. You had said something about america being the birth place of PROFESSIONAL hockey – i’ve heard this myself, It’s been debated but the story gose eventually a team was erected in seattle and since they couldnt find any local player’s they hired canadian hockey player’s.

The original NHL had 4 team’s, not 6 as most think – Ottawa, toronto montreal and hamilton. A few year’s later it expanded to include another montreal team and boston (the first american NHL franchise). Seattle being the first non NHL american hockey team. And the NHL stood for the NATIONAL hockey league, meaning the nation of canada – they just left the name.

“Right, and then also shifted with US teams and it opened up in the US.

It’s only right that the NHL and its teams show their origin and identity to the world.”

Actully it didnt “shift” it expanded – and as i’ve stated it didnt open up with anything remotly american.

NHL and pre NHL era hockey was alway’s 99% canadian, infact the American Hockey Hall of Fame in minnasota (which has just closed do to pour support and general uninterest) has 50 something name’s under the player’s catagory – near half had never played in the NHL. So to say it’s a north american game is way off base. You may have 24 hockey arena’s in the state’s but your anthem has about as much meaning or history or tradition to the game of hockey as Don Cherry dose to the national immagration law’s or something of that sort.

“And, the NHL is in North America. If it held games in Europe, fine. But, main headquarters are in Toronto and NYC. Commissioners have always been North American. The Original Six of the NHL were North American. European players are just welcomed to join the league, not to change its origins.”

The NHL office was held only in canada for a long time before it was agreed to have a second one. Commissioners were also only canadian for a long time aswell – so honestly allowing expansion into the state’s has really changed it’s origin’s not european’s – how can they change an already changed game.

“Hockey is Canada’s sport and no, the Americans don’t need to feel welcomed to the sport here in the US where the majority of hockey teams worldwide are located (from pro to college). Up there in Canada, sure… but in the US it’s Yank territory.”

I’m not sure i got that, America has about 10% of the hockey team’s compared to canada excluding the NHL. Perhap’s 20% including it.

And to put the booing to rest the canadian’s werent booing the american national anthem, thats a BIG missconception – if you watch the coverage it’s been established a small group of canadian’s booed when they put up a picture of joe thornton, they booed a bit then stoped when it was removed. They booed Thornton not the anthem.

that is the comment that you used.

and … that is a very, very broad comment – regardless of whether you are using it in a hockey-related post.

dont run away from your own words – especially the broad and vague ones. stand behind them. otherwise, dont say them and if you do, expect to be ‘challenged’ on them thats all i am saying

Cecil Turtle

RIP OTTAWA RENEGADES (2002-2005)

That’s all there was to it.