Teacher-student hockey game celebrates Canada

Hockey is Canada. What better way to celebrate the 150th birthday of this nation than by a good, wholesome game of this beloved sport. Want it to get better? It does: this particular match was a face-off between the students and staff of BMLSS.

The school board recently received a grant from the government to fund events that will celebrate Canada 150. The board has formed a “red and white competition” where everyone can sport these colours and post about it on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #g-7canada150challenge.

In addition, the schools were spurred to host their own Canada-related events on December 15. At BML, the school band played O’ Canada while we all sang together on Main Street shortly before heading to the gym for the hockey game.

While the hockey game was intended to celebrate Canada, students and teachers seemed more focused on winning. That much was obvious with the intensity present before the match as the players got really hyped up to AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck.”

The competitive spirit extended to the crowd. Alyssa Gonneau did not doubt the ability of students in this match, saying, “The students have to win.” Vice-principal Mr. Beausoleil expressed similar confidence in his team: “No mercy! You’re not teaching them anything if you go easy on them!”

And while both teams were set on victory, Mr. Hampton certainly had an alternate opinion on the topic. He pointed out that as citizens of this country, the indigenous population of Canada and their cultures need to be recognized in the celebration as well.

Ms. McKenzie predicted that the teachers usually start off strong but as the game continues, the students pull through. She was right. The teachers did start off strong but the students didn’t seem to have much trouble keeping up with their opponents. In the end, the match concluded with a 4-4 tie that left some players unsatisfied.

“We got ripped off, [but] the ref was wise,” said Mr. Deweerdt, who was disappointed; the teachers made some good shots, and some good plays but clearly it wasn’t enough to finish with a victory.

Maybe the best way to finish was for everyone to leave as winners, because in Canada, everyone gets to call themselves a winner just by living in this great country.