HOCKEY HISTORY: Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Hockey History

Stephen Harper as a
Leaside Lions (1970)

Hockeyhistory.org is interested in the role of hockey and hockey history in Canadian culture. This role is clearly evident in the involvement of the Prime Minister of Canada in hockey. Prime Minister Stephen Harper, a hockey player in his youth, is a long time hockey fan and student of hockey history. His project of writing a book about hockey history has been put on hold due to his duties as PM. He has definite opinions on the game, has made a mark on hockey history and is not afraid to be seen with the hockey "brand". PM Harper is frequently photographed in a hockey setting.

1) On Hockey History: Prime Minister Harper paid tribute to the "father" of organized hockey. In his speech he said, " In Canada, hockey is not just a game. It is part of our way of life, which is why it's a great pleasure for me to pay tribute today to James George Aylwin Creighton, one of the most influential pioneers of our national winter sport."Read the full speech: Prime Minister Harper Pays Tribute.. Prime Minister Harper has also written about hockey history. In 2006, he wrote an article commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Toronto Professionals, a Toronto based hockey team that preceded the Toronto Maple Leafs. Read his full article here: Long Before Leafs, T.O. had a Team to Call its Own. See photo below post.

Crieghton Memeorial Unveiling: From the SIHR Web Site

2) As a Student of the Game: PM Harper is writing a book about hockey history and is a member of the Society for International Hockey Research. One of the SIHR projects was to follow-up on the tribute to hockey pioneer James Crieghton with the project of raising funds for a memorial. PM Harper was on hand to support the SIHR's unveiling of the memorial.For more details on this project and photos go to: SIHR Crieghton Project

Photo: Tom Hanson/Canadian Press

3) On the Hockey "Brand": Writing about Prime Minister Harper and the hockey brand, David Akin writes of the political use of hockey by Harper, "The word "hockey" appears on 447 different pages at the prime minister's official Web site, pm.gc.ca". Perhaps it is prudent for the PM to promote this brand as Akin's further writes, "Presumably, hockey is a frequent theme because, in this country at least, hockey is a unifying force. From Chicoutimi to Calgary, Canadians can talk about hockey the way Canadians can talk about the weather. But unlike the weather, key hockey events -- that gold medal game or a Stanley Cup final -- are one of the few common shared experiences of the country." To see numerous photos of the PM and hockey and read the full post go to: Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Hockey

4) On Concussions: Prime Minister Harper also weighed in on the concussion controversy in hockey saying, "I just say this as a hockey fan, I'm very concerned about the growing number of very serious injuries, and in some cases to some of the premier players in the game," Read the full Canadian Press article: PM Harper Concerned About Number of Serious Injuries in the NHL