Author Brian Kennedy explores the deep roots of Canada's hockey obsession, which has become an integral piece of our national mythology. From the origins of the game in Mi'kmaq culture to Olympic gold, he delves into how the game explains who we are as Canadians. From Rocket Richard to Wayne Gretzky, our heroic ideals draw from hockey culture. Rivalries between regions, languages and cities are played out in the hockey arena, and our values and spirit of identity have been shaped by the toughness and teamwork on the ice.

My Country is Hockey: How Hockey Explains Canadian Culture, History, Politics, Heroes, French-English Rivalry and Who We Are as Canadians

Arts & Photography

Kennedy, Brian

History & Criticism

Argenta Press

A middle-aged man moves back to his hometown in rural Quebec because of his mother's illness. While there he is drawn to the pond where he first learned to play hockey. He remembers Robert, a retired NHLer, who taught him and his friends the rules of the game and by extension, the rules of life. Robert has since passed on, and the pond where they played and the shack where they warmed their frozen hands is derelict. The story is peppered with facts about the development of the pond hockey movement in NA. A middle-aged man moves back to his hometown in rural Quebec because of his mother's illness. While there he is drawn to the pond where he first learned to play hockey. He remembers Robert, a retired NHLer, who taught him and his friends the rules of the game and by extension, the rules of life. Robert has since passed on, and the pond where they played and the shack where they warmed their frozen hands is derelict. The story is peppered with facts about the development of the pond hockey movement in NA.

Pond Hockey

Literature & Fiction

Genre Fiction

Howdy pard’ner! You might think us cowboys to be serious folk, but after a hard day’s work there ain’t nothin’ better than relaxin’ by the fire with a sarsaparilla and havin’ a good laugh. And believe me when I tell you a cowboy could tell you a million stories that would have you splitting your sides. I took some time to scribble some of them jokes down for y’all, and I hope you enjoy them. Some of ’em are even true!Like the time this young whipper snapper was twirlin’ his gun about andflappin’ his chin about how tough he was and that if that famous outlawwas right beside him now he would shoot him dead between the eyes.Well, wouldn’t you know it, that tough, old outlaw happened to show up,and that little greenhorn dang near peed his pants.If you like that, I got way more fer ya!If ’n there’s one thing we cowboys love to talk about and have plenty to sayon, it’s the critters. We probably spend more time around them beasts thanpeople. Horses especially, and they can impart wisdom to your life. Ya knowwhat? A horse ain’t trying to be polite when he comes to a fence and allowsyou to go over first!And when we ain’t got no more stories, the classic one-liner always keepsus laughing. Try these:What’s the nearest thing to silver?The Lone Ranger’s bum.Why did the cowboy sleep with his saddle on?In case he caught any nightMARES!And my favorite (cause it’s true):What’s the last thing you hear before a cowboy dies?“Hey y’all! Watch this!”

All Hat, No Horse: Cowboy Humor

Humor & Entertainment

Clement, Willy

Humor

Rodeo is one of the most exciting contests in the world. From bull riding to chuckwagon racing, discover what makes a rodeo so thrilling and what it takes to be a rodeo cowboy: · Steer wrestling, or bulldogging, is a very fast event where cowboys try to wrestle a steer to the ground in less than 7 seconds · A saddle bronc rider must stay on the bucking horse for 8 seconds, holding the reins with one hand and keeping the other hand high in the air · In team roping two cowboys, the header and the heeler, work together to rope a steer's head and back legs · The rodeo clown has the most dangerous job of all; he tries to distract the bull after a rider has been bucked off · In barrel racing a horse and rider gets a no-time score if they knock over a barrel or make a mistake running the pattern · Mutton busting is an event where kids aged 4 to 7 try to ride a sheep · Chuckwagon racing is one of the most thrilling rodeo events; the chuckwagon and the outriders have to race around barrels in a figure 8 without knocking them over.

Rodeo Roundup

Children's Books

Pirk, Wendy

Radford, Duane

Education & Reference

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