More Than a Game: Experts Say Hockey Holds Religious Qualities

            Roch Carrier’s classic, The Hockey Sweater, begins with a young boy saying that two things were mandatory in his Quebec village, mass on Sunday, and the Saturday night hockey game. For many, this still rings true today.

            Montreal is one of the most diverse cities in Canada, with a wide array of people from different cultures with contrasting beliefs. Throughout most of the week, the city is on the go, its citizens preoccupied with everyday concerns. But for three hours on Saturday night, the city is united. For three hours all of these different people form one cohesive heartbeat, their only concern being the sheet of ice at 1260 Rue de la Gauchetière, and whether or not the boys in red are winning.

            This level of passion for hockey can be found in cities all across the country. It has been evident for quite some time that the sport is a central aspect of Canadian culture, but some feel that it may be more than that.

            Beginning in Jan. 2009, theology professor Dr. Olivier Bauer, of the University of Montreal, will be offering a course that explores whether or not the Montreal Canadiens are a religion.

“The course will provide a very deep reflection of the different religious aspects of the Canadiens de Montreal,”  said Bauer. “We can find beliefs in and around the Canadiens and also want to answer the question; is the game a kind of ritual-rite?”

Bauer became interested in the subject two years ago, when he began to realize the striking parallels between the Canadiens and the fundamentals of religion.

As a member of a very Catholic community, the Habs, who are celebrating their 100^th anniversary this year, have always possessed a close relationship with religion. Much of the Canadiens’ history holds religious connotations; the jersey itself is referred to as the Sainte Flannelle or Holy Flannel, nicknames for players have also had spiritual undertones including St. Patrick for Patrick Roy and more recently Jesus Price, for young goaltender Carey Price.

The most prominent factor tying the Canadiens to religion, according to Bauer however, is the devotion of their fans.

“I think there are parallel ways, the passion for hockey and the passion for religion are always kind of the same,” said Bauer. “I think it’s something that is shared all across Canada.”

Bauer said that this unwavering faith in the team resembles that which is often associated with religion and also helps to unite people within a community.

Canadiens analyst Mike Boone of habsinsideout.com agreed that the Habs have a mystical way of bonding people.

“The Canadiens are something that unites everybody,” said Boone. “It cuts across everything, young, old, French, English, no matter where you live in town.”

The Habs, however, do not only create a sense of community, but help to sustain it, another religious characteristic according to Bauer.

“It’s very interesting, the Canadiens have their own foundation for the children and a lot of their players take part in social activities and charity events,” said Bauer. “This was traditionally a role of the church, so what does it mean that the Canadiens are so involved in the community?”

Bauer is not the only theologian to tackle the issue of sports and religion however. Dr. Eric Bain-Selbo of Western Kentucky University is in the process of publishing his book  Game Day and God, which looks at how college football in the South has religious qualities. Bain-Selbo agrees that the sense of community created by sports teams is also a central

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