January 26th, 2012
Women’s Hockey Skills Class at Downsview Arena in Toronto
Perhaps 15 women have signed-up for this course that teaches basic hockey skills. Most of the women are in their 40s, the sort of people who grew up being taught figure skating, something feminine, while all the boys headed off to hockey, the sport that defined a nation. Well, now that women’s hockey is a celebrated part of the cultural landscape, these women, curious to know what they’ve missed, are now exploring the sport that both their sons and daughters play. Some of the women wear old figure skates, while others don the over-sized equipment of their husbandsor borrowed bits from their children. It’s a beautiful and sweet hodge-podge. Late on a Thursday night, in a quiet, unattended rink in an inconvenient corner of the city, people are following their curiosity, discovering something that could become a great love in their life.
After the practice, the instructor, a confident young woman, asks each person to tell the other players something about herself.
Karen McIntyre 41: All I want to do is learn to raise the damn puck!
Helene Francis 46: I haven’t had a drink in 14 years.
(Everybody nodes their heads in a supportive but still kind of awkward fashion.)
Marilyn Kim 29: My grandmother survived being hit by lightning twice.
(The room took on an astonished quality, with people shouting out, “No way!”)
Amanda Reasoner 34: I absolutely adore Dachshunds.
Erin Almond 44: This is my New Year’s Resolution, to play hockey. If my sons can do it, so can I! I can do more than just drive them around, you know!
Freddie Cruz 53: I’ve been with my partner Pauline for 17 years now.
Christine Poole 37: I’ve been with my partner Paul for 6 years now!
(Freddie and Christine high-fived after this.)
Julie Pitre 26: I think Yoga is completely over-rated and boring so I’m doing this.
Melissa Smith 40: I’m actually a very accomplished French horn player.
(Melissa did a courtesy after this announcement.)
Anastasia Trylowsky 41: I hate my job. I want to quit it and become something different.
(There were murmurs of sympathy and agreement throughout the locker room.)
Barbara Kendricks 44: I once lived in a haunted house. When the ghost was present you could smell lilacs.
Tanya Jackson 33: I love this. I love it all. You guys are awesome.
(Cheers and touched hearts flowed out of all the women.)
Amala Gupta 24: My lucky number is 7, so if whoever has 7 wants to trade jerseys I would be more than happy!
(One of the women peeled off her jersey and traded it with Amala.)
Helene Stoyan 44: My mother died three years ago today. I’m doing this because I think it would make her proud. She loved hockey.
(Everybody sighed.)
As this was the last person to speak, everybody in the room got up and gave one another a big, group hug.