8.3.3 Popular Sports

Hockey is the sport Canadians watch most, and it is counted as the national winter sport. Ice hockey itself was developed in Canada during the 1800s. Professional teams in the National Hockey League compete for the Stanley Cup. That trophy was donated in 1892 by Lord Stanley, who was Governor General at the time. Winning it is the biggest prize in the Canadian game. The Montreal Canadiens, for example, were Stanley Cup champions in 1978.

Women's hockey has a trophy of its own, the Clarkson Cup. Adrienne Clarkson created it in 2005; she served as the 26th Governor General and was the first person of Asian origin to hold that post. Outside the professional game, the sport fills daily life. Young Canadians play at school, in a league, or out on quiet streets, where it goes by the name road hockey or street hockey. Parents drive their children to the rink, often very early. Collecting hockey cards has been a habit of Canadian children for generations.

Other sports matter too. Canadian football comes second in popularity after hockey. Curling, played on ice, was brought to Canada by Scottish pioneers and remains popular. Lacrosse is an ancient game that Aboriginal peoples played first, and it is the official summer sport of Canada. Soccer has a different distinction: more people are registered to play it than any other game in the country. So the most-watched sport and the most-played sport are not the same.