« Podcasting at Canadian universities | Main | Blogging in the English department »
November 29, 2006
Hockey season just wouldn't be the same without this....
I've had my students in English 005 listen to a recording of Roch Carrier reading his story, The Hockey Sweater. The goal of this assignment is partly to read a Canadian classic that tells us something essential about Canadian and especially Québécois culture. The other aim, though, is to give them, I hope, some sense of the importance of hockey to Canadian identity and the place of Montréal Canadiens and Maurice Richard in the history, culture, and identity of Québec. Although I have the sense that many Vermonters might think of the Boston Bruins as being "their" team, there are many I've met (including many former Quebeckers) who will forever be life-long fans of the Habs. Despite my continued obsession with the Oilers, I too am feeling a greater connection to the Canadiens just by being so close to Montreal. They're now my second favourite team and I'm dying to get up to Montreal to experience a game there for the first time.
The story, the children's book, the audio book, and the National Film Board film short are all touchstone's in many Canadians' memories of childhood. A true classic which, thanks to Google Video, I can post for you here. It's well worth tracking down the original on DVD though. Just don't forget to read the story as well.
Posted by pwmartin at November 29, 2006 10:18 AM
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
https://pwmartin.blog.uvm.edu/mt/mt-tb.cgi/293