POND HOCKEY: CANADA'S WINTER LOVE
There are many criteria by which a potential MBA student measures up a program; content, specializations, internships, placement opportunities, global rankings, cost, program fit and of course, location. Ultimately, one of the challenges Canadian MBA programs face is selling a potential international applicant on our location. Canadian has many perks associated with post graduate employment opportunities; chief among them being the ease at which graduates can obtain a work permit and work toward their permanent resident status if that is a long term goal. It is a beautiful country, with lots of space to spread out and relax. However, one of the drawbacks is our winter weather and the perception that it is too cold in central and eastern Canada to enjoy the surroundings. One of my more recent conversations in Mexico consisted of a potential applicant inquiring as to our temperature range, and upon hearing the answer, shuddering and walking away.
It is cold here in Canada in the winter; as I write this post our current temperature outside is 3 degrees Celsius, with a rain snow mix. Later on in the week we are expecting to experience temperatures as low as -14 degrees Celsius. Despite this, we Canadian’s know how to continue to have fun even in the cold temperatures. We bundle up in several layers of clothing, including hat and mitts, and head outside to take advantage of all the winter season has to offer.
One of the favourite Canadian winter pastimes is pond hockey. We Canadians get a little crazy over our national sport of hockey. Many young men and women learn how to skate before they can walk, and dream of some day playing for the NHL. We proudly wear our favourite team`s colours, we bicker and argue over who is going to win the Stanley Cup, and quite often we spend our Saturday evenings watching `the game` together as a family. This love of the game spills over in the winter into a sport we call pond hockey.
Pond hockey is played on any frozen surface available across Canada in the winter. Sometimes we play it on the lakes and rivers which freeze, other times we don`t have access to frozen bodies of water and flood public places on our own backyards in order to create rinks. We play it all day long, and in some cases hook up lights outside to play into the night. We use skates, hockey sticks, helmets, and whatever other equipment we have laying around. It can be as elaborate and teams of 10 competing against each other or as simple as two people facing off. The rules change based on the day and those participating, and the players come and go all day. There are often no bystanders, and no one enforcing the rules, just a bunch of guys and gals spending a cold afternoon playing.
Pond hockey is just a sample of what the great Canadian winter has to offer in good clean fun spent outside. We also ski, snowboard, skate, partake in sleigh rides, tobogganing, and there is nothing like a walk in freshly fallen snow.
As I watched my brother and his friends for a bit at the pond by my house on this past Sunday, my dog also decided to get into the action as seen in the video footage below. I hope you enjoy the footage, and have the opportunity to enjoy a Canadian winter or two.
