Despite what all the photos (below) show, there was much more than just one game going on during the weekend at Play On!, there were in fact literally hundreds. While other parts of the city were shut down for car free day, between Chinatown and GM place, the streets also were closed to support something quite possibly as important to Canadians as decreasing carbon emissions… HOCKEY!!!
Street hockey is something that pretty much every kid grew up with in Vancouver, while hockey is a huge part of our culture in Canada, we don’t have rinks everywhere like they have back east, so what do we do instead? Take to the streets.
Personally, it never really went past there either, I’ve never played in an organized team sporting event ever, until now. What I enjoyed the most, and why the event is so great for Vancouver, was the diversity of people, old, young, guys, girls, and don’t get me started about all the races and cultures (bet on brown!), they were all there. Street hockey doesn’t discriminate.
Some of the other highlights were seeing the elite men’s final….animals.... and you know that big guy who sings the national anthem at Canuck games? Playing hockey. And finally, as promised to Bob K, the thrill of victory, courtesy of my teammates, without you, my game is nothing but ‘run around like chicken wif no head!’
Props to Play On! and all the sponsors for putting on the event, Angela Ling for the photos and support, everyone who came to cheer us on, Bob K, Katie and Arlo, Shainul and Ranbir’s families, my sister Wei Choy, and grandma for not taking my water bottles (but everyone else’s) for deposit until after the game was over…..
