Russians, Work and Hockey


Vol III, No. 3

Today, May Day, was International Workers Day, commemorating the Haymarket Massacre/Riot which occurred in Chicago in 1886.

The date became formally recognized at the Second Internationale meeting in Paris in 1891. Despite its American roots, the workers movement quickly became associated with Russia and Communism.

So what's the connection with hockey?

Just one year later, in 1892, Lord Stanley of Preston, Canada's Governor-General, donated the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup as an award for Canada's top-ranking amateur ice hockey club. The cup was awarded for the first time to the Montreal HC in 1893. It  took another 33 years for the National Hockey League to recognize the the cup as its championship trophy.

I doubt that Lord Stanley could ever have envisioned multi-millionaire players skating around in the months of May or June. After all, indoor refrigerated ice rinks were not introduce until the early 1900s.

But here we are, 100 years later, with professional hockey teams spread across the world.  Many players who are not competing in the NHL playoffs are off in Europe for the IIHF world hockey championship.  They can't get enough of a good thing.

There's another connection. Successful hockey is all about work ethic. That is true of other sports too. And when you look at the typical hockey player, whether they come from Canada or the Czech Republic, most come from blue collar backgrounds.  The kid whose dad works in a mill or a mine, is the kid who is out on the ice at the age of five. 

In the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Eastern Conference continues to show the incredible parity among all of its teams.  In the first round, three of the four quarterfinal series went seven games.  In the semis, both contests are tied at 1-1. The Washington Capitals are giving the top seed Rangers a hard time, even with their top gun only on the ice for 14 minutes. And the Devils just spanked the Flyers in Philly, with their top guy out of the lineup.  Ovy and Kovy, where are you?

The other story line today are two misbehaving Nashville Predators. Alexander Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn have been scratched for Game 3 because (rumor has it) they were out roaming the bars of Scottdale late Saturday night after curfew. What were these guys thinking?  The chance to compete for the Stanley Cup, and they thumb their nose at the team (and their teammates)!  Hats off to Nashville management for doing the right thing, even if it costs them a game or playoff. 

Now, come to think of it, today was about four Russian hockey players. Ovy, Kovy, Rad and Kosty.  International workers, all of them. Workers of the hockey word, unite!  Observe your curfews. Try to stay healthy.

Spociba!