In a world where controversy runs rampant it is refreshing to find things that bring people together and sports is definitely one of them.
As a lover of all sports and especially the Canadian Football League, I was particularly excited about this year’s Grey Cup game as it was held in Vancouver. While it’s a great game no matter where it’s played, there was something very special about the fact it was being played on “home turf” so to speak and the BC Lions were in the game. I was once again shocked to see just how far a sport could reach. To start with I really didn’t think many people from the north would be going I was wrong. When I walked into the Smithers airport on the Friday, I saw several people wearing Lions colours and talking about the upcoming weekend. However, after getting through security I was doubly shocked to see more than half the people traveling were going to the game and football was the topic in every corner of the room. How exciting!
Once on the plane it was great to hear people’s stories on why they were going, who their favourite team was and what the thought the outcome would be. For the next two days, one would see fans from all across this amazing country including a huge slew from Rider Nation, Manitoba, Ontario and Alberta. Even Montreal had fans out and considering only BC and Winnipeg were playing, it was quite something to see how much this country loves the CFL.
As things started to get underway on Sunday for the big game, I had two wonderful honours. One, I had the chance to take my 15 year old nephew to his first football game which happened to be the biggest game a CFL fan can go to.
Two, I had the opportunity to be on the field covering the game I love so much. Not only was it a phenomenal game with the right team winning that day, it was unlike any football game I have ever covered with more than 52,000 fans cheering. At one point I stopped and just looked around at a very packed BC Place and thought, “I wonder how many small towns, villages and communities are being represented by someone in here today?” With the exception of the Olympics, I think one would be hard pressed to get that many people together to cheer and laugh and have fun from across all of Canada. Sports, what an amazing thing.
With that said, to bring it back home, the Hazelton Bandit’s women’s hockey team played in their first tournament this past weekend and after three years without a team it was a glorious thing to be a part of.
Sitting in a dressing room or on a bench with 15 incredible women working hard together, having fun and coming together for the love of a game who range in ages from young teens to grandmas is awe inspiring. Just another reason to love sports and this majestic country we get to call home.
Shannon Hurst writes My Town and is the Three Rivers Report correspondent.