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I must admit, I’m feeling a bit like Charlie Brown in his search for the perfect tree and the right meaning of Christmas.

Except in this case, I’m trying to find out the right meaning of hockey, and the role it plays in the lives of many Canadians, at Tim Horton’s Hockey Day in Stratford.

Like Christmas, there are many positive and negative aspects. For example, Charlie Brown really disliked the commercialism of the holiday season. But he learned that it was no reason to give up entirely on Christmas – especially since there are so many opportunities to help others, if your heart is in the right place.

The same way, hockey has its downfalls and its bright moments.

Recent events have given critics plenty of reasons to despise the sport. It can be violent. It often bestows honour upon those who drop the gloves and punch each other in the face – even teenage boys. And, in some cases, it produces terrible role models (Patrice Cormier isn’t the only culprit).

So how can a community be so attached to this sport?

I found some of the answers in a gymnasium at Stratford & District Christian School.

This was the first of the Hockey Day school visits.

It featured two-time Stanley Cup winner Tim Taylor, a Stratford-native, and another local boy, NHL referee Steve Miller.

I reckon the Leafs were trying their darndest to recruit a new generation of fans, as the gym was decked out in the blue and white, with Toronto banners and flags hanging from each corner. One of the lessons the kids learned was about how to accept losing with grace, so perhaps the Maple Leaf paraphernalia fit the theme well.

The kids, teachers and their parents were excited – like Christmas – to be in the presence of such star power.

They heard about the importance of exercise, sportsmanship, and teamwork – tools that will help in any walk of life.

It could have been any successful athlete from any sport delivering this message. After all, what sport doesn’t require hard work and determination.

But here’s the difference.

When the NHL talks, the kids listen. That’s the power of hockey in this country. It could be argued that those who hold the power don’t always handle that responsibility with the care that it requires, but that’s another tale.

I wanted to find out what it is about the game that seems to place a smile on kids’ faces. 

Principal David Straatsma provided this thoughtful response.