Like it or hate it hockey is central to the Canadian identity. That we are good at the sport is the most likely thing someone from another country will know about Canada.
For those that don’t care for the sport, it can be a bit much. Hockey dominates the conversation, especially in our soccer-blind traditional sports media.
Yet, there is little doubt that the sport influences us – even those of us in the soccer community. Canadian tactics, such as they are, occasionally borrow from the sport. In youth soccer ranks, many kids learn the game from coaches that relate more to Don Cherry than Jose Mourinho (I’ve literally heard youth soccer coaches talk about “dump and chase”—i.e. direct football -- and “forchecking” – i.e. closing down defenders). Outside of children of first-generation Canadians, the majority of us learn the game in a culture that understands sports in hockey terms. It’s not ideal, but it is what it is.
As such, we tend to relate to players that play the game in a certain way. Canadians don’t like divers. They do like guys that play above their ability and exhibit the great intangible of “toughness” (it’s not surprising that Danny Dichio remains so popular in Toronto).
In hockey terms, we like the third-line checkers. Guys like Dwayne de Rosario are liked, but maybe not as much as they might be in other cultures – too much flash, not enough grit.
Bruce Wilson, however, might be the ultimate Canadian player. And, we could do with more Wilson’s today – the man did lead Canada to a World Cup.
So, with some ambivalence, Canadian Soccer News recognizes the reality of our football culture with the What If Soccer Was Played On Ice Award.
And the winner in 2011? Find out below the jump.
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
The most Canadian, Canadian in 2011 was the ageless wonder Eduardo Sebrango.
The 38 (!) year old started 2011 retired and working as an ambassador for the Impact. He ends it with an invite to the Impact’s MLS camp. Does anyone want to bet against him being there on March 17?
This is a player that has grinded out a career with skills that would never be described as world class. He holds the ball well and has an ability to find the goal. He’s spent his entire career in D2 and the majority of that time has been in Canada, playing for both the Whitecaps and Impact.
Sebrango is a man who chose to be Canadian. He came to this country in 1998 and is now a Canadian citizen. It’s too bad FIFA is so restrictive about cap tie rules because one gets the feeling that he would have be willing to bleed for his adopted country as much as he did for the Impact and Caps.
In a country often defined by immigration, Sebrango is in many ways a perfect Canadian. He’s not from Moose Jaw, but he reflects us every bit as much as someone that is.
Yes, even guys born in Cuba can have a little hoser in them!