No Promises

In Montreal, hockey is religion.

That analogy is an old one, meant as a gentle jab at the sometimes obsessive nature of Montreal Canadiens’ fans. But in Québec, a province in which the physical presence of religion’s former dominance is undeniable, the line between religion and hockey is blurry.

Quebec is a land of churches. Towering stone steeples are often the signature of the smallest village or largest city. A short walk from the Bell Centre you will find an Anglican church and Marie-Reine-du-Monde Cathedral, where the funeral for  Montreal Canadien’s legend Jean Béliveau was held. Just two of the city’s multitude of churches.

The Roman Catholic church was at the core of Québec society for most of its history, and though the Quiet Revolution ushered in a new era of secularism, words and icons once used as hammers of oppression still permeate every aspect of the province’s culture.

Despite religion’s fading relevance, its use of symbols and icons as a means to inspire and motivate is still very much alive.

Pregame ceremonies at Montreal Canadiens' home-openers are as close to a secular form of worship as you will ever see. They often incorporate icons and symbols, draw from history like scripture, and though they may lack confession, certainly there is a sense of atonement and humility to a greater power. That power it seems, is a transcendent vision of the franchise, not defined by its personnel or management, but something of myth and legend. Journalists and fans still talk about the ghosts of the old Forum, as if they were saints called upon to bless the current roster. Then there is the iconic torch which is literally and figuratively passed from player to player, generation to generation, linking today’s team to an unbroken chain of history and tradition.

Perhaps this is an overstatement of the meaning of such ceremonies, but it’s no coincidence that in a place where religion’s legacy still looms over the culture, that such ceremonies are deeply rooted in a tradition of reverence.

As much as these icons and symbols can inspire, as in the history of the church, they can also become tools of oppression.

One noticeably absent symbol from the Montreal Canadiens’ locker room this season was a sign that read ‘No Excuses.’ Much was made in the media about the removal of the sign, many suggesting that the team’s coaches and management did not live up to those words. The post mortem by General Manager Marc Bergevin on last season’s epic collapse seemed to be rife with excuses, ranging from key injuries to veiled references to character issues.

Whether we want to accept this assessment as a reason or a litany of excuses, Bergevin wasn’t wrong. These things were certainly a factor, though he and coach Michel Therrien are just as culpable in their handling of the crisis.

So why remove the sign? It's my belief that it was because this sign went from being a tool of inspiration to a tool of oppression. The truth is, many things in life don’t go as planned. We foolishly believe ourselves to be in complete control of our destiny, but when things start going off the rails we are suddenly reminded of our own fallibility. We saw how last season’s collapse turned a high-flying team into a disorganized mess. How it transformed a normally quiet and reflective Max Pacioretty into an angry and frustrated man. Loss after loss, the players had to look up and read ‘No excuses,’ words that they were commanded to live by, but were devastating to the spirit. Media and fans kept hammering the players, coaches and management with the phrase to the point that they must have felt completely and utterly isolated.

Icons and symbols can inspire, but they can also be tools of oppression.

I rather liked Tuesday’s home opening ceremony. A circle of players united with their captain, holding a torch quite literally passed from failing hands. No lofty promises, no guarantees, in fact very few words at all. Just a group standing as one, ready to face whatever lies ahead.

Strip away the icons and symbols, and this the best any of us can hope for.