Childhood game turned into New Year's Day tradition for Winnipeg family plays out in St. Boniface
It's a tradition that has played out on Jan. 1 on the streets of Winnipeg's St. Boniface neighbourhood for more than 25 years.
Claude Thériault stages two nets in the street covered with snow, turning it into a makeshift rink, where family and neighbours face off in a hockey game. There's no hard puck, slightly different rules and the score falls through the cracks of a friendly match.
"You guys call it road hockey," he said. "We call it boot hockey."
Thériault organized the annual game this year on Fifth Avenue, grabbing inspiration from his afternoons as a child more than 50 years ago.
"There was nothing else to do, we didn't have the same toys they have today … we were outside as soon as we ate supper. If it was winter, we would be playing hockey," he said.
He decided to turn it into a small family gathering and over time it became a pastime for the block on New Year's Day, with everyone welcome to join.
Claude Thériault used to play hockey on the road when he was a boy and decided to bring the game back to life on his block more than 25 year ago. (Nathan Liewicki/CBC)
Players join in with boots, and the puck is replaced by a toy, just like when Thériault was a boy.
Back in his day, it would have been the wheel of a toy car. But for Wednesday's game, it was a Babies "R" Us toy ball, with safety in mind.
"You could take that [hit] anywhere in the body and I think you'll be fine," Thériault said of the toy ball.
In an effort to get more players to join the street rink, he sent out roughly 300 text messages to acquaintances with invitations for this year's event. In the end, around 16 showed up to take part in the game, braving a wind chill that made it feel like –23 outdoors.
But it was a family connection that brought Kyle Keogh, from Dublin, Ireland, to this year's game.
"I've just kind of heard about this game for the last three, four years … I want to see what it was all about," Keogh, who is dating Thériault's niece, said before the game.
"I just heard it's good fun. Families always show up on Jan. 1."
Kyle Keogh, from Dublin, Ireland, shot his first puck and learned how to use a hockey stick in his first match of boot hockey on Wednesday. (Nathan Liewicki/CBC)
At the game, Keogh shot a puck for the first time and learned that he was a right-handed player in hockey.
But before boot hockey, his closest encounter with the sport was watching the Winnipeg Jets live. On Wednesday, he told CBC News he wanted to learn to stay upright and get a shot on net.
In an effort to get more players to join the street rink, Thériault sent out roughly 300 text messages with invitations for this year’s event. (Nathan Liewicki/CBC)
Another player at this year's boot hockey match was Michael O'Sullivan, a former member of the Winnipeg Freeze team in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.
O'Sullivan has since retired from the league, but playing on Thériault's street helped him rekindle a passion he still has but in a different way — where enjoying the game is the only thing that matters.
"It might not be as competitive … but it's a lot of fun to get out there and just play and have a good time."
Another highlight for O'Sullivan from boot hockey is Thériault's commitment to make it happen and bring people together every year.
"This means a lot to him," O'Sullivan said. "He likes to get a big crowd, see how many people can get playing and have a good time with all of them."
