Media

OTTAWA, December 9, 2011  —  The Montreal Canadians hockey team is a social phenomenon whose impact extends beyond the realm of sports. Nicolas Moreau of uOttawa’s Faculty of Social Sciences (School of Social Work) and Audrey Laurin-Lamothe, a doctoral student in sociology at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) shed an interdisciplinary light on hockey’s most storied franchise in a collective work they edited: Le Canadien de Montréal. Une légende repensée.

In Quebec, the Montreal Canadiens and their legendary status provide an insightful backdrop to the province’s collective identity and to its historical, economic and cultural landscape. From economics and philosophy to urbanism and religious sciences, the authors present an array of perspectives thanks to which readers can take a both critical and introspective look at Montrealers’ beloved Habs, the team’s social imprint and even its political significance.

Le Canadien de Montréal. Une légende repensée explores a number of themes:  

• the Maurice Richard riots of 1955, which fed the political effervescence of Quebec society by serving as a catalyst for the emancipation of French Canadians;
• the parallels between religion and the Canadiens, which show how fan behaviour has all the makings of religious practice;
• the social norms projected by the players, as well as the qualities people see in them (or expect from them)—which helps us better understand modern-day requirements or expectations;
• the reaction of fans to how the media and the franchise itself portray the team;
• the corporate nature of the Canadiens and how it has filtered into society;
• the integration of the franchise in Montreal’s own social fabric through the La ville est hockey (the city is hockey) campaign;
• fan bias, fan enthusiasm and fan alienation.

“The book is innovative in that it’s at odds with the conventional wisdom you hear about the Montreal Canadiens. It’s far removed from fan bias and fan criticism and serves up a true social analysis if the team,” explains Nicolas Moreau.   

Overall, the work strives to approach its subject from various angles and, in the process, to help sports fans and academics alike gain a deeper understanding of the legend that is the Montreal Canadiens hockey team.