Leaving the building on Friday two young men in the elevator asked if I as going to watch the Olympic gold medal hockey game between Canada and the USA Sunday morning. I said yes, at least the first two periods. After that would be leaving for church.

“You should stay home and watch,” they said. “Hockey is church! God will understand you skipping church to watch the game.”

Welcome to Canada, where ice hockey is a religion. When Olympic gold is on the line there are a lot more adherents than normal.

This game is such a big one that Ottawa’s bars will be open and serving alcohol at 6 a.m. today. Because in our society you can’t have a big event without alcohol.

In a fractured society sport has the potential for bringing people together across political, racial and ethic divides. Instead focusing on our differences, we rally around something that unites us. It requires less commitment than religion, which makes allegiance easier.

Canadians came together in October 2025, as the Toronto Blue Jays came within an out of winning baseball’s World Series. But that was only baseball. Hocky is the true religion.

Which explains the the bafflement of the young men in the elevator. That I would even consider skipping the end of the gold medal hockey game to go to church. You can go to church any time. An Olympic final happens only once every four years – and there is no guarantee your country will be in it next time.

I’m hoping Canada jumps to an early five goal lead this morning and then cruises to victory. That is a false hope, some would say ludicrous, The two teams are pretty evenly matched.

The experts say Canada has the offensive scoring power, while the US team has better goaltending. The defensive corps is pretty even. So I’m reluctant to pick the winner, even though my heart says Canada.

A close game will leave me with a mild dilemma after two periods. Stay and watch to the end, or go to church as I usually do and miss the end of a once-in-four-year experience? If either team is ahead by a few goals it will make the choice easier.

Hockey isn’t my religion, but I understand the value of shared cultural experiences in building national unity. Every Canadian of my generation can tell you exactly here they were on September 28, 1972 when the most famous goal in Canadian hockey history was scored..

The most likely scenario? I will head off to church with Canada trailing by a few goals. They will stage a miraculous comeback, and I will miss the live experience.

If that happens, I will have no regrets. As I said, hockey is not my religion.