For better or worse, I became a “collateral victim” of women’s hockey.
Last summer, I would have immediately condemned the creation of the Professional Women's Hockey League because I would have foreseen the situation. Too late, the damage is done. The pleasure I had of locking myself in the boudoir to watch my hockey game is finally over for me. I even closed the door so that my wife, who was watching another program in the bedroom, wouldn't be disturbed by the loud sounds of the TVA Sports or RDS commentators.
My fate was sealed on Saturday afternoon, January 13th, when the Boston team took on the Montreal players in the Verdun Auditorium. Attracted by all the noise surrounding the formation of the LPHF, my wife came to see me that afternoon to attend the new league's first “local” game, televised by Radio-Canada. It was the first hockey game Maryse took the time to watch, a sport she had always said was worse.
I was a victim of my own curiosity. On New Year's Day, I discreetly turned on the television at lunchtime to watch the New York LPHF team play against the Toronto team. I even took great joy in watching the New Yorkers whitewash the Torontoists 4-0, a feat my poor Canadians are no longer capable of against the Maple Leafs.
I should have kept up
My mistake was telling Maryse that I found the match very interesting. As good as if it had been a men's fight, without the clinches and punches. That was more than enough to alarm him. In the days that followed, she listened to everything that was being said on the radio and television about the new women's hockey league. So there was no question of her missing Montreal's game against Boston.
She barely took the time to drink a glass of water during the game because she was so fascinated by the girls' game. As for me, I never stopped answering his newbie questions, explaining to him the offside rules imposed by the linesmen, the penalties for tripping or getting caught, the refusal to take distance, etc.
A good decision by CBC/SRC
Must I add that my wife, who is now addicted to hockey, was in the bedroom last Saturday night watching Toronto win on penalties against Marie-Philip Poulin and the Montreal girls. Meanwhile, in the boudoir, I was cursing my Canadiens, who lost 9-4 to the Boston Bruins.
From now on, I will never be alone in the cave watching hockey again, unless a member of the Montreal women's team is there at the same time as a Canadiens game. My wife will be there too.
CBC/Radio-Canada management was smart when it decided to broadcast the LPHF games. Judging by my wife's reaction, hockey is no longer a “man's thing.” The sports broadcasters may regret not watching this even more than I do!