Hockey Night in Belfast? How Canada’s Sport Could Be Bridging Longtime Sectarian Divides

Hockey night in Belfast? How Canada’s sport could be bridging longtime sectarian divides

The Belfast Giants celebrate a goal. (Belfast Giants)In its simplest form, the protracted tensions in Northern Ireland have at their foundation two separate sectarian identities deeply divided over how, and by whom, they are governed — Protestant/Unionist populations wishing to maintain British rule and Catholic/Nationalists desiring a united Ireland. The 1998 Good Friday Peace Agreement brought an end to armed hostilities that devastated cities…

Failure again and again. For 18 long years, Sparta hockey team has not been able to reach the desired peak. This year, coach Pavel Gross's charges have run out of nerve and have started a drastic restructuring of the team. The management had to say a painful goodbye to long-time supporters and is bringing in new reinforcements. Former NHL star Mark Pysyk has also announced himself. Where have the Prague team started going, what kind of hockey ca…