Ice Hockey Has Transcended
Sectarian Divides in Belfast
By CATHOLINE BUTLER
The Belfast Giants hockey team is only six seasons old and it is being celebrated as one of the best things to ever happen in Belfast. Amazingly this hockey team has given the peace process a huge boost, because it transcends all sectarian divide. It is credited with being the only sports team where everyone can shout together for Belfast... it's truly cross-community. The team was League Champion in both 2002 and 2006.
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| THE BELFAST GIANTS hockey team won the League Championships in both 2002 and 2006 |
Calgary businessman Jim Yaworski is one of the owners of the Belfast Giants Hockey Team and I recently spoke with him about the Giants new season and about a new CBC-BBC co-production about the Giants story.
"The Belfast Giants are doing phenomenally well this year," Jim said, "we have 10 wins, three losses and one overtime loss that counts as a tie. That means we have played 14 games and have 21 points. We're actually even getting coverage on Scott Taylor's website in Winnipeg. We have 10 Canadian hockey players on our roster this year."
Regarding the film production, Jim says they haven't started shooting yet, but all the funding and approvals are in place, and right now they're working on final rights of the script. As soon as that's done, they start shooting. The movie will be shown in North America sometime during the NHL playoffs."
Another new development said Jim has been the addition of a Belfast Giants cheerleader squad. He said, "In North America we're quite used to seeing cheerleaders at football games, but not at hockey games. Now, the Belfast Giants have their own G-Crew cheerleaders that keep the crowd going during the game. Apparently all the other teams in the league now also have dance team cheerleaders."
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| THE BELFAST GIANTS G-Crew cheerleaders can be seen at all games now, keeping the crowd revved up |
I asked Jim if he had any regrets as an owner of the Belfast Giants and if it was a financially rewarding venture. He laughed and said, "Oh yeah, you get to live a dream, it couldn't be better. I never went into this to make money, I did it for all the right reasons.
"I've had the opportunity to meet some awesome folks. It's been a wonderful, wonderful experience, and I really can't say I've had a bad experience. I've had hundreds of important hockey memories created...it's been just fantastic."
Jim is actually having a ball as one of the owners of the Belfast Giants, but he brought more than just hockey to Belfast, he also brought fun to Belfast. He created an opportunity for families from both communities to come together in an atmosphere where sectarian baggage is not tolerated.
The Belfast Giants has also opened up new horizons for local kids and offered them an opportunity to come together in a safe and fun way to enjoy a game that knows no borders.
Who would ever have thought that Canada's game of hockey would be making such a difference in defusing conflict and bringing people together in a peaceful and fun way. Canadian, eh? Maybe the Canadians should start playing hockey in Iraq and Afghanistan ...just a thought.
For more information about the Belfast Giants Ice Hockey Team, go to their website at: www.belfastgiants.com.
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