olena
<font color=green>Emerald Angel<br><font color=mag
- Joined
- May 12, 2001
- Messages
- 22,566
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Reuters) - With a flip of her fingers the Queen has made regal history, dropping a puck to the ice for the ceremonial start of a game of hockey, a sport likely closer to hearts of most Canadians than is the monarchy itself.
The crowd of 18,200 people cheered as the Queen walked down a red carpet to the rink's centre ice for the opening face-off of the exhibition game between the National Hockey League's Vancouver Canucks and San Jose Sharks.
The Queen, who was to be seen getting quick pointers on puck-dropping from all-star former player Wayne Gretzky, confidently tossed the 5.5 ounce piece of frozen vulcanised rubber to the ice and smiled.
It marks the first time a British monarch has opened an ice hockey game, although Elizabeth and Prince Phillip watched two NHL games in 1951, a year before she became Queen, a title she also holds in Canada because of its historic roots in the British Empire.
In a normal game, the teams' centremen would have begun battling for control of the puck the moment it hit the ice, but in this case, Canuck's team captain Marcus Naslund picked it up and handed it back to the Queen as a gift.
The puck-dropping event has received far more public interest and advance media coverage than any of the other events planned for the Queen's 12-day Golden Jubilee tour of Canada that began on Friday.
"This is the magic moment, no question. It has been an experience beyond anyone's thoughts," said John Anderson, deputy media coordinator for the royal visit, who said his office was flooded by calls from around the world.
Hockey holds an almost religion-like status in Canada. The image of kids learning to skate on frozen ponds during the country's long winter is ingrained in the Canadian psyche.
MONARCHY UPROAR
The monarchy's hold on the heartstrings of Canadians is a bit weaker. A poll this summer found about 50 percent of those surveyed supported keeping a connection with the monarchy, and only 15 percent wanted Canada to hold a big celebration to mark the Queen's 50th year on the throne.
Debate over the monarchy flared unexpectedly on Friday, the day the Queen arrived in far northern Canada, when Deputy Prime Minister John Manley told reporters at an unrelated event in Montreal he thought it was "not necessary" for Canada -- a view he had held for many years.
"It is not necessary, I think, for Canada to continue with the monarchy," he told reporters in Montreal, saying he nevertheless had a great deal of respect for the Queen.
"I have always said that, first, I think Queen Elizabeth is doing a good job," Manley said. "Personally, I would prefer it if we could have a uniquely Canadian institution after Queen Elizabeth."
Manley's comments drew a strong rebuke from many in the crowds that had gathered for the Queen's pre-hockey game stops on Sunday in Victoria, British Columbia, which has the reputation of being Canada's most British city.
"I've got my cane here ready for him," 68-year-old Kate Darrie said as she waited outside Victoria's Christ Church Cathedral, where the Queen and Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh, attended services.
Not all the crowd was Canadian. Ken and Ruth Stewart of Sedro-Woolley, Washington, arrived at 4 a.m. to get a prime seat and saw their efforts rewarded when the Queen stopped to accept a bouquet of flowers.
"I don't think I was breathing the entire time," said Ruth Stewart.
The Queen's visit to Canada is also scheduled to take her to Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick and Ottawa, where she will attend a multi-faith Thanksgiving Holiday church service. It is her 20th visit to Canada.
In an ironic twist, it is Manley, the federal cabinet's most outspoken critic of maintaining the monarchy in Canada, who has the official task of greeting the Queen when she arrives in Ottawa.
The crowd of 18,200 people cheered as the Queen walked down a red carpet to the rink's centre ice for the opening face-off of the exhibition game between the National Hockey League's Vancouver Canucks and San Jose Sharks.
The Queen, who was to be seen getting quick pointers on puck-dropping from all-star former player Wayne Gretzky, confidently tossed the 5.5 ounce piece of frozen vulcanised rubber to the ice and smiled.
It marks the first time a British monarch has opened an ice hockey game, although Elizabeth and Prince Phillip watched two NHL games in 1951, a year before she became Queen, a title she also holds in Canada because of its historic roots in the British Empire.
In a normal game, the teams' centremen would have begun battling for control of the puck the moment it hit the ice, but in this case, Canuck's team captain Marcus Naslund picked it up and handed it back to the Queen as a gift.
The puck-dropping event has received far more public interest and advance media coverage than any of the other events planned for the Queen's 12-day Golden Jubilee tour of Canada that began on Friday.
"This is the magic moment, no question. It has been an experience beyond anyone's thoughts," said John Anderson, deputy media coordinator for the royal visit, who said his office was flooded by calls from around the world.
Hockey holds an almost religion-like status in Canada. The image of kids learning to skate on frozen ponds during the country's long winter is ingrained in the Canadian psyche.
MONARCHY UPROAR
The monarchy's hold on the heartstrings of Canadians is a bit weaker. A poll this summer found about 50 percent of those surveyed supported keeping a connection with the monarchy, and only 15 percent wanted Canada to hold a big celebration to mark the Queen's 50th year on the throne.
Debate over the monarchy flared unexpectedly on Friday, the day the Queen arrived in far northern Canada, when Deputy Prime Minister John Manley told reporters at an unrelated event in Montreal he thought it was "not necessary" for Canada -- a view he had held for many years.
"It is not necessary, I think, for Canada to continue with the monarchy," he told reporters in Montreal, saying he nevertheless had a great deal of respect for the Queen.
"I have always said that, first, I think Queen Elizabeth is doing a good job," Manley said. "Personally, I would prefer it if we could have a uniquely Canadian institution after Queen Elizabeth."
Manley's comments drew a strong rebuke from many in the crowds that had gathered for the Queen's pre-hockey game stops on Sunday in Victoria, British Columbia, which has the reputation of being Canada's most British city.
"I've got my cane here ready for him," 68-year-old Kate Darrie said as she waited outside Victoria's Christ Church Cathedral, where the Queen and Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh, attended services.
Not all the crowd was Canadian. Ken and Ruth Stewart of Sedro-Woolley, Washington, arrived at 4 a.m. to get a prime seat and saw their efforts rewarded when the Queen stopped to accept a bouquet of flowers.
"I don't think I was breathing the entire time," said Ruth Stewart.
The Queen's visit to Canada is also scheduled to take her to Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick and Ottawa, where she will attend a multi-faith Thanksgiving Holiday church service. It is her 20th visit to Canada.
In an ironic twist, it is Manley, the federal cabinet's most outspoken critic of maintaining the monarchy in Canada, who has the official task of greeting the Queen when she arrives in Ottawa.
