2s s like a landed fish. Their mouths water at the sight of the EK dito rl al Stanley Cup. They stay up late to.watch the play-offs. They The Opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily actually listen to commentaries by Don Cherry (a sure sign reflect those of the staff of this production, or of the of mental distortion). Student Union. Is there anything wrong with this? of course not (well, the Ladies and gentlemen... Eric Lindros has left the building. jury’s still out on Don Cherry). Hockey’s just a game, and Actually, as I write this he’s been gone for a few days, and Canadians have a lot of good, clean fun watching and playing by the time you read this it will have been a week since he it. Still, one can’t help but marvel at the near religious zeal and his fellow Philadelphia Fliers left the Island after with which Canadians view hockey, and you wonder if all attending their annual training camp here this year. The that raw enthusiasm could be channelled into constructive publicity surrounding their visit from beginning to end was pursuits. If Joe Clark and the premiers laced up some skates the closest thing P.E.I.’s seen to a full-blown media circus and traded slapshots instead of slaps in the face, we may in some time, and one can’t help but wonder precisely what have worked out our constitutional differences a long time all the fuss was about. Why ‘‘Flyermania’’? ago. The most obvious answer to that question is the aforemen- tioned Eric Lindros, widely regarded as the most promising new player in the NHL, with the potential to become the Sean McQuaid league’s next superstar. For over a year there had been Editor, eh? heated debate and speculation as to what team Lindros would join after he refused to work for the Quebec Nordiques team that drafted him. That debate climaxed only recently when the Flyers signed Lindros by trading a substantial chunk of their team’s players and resources to do it, a huge leap of faith considering that the fledgling superstar has yet to even play in an NHL game! There are zamboni drivers SoAR TOWARDS with more ice time than this kid, but the fans are already Rete HE FUTURE lining up by the hundreds to see him... not only to see him as ee “ a . : ; For many students, the first career move is the play but just to see him, crowding him for autographs and most important. Choose well, and the sky is the limit. swarming onto the golf course like mosquitos so they could Here's what recent CAs have to say about coming on watch a hockey player play golf; and when he and the Flyers Shean aa ewe Cet ROSE? ty pray gon, d ; y i] . CHALLENGING WORK ASSIGNMENTS were actually playing hockey, the faithful poured into the 42 2) “At Doane Raymond Pannell, | get a lot of responsibility. j Se ee I'm always learning.” pews of the arena to watch the players practice, 0 say Nis TeL tLe. Tikeecilfoe ods nothing of the throngs who turned up for the team 's inter- {| COMPREHENSIVE UFE SUPPORT squad game (a game, incidentally, which Eric’s side lost). . “4 “The firm's UFE prep course is absolutely phenomenal!” Kids gleefully told reporters of how they were skipping : ee ee et ee Soe ° ’ AN IDEAL TAKE-OFF FoR ANY school for these spectacles, not surprising since morethana = BUSINESS CAREER few adults set an example by skipping work for the occasion. tian to-do, Doane Raymond You could slap ‘‘Chiquita’’ stickers on these people and sell pos David Somerville, CA- McMaster University them at fruitstands judging by these displays, putting their DOWN-To-EARTH PEOPLE ; 5 . ; “They're dedicated professionals, but like me, they also lives on hold to watch one would-be superstar and his & Kace Wes cuttide the office ® teammates practice for a few days. There must be more at eo Faye McCann, CA - Professional CA Program, Alberta work here than curiosity about a bunch of hot shot athletes Now that you're getting your career off the ground, “°F >. and fi hiseias @ consider a future with Doane Raymond Pannell. Be sure to Tom away’’; and as near as one can figure this is justa & pick up our brochure at your university placement centre. symptom ofa larger Canadian obsession: Canadians will do Be Offices across Canada, including anything for hockey. se See, Charlottetown Summerside It’s strange but true. Hockey is inexplicably entrenched in the Canadian psyche. We’ re often accused by ourselves of being apathetic and unenthusiastic people given out rather modest and confused expressions of patriotism, apparently unable to make up our minds on what our country is, let alone what we want; but one thing virtually all Canadians agree upon is that we love hockey. If you want to influence our American neighbours, you sway them with talk of patri- Otism and anything you can drape in the red, white and blue. If you want to mesmerize a Canadian all you have to do is drop a puck in front of him or her and their eyes glass over UPEI X-P RESS September 24, 1992 Page 3