Welcome to Breaking The Ice
What it is, what to expect and general thoughts on this passion project
Welcome to Breaking the Ice, an idea that has been kicking around in my head for a while now and I am finally taking the time to nurture this idea and see where it goes. I want to learn from this experience with writing and thinking much more broadly about hockey than just stats and trades but its broader implications in how it affects us every day. But I also want others to come on this journey with me and for others to take this as a learning opportunity. So, this post really serves as an introduction post of what how I got this idea and what to expect from it.
So where did I come up with this idea? The name kind of comes from the book Skating On Thin Ice by Walter Dekeserdy and others which focuses on the culture of hockey, specifically sexual violence against women. The title serves as a continuation of this thought cycle and that it is time for hockey culture to break through and face its problems head-on, ultimately resolving these systemic issues in hockey. As well, with hockey culture being drawn under the microscope multiple times because of various scandals in recent years, it is important to begin to think more critically about hockey, its impacts (both positive and negative) and what can be done to change the culture more broadly about it.
What is the purpose of breaking the ice? After spending 8 months writing my thesis about the 2018 Hockey Canada scandal I learned a lot about the academic side of the culture of hockey. But one thing I noticed is there is a substantial gap between the publics knowledge and what academia has to say about it and I want to help bridge that gap by making my articles easy for all to read and understand. But it is also important to note that I come from a social science background so my past and own opinions will influence how I write and what I write about and I will use a variety of viewpoints when writing (some not everyone will agree with). You are allowed to disagree with my opinions, the key thing is I want you, the reader, to think critically about the points I raise and hockey’s place in our lives.
So, what type of content should you expect? Right now, it is a passion project, and my focus is on the writing/blog part of this plus my usual posting on my Twitter account. Some of them will be well-thought outposts and others will be more off-the-cuff rants. If there is enough traction, I do have an idea for a podcast, but I don’t want to invest the time into it if there is no interest. So to show your interest, follow my Twitter accounts @Wreck_It_15 and @Break_The_Ice__ so I get an idea. Also, don’t forget to follow me on substack to get notifications for when I post my blogs.