This course examines the cultural significance of ice hockey in historical and contemporary Canadian society. Topics include the link between hockey and Canadian identity; race in hockey cultures; the commercialism of the sport; hockey-related violence; and the impact of mass and new media on the sport. Students will engage with a wide range of sociocultural research on hockey, and will also be expected to critically engage with contemporary issues relating to the sport at the professional and amateur levels. This course will equip students to critically assess the social and political implications of Canada’s national winter sport and will help develop their writing, presenting, and critical thinking skills.