The year 2022 marked a special year in hockey.
It was a return to on-ice normalcy. Off the ice, the sport struggled with the worst issues it has seen, perhaps in history. Through the difficult conversations, moments of hope emerged as well, positive events and firsts that we’ll all remember.
Here is a look at five memorable hockey moments from 2022:
Nazem Kadri Hoists the Stanley Cup
Winning the Stanley Cup is a lifelong dream for NHL players. It represents the pinnacle on-ice achievement in the sport.
When that title and the fulfillment of that dream comes only weeks after enduring horrific racism, the message and meaning of the accomplishment transcend the sport.
That is the story of then Colorado Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri who faced racism and hateful threats to his family during Colorado’s series against the St. Louis Blues. Kadri responded to the online attacks and threats by scoring a hat trick in Game 4 of the series, a moment few NHL fans will soon forget.
Kadri became the first Muslim to win a Stanley Cup, and for the first time, brought the Stanley Cup to a mosque.
Fan Captures the NHL’s Heart
From time to time, a fan or family member of a player grabs the heart of the NHL. In 2022, that person was Ben Stelter, the six-year-old Edmonton Oilers fan who passed away due to brain cancer in August.
In Edmonton, Ben became a fixture in the Oilers’ dressing room, practices, and within the hearts and minds of players and fans alike. His infectious personality spread hope and joy across the NHL and inspired the Oilers’ playoff run in search of another win, and the chance to hear the team’s win song and Stelter saying, “Play La Bamba, baby!”
Women Shatter the Glass (Ice) Ceiling Into NHL Front Offices
It started early in 2022 when the Vancouver Canucks hired Emilie Castonguay. Then the team hired Hockey Hall of Famer Cammi Granato, both as an assistant GM with the team.
In January, The Hockey News published a list of 20 women who could become NHL GMs, and by the end of 2023, six members of that list – Castonguay, Granato, Hayley Wickenheiser (Toronto Maple Leafs), Kate Madigan (New Jersey Devils), Alexandra Mandrycky (Seattle Kraken), and Meghan Hunter (Chicago Blackhawks) – had been hired by NHL teams as assistant GMs.
Nostalgia for Legends Lost
If there is one way to see the goodness that resides inside NHL fans and to unlock the positive emotions and meaning of hockey within us all, it’s watching…
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