DORIAN GEIGER
Sports Writer

Hockey and English are two topics that rarely intersect — that is unless you’re a student in one of P.J. Kennedy’s classes.

A hockey historian, sports journalist and English professor, Kennedy illuminates the curious cultural phenomenon of hockey as a prevalent component of Canadian literature through his English 114 class.

Ambiguously dubbed by the English department Literature and Composition: Reading Culture, English 114 as Kennedy teaches it is primarily concerned with how hockey has permeated Canadian literature. However, an array of these classes co-exist amongst Kennedy’s, but vary drastically depending on what aspect of culture the course’s instructor decides to focus on. Though not as bizarre as the Buffy the Vampire Slayer course the U of S English department offers, English 114 may appear quirky to some.

“For generations, hockey has been a part of our cultural identity,” Kennedy said of the class. “From unorganized pick-up games on the neighbourhood rinks or sloughs to major junior hockey played before thousands of spectators.

“To the National Hockey League and Olympic hockey played at the highest levels across the continent and the world, hockey is a part of the Canadian fabric,” added Kennedy.
With a PhD in Canadian literature, various books on hockey history to his name and freelancing for the StarPhoenix and Hockey News, Kennedy has the proper mix of credentials to be an instructor of such a fascinating undergraduate course.

Introduced in 2002, Kennedy’s class was the first of its kind and is currently being taught at five universities across Canada, including the U of S. Astoundingly, Kennedy has received phone calls from as far away as Texas with inquiries on how to go about instructing such an obscure class.

It is evident Kennedy is broadening the universality of English courses on campus. Kennedy is quick to acknowledge the wide backgrounds of students in his classes. Engineering, commerce and agriculture students are just a small portion of the varying demographic Kennedy annually sees. And contrary to what one would expect, student athletes only comprise approximately 10 per cent of this demographic. There is typically an even split in male and female students.

Incorporating poems on the eccentric character of Don Cherry and written works by famous Canadian hockey players themselves, the English 114 syllabus is a colourful one. However, Kennedy doesn’t necessarily make his class a walk in the park. Like upper-level classes, students are expected to write two essays and participate in a formal seminar. In a brilliant addition that teaches students about the importance of critically interpreting content in the media, Kennedy has included a sports journalism component.

In all the hockey-related professional identities Kennedy assumes, he is above all a formidable story-teller.

After I descended upon Kennedy’s cubicle in the bowels of the Arts Building on campus for an interview, a photo of the U of S professor and Gordie Howe sharing a laugh is the first thing to catch my eye. Kennedy also happened to be an influential force in Howe receiving an honorary doctorate from the U of S this past spring through his nomination of Howe. Noticing my line of vision straying towards the photograph, it only took moments for Kennedy to immerse me in countless tales about Howe.

Perhaps the most entertaining story Kennedy shared with me that Howe had passed on to him revolved around Howe’s childhood in Saskatoon. In tireless attempts at constructing an ideal playing surface for shinny during the dismal Saskatoon winters, Howe would wheel water up the banks of the river. It’s notable that one of the greatest athletes to ever play the game got his start wheelbarrowing water up the sandy banks of the South Saskatchewan just to slap a puck around for a few hours. Though all of Kennedy’s classes this term are full and have been for weeks, if ever presented the unique opportunity to be a student of Kennedy’s, take it. His story-telling abilities, especially regarding hockey, are an unparalleled gem of the U of S English department.