Blades of Glory
Annual cross-border face-off stirs national pride
In 1980, student referee Chuck Macknee— now Associate Professor of Psychology at TWU—pulled the wool over the eyes of his American friend Dan Brinkman. Literally. With his opponent blinded by his own sweater, Macknee pummelled him in what was the first staged fight of the now-legendary Can-Am Hockey Game.
Originally called the Canadian Girls vs. California Boys Hockey Game, the Can-Am Game continues to delight fans every year with male American students, relatively new to hockey, skating against female Canadian students.
In 2005, the game had reached such high levels of popularity that Sportsnet Pacific featured video coverage of the event.
What began as a small group of students with an idea for a fun game has grown into a hugely anticipated school-wide event. Student Life Director Allan Kotanen, who coached TWC’s hockey team in the 1980s, credits a growth in national pride for the game’s popularity boom. “More every year,” he says, “students have played out their patriotism on the ice.”
We know there are some legendary tales of valour, fear, victory, and defeat at Can-Am Games past. To share yours, email us at magazine@twu.ca.
by Jeremy (J.J.) Hutcheson '08
Web Exclusive
The Can-Am Tradition
A historical scrap book of one of Trinity Western’s most time-honoured rituals
