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Canadians love games. They readily embrace the spirit of competition, whether it’s the physical rigor of a sport or the mental challenge of a card game. Of course, due to the cold weather, Canadians naturally shine in winter sports like hockey, curling and luge. However, they are also champions in some unexpected areas, including party games like trivia.
Below are a few of Canada’s favorite sports and games.
Ice Hockey
Ice hockey is perhaps the most popular sport in Canada. Invented by J.G. Creighton in 19th-century Montreal, ice hockey has since become the country's official national sport. Major sporting events like the Olympics began to include hockey at the beginning of the 20th century. Later, Canada created the NHL, where Canadian and American teams come together for matches out on the ice.
Professional hockey has exploded in popularity over recent years, leading to the success of many prolific athletes. On the other hand, many Canadians also play in semi-professional and intramural leagues.
Lacrosse
Unlike hockey, lacrosse can be traced back centuries. The sport originates from the Iroquois peoples around what is now known as New York and parts of Canada. Matches were a bit different then. With massive teams composed of hundreds of people, lacrosse matches often lasted for days. The Iroquois made equipment from their hunts, using deer sinew to make net baskets and deer hide for lacrosse balls.
Later, European settlers adopted the sport. As in ice hockey, today's lacrosse fans and athletes gather at official sporting events like those hosted by the NLL. Canadians bond as they watch lacrosse, whether it’s a professional or amateur game.
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Poker
While ice hockey and lacrosse are physical sports, many consider poker a mental sport. It has all the competition of an athletic sport without necessarily needing the physical prowess. Players compete for the best hand or bluff their way to the top. People can come together to play, but online poker is another option. In fact, poker rooms in Ontario have become more common lately, since many iGaming websites have been licensed and regulated. Now, Canadians have the choice of playing against friends, strangers, or the computer in online matches.
Most people play Texas Hold’Em, the most common poker variation. However, there are several other variations, such as Omaha and Seven Card Stud. They’re slightly different but bring a fun twist to the classic rules.
Trivial Pursuit
Whereas poker is a mental sport, Trivial Pursuit is a beloved party game. Canadians Chris Haney and Scott Abbott created the game in the late 70s after finding that their Scrabble set was missing pieces. Since both Haney and Abbott worked in the magazine world, they were well-read individuals who knew many facts. They gathered their knowledge and organized the game into categories, such as popular culture, science, art, history, and geography.
Since its inception, Trivial Pursuit has taken on many forms. Some variants include Lord of the Rings, Baby Boomers and the History of France. With all sorts of themes and new gaming features, it’s safe to say this title is still a major commercial success.
Wrapping Up
Many treasured games originate from Canadian soil. Whether their roots come from the First Nations or European descendants, people from all over the world still play them today.