No matter what happens in the next two weeks, the fact the Toronto Raptors are in the NBA Finals could be a transformational moment in Canadian sports.<\/p>\n
Brock University Associate Professor of Sport Management Julie Stevens says Toronto\u2019s success could be what allows basketball to challenge hockey as the predominant sport of identification for Canadians.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor a sport to become an ingrained part of Canadian nationalism, it must construct myths and stir imagination. Hockey had Paul Henderson\u2019s goal in the 1972 Summit Series and now basketball has Kawhi Leonard\u2019s Game 7 buzzer beater,\u201d Stevens says. \u201cThe question is, what will come of it? Will it replace Henderson and become this generation\u2019s lore? Will everyone remember where they were when Leonard made his shot.\u201d<\/p>\n
She says hockey has been lacking a magical moment that inspires the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe most recent two examples are probably Sidney Crosby\u2019s game-winning goal in the 2010 Winter Olympics or Marie-Philip Poulin\u2019s overtime winner in 2014,\u201d Stevens says.<\/p>\n
While basketball\u2019s popularity is on the upswing, hockey participation is decreasing, and Stevens believes the Raptors\u2019 success could mean those trajectories continue for each sport in this country.<\/p>\n
\u201cHockey is a bit selective and elite, where basketball has a strong social bond across different areas of class and race,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
Where hockey is part of Canada\u2019s national identity because of the physical nature of the country \u2014 think icy, cold winters \u2014 basketball is becoming part of the national identity because of what makes Canada special.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe \u2018We the North\u2019 motto is about celebrating Canada\u2019s diversity and boldness,\u201d Stevens says.<\/p>\n