Quebec: The Breakaway Hockey Province?

Here's a proposal that's sure to raise hackles across Canada:

The 202-page Bloc election platform was released on Wednesday, with one of its campaign promises calling for Quebec national teams to play in international tournaments for hockey and soccer. "I would like to see the same rules as those applying to Scotland or Wales or Northern Ireland," Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe said.

"They have their own players in the soccer World Cup or the rugby World Cup. If it's possible in Great Britain, it could be possible in Canada."

Indeed, this is the case, as British footballers strong-armed FIFA into allowing England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to field their own squads owed to the fact that the U.K. was the home of the sport.

We have a similar situation in the U.S. as well, as Puerto Rico, American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands all send their own representatives to international competitions of all types.

Then again, even if Quebec were given the go-ahead to do this (pending approval from FIFA and the IIHF), it doesn't mean all of the Quebec-born superstars would play for the province instead of for Canada.

I would think that just as a native of the American Virgin Islands like Tim Duncan can play for the U.S. in Men's Basketball, it wouldn't be beyond the realm of possibility for the big names like Brodeur, Theodore and Lecavalier to opt to play for Canada instead.

Sounds like a one-day story that will infuriate the people it was designed to infuriate, and cheer the voters it was designed to cheer -- just like all sorts of planks that wind up in political platforms.

Eric 12:36 PM

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