Hockey: A People's History — Season 1, Episode 4: The People's Game (1930-1945)
Documentary • 45 min • 1 season, 10 episodes
Episode synopsis
In the depths of the Depression, the NHL is on the brink of collapse but radio carries the magic of hockey across the country. Through the years of the Great Depression, hockey becomes the national pastime. The advent of radio provides a reach for the games as never before. Foster Hewitt describing the antics of the Maple Leafs creates heroes and household names - the Conacher brothers, King Clancy and Ace Bailey. The Alkali Lake Braves are an aboriginal team from Alberta that travels west challenging opponents in established amateur leagues. They experience racism and are often unwelcome in the communities they play in - but they find success, and demonstrate the skill and determination of native players of the game.
About Hockey: A People's History
Hockey: A People's History is a television documentary series from the CBC's Documentary Unit. It premiered on September 17, 2006. It aired on Sunday nights, in two-episode blocks, on CBC Television; repeats were made later in the week on CBC Newsworld. Much like previous series Canada: A People's History, the series told the history of the sport of ice hockey from a personal perspective, giving voice to various individuals, major and minor, as the sport grows and evolves in Canada. The series ran for 10 hours in total, and was shot in HD. Episode narration was by actor Paul Gross.