The Hockey Sweater

A young Montreal boy must endure the indignity of wearing a Toronto Maple Leafs hockey sweater in this modern classic of Canadian children's literature. When his red, white and blue sweater - the uniform of the Montreal Canadiens, worn by his idol, Maurice Richard - becomes too small for him, the narrator's mother sends away for a new one from the Eaton's catalogue. When the wrong sweater arrives, the boy insists he will not wear it: all of his peers wear the Canadiens sweater, and so will he! His mother has other ideas however, and he finds himself wearing it after all. This leads to trouble at his first game thereafter, and a visit to church...

Originally published in French as "Une abominable feuille d'érable sur la glace" show more (literally: "An abominable maple leaf on the ice"), The Hockey Sweater was first translated into English in 1979 as part of the collection, The Hockey Sweater and Other Stories. It was made into a short film in 1980 ("The Sweater"), and presented in this picture-book form in 1984, with artwork by Sheldon Cohen, who also illustrated Carrier's The Flying Canoe. Set in 1946, the story is immensely engaging, and absolutely hilarious. I chuckled aloud on more than one occasion, while reading it. Carrier captures the centrality of ice hockey to the narrator's life (apparently the story is partially autobiographical) and to Canadian culture, and his narrative feels like it is told from an authentic boy's perspective. Cohen's artwork is colorful and entertaining, capturing the humor of the tale quite nicely. I enjoyed this so much that I think I will track down the larger collection of Carrier's stories, mentioned above. Recommended to anyone looking for children's stories featuring ice hockey and/or a French-Canadian cultural setting. show less

I still have enough little-kid primitive left-nationalism in me to warm in kneejerk fashion to this nexus of oldtimey hockey (Rocket Richard!), Canadian official culture (the CBC!) and the struggle for self-determination of our solitary-and-notionally equal cousins québecois (the Eaton's man sends him a Maple Leafs sweater instead of a Canadiens sweater and his mom makes him wear it! Tabernack!). Carrier and Cohen know their craft and this is a pleasant and sentimental tale, but what really struck me was how the hockey stuff seemed almost as atavistic as the pre–Quiet Revolution priest-ridden Québec stuff. I'm no hockey fan, but our country really is changing and losing its soul in some ways and god I hope the new nexus is not show more merely that between extractive industries and the TPP and a weak Canadian dollar. show less

I was delighted to find out that I had been chosen as a lucky recipient to this great Canadian classic. In fact, the whole family rushed to grab the book and watch the movie. It was an opportunity for the adults to reconnect and the children to discover this classic. I realised that I had completely forgotten the ending: rather curt yet so perfect in the childish hope that the sweater would disappear.
The illustrations are fantastic. I love that there is a mix of English and French so that the reader doesn't lose sight of the fact that this was a typical French-Canadian environment - yet a quintessential Canadian experience regardless of language.
I was rather disappointed that the French version wasn't available on the DVD: what a show more perfect way to initiate Anglophones to the original story and to compare Carrier's narrations.

I usually give away my books, but this one will stay on our shelves for many readings to come. show less

I can't tell you how happy I was to receive the 30th anniversary edition of The Hockey Sweater, a favourite book and a fabulous animated film. This edition not only contains the story with the superb illustrations by Sheldon Cohen but also describes how it all came to be, and explains just why this book is so revered in Canada. To include a DVD of the film was a much appreciated bonus.

Its importance in Canadian culture is portrayed in the commendations by luminaries from politicians, writers, illustrators, athletes, to journalists. And, in a very Canadian way, from 2001 to 2012, when an illustration and the first few lines of the story were reproduced on the five-dollar bill. Note too that the ubiquitous Eaton's catalogue, now sadly show more extinct, was not only used as a source of sweaters but when stuffed inside socks became excellent shin protectors.

I always wanted my own copy of this book, and this edition is a real jewel. show less

This beautiful book came with the DVD of the National Film Board of Canada of the animated film. Both book and film are not very long but they evoke memories of the days when the Montreal Canadiens were the best hockey team in the 6 city league. Carrier uses a childhood memory to create the long gone world of a small town in Quebec in the late 1940's. Carrier said that the most important things were the Church and the skating rink, and the idolization of the great Maurice Richard who played for the Canadiens. Every boy knew all about the statistics and listened to the hockey games broadcast on the radio. At the skating rink, every boy wore the jersey of the Montreal Canadiens. The story shows what happens when Roch as a growing boy show more needs a new hockey jersey. His mother orders a new one from the Eaton's mail order catalogue. ( Eaton's-a long gone Canadian department store empire with stores and a famous catalogue) Unfortunately, the wrong jersey arrives- that of the hated Toronto Maple Leaf team. Roch is forced to wear it and suffers the consequences. That is the story- the settings and dialogue were illustrated by Sheldon Cohen for the book as well as the short animated film. This book has more- information on the history of making the film, the references and tributes by many prominent Canadian politicians ( including the present Prime Minister) writers, sports figures and a former goalie and member of parliament- Ken Dryden. This book was also taken by a Canadian astronaut to the International Space Station. This edition is more than one for children- it is an exploration of a past life in Canada. show less

When a book is endorsed by the Prime Minster and the leader of the opposition you know it must have wide appeal! This 30th anniversary edition of The Hockey Sweater includes the NFB DVD as well. I hadn't read this book before so it was a surprise to me what a Canadian classic it is. I was touched by the young Roch Carrier's love of hockey and his horror at the accidental receipt of the enemy team's jersey. Anyone who grew up around hockey, especially in small town Canada, will find their thoughts returning to their own childhood. I have two daughters so I was also glad to see quotes from two of Canada's female Olympic hockey champions.

A quirky book about life in a small Quebecois town. Child Canadiens fans, the wrong (Maple Leafs) sweater, and a final page in which the protagonist prays to God to send moths to eat the titular sweater add up to a very strange package.