by Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (June 09/97) - One is an opportunity to exercise our fundamental democratic rights, the other is a chance to exercise a passion for the sport of hockey.

This year Elections Canada, the NHL and CBC missed the boat -- a chance to create something new and different and, most of all, very entertaining.

Politockey.

Think about it. The country could charge admission to elections. Who wouldn't pay to see tubby politicians battling for their jobs against a team of upstarts on the silver surface.

"It works for me," said Blayne Penrice of Cambridge Bay. "At least they'd have to walk the walk instead of just talking the talk."

Exactly!

Voters are tired of rhetoric, they want action. Sure it was important that Western Arctic MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew and NDP opponent Mary Beth Levan debated the issues, but it would have been better to see them jostling for position as they charged into the corner for a loose puck.

Puck-shooting, stickhandling, board-banging politicians would be far more interesting than the talking heads we endure now.

In fact, this ill-timed election was just one big distraction from the quest for the Cup, wasn't it?

"Very much so," agreed Jeff Seeteenak of Baker Lake.

"At this point in my life I would have to say the NHL playoffs are more important to me," he explained. "I'm pretty young and sports is pretty high up on my list this time of year."

So, Jeff, is politockey an idea that's time has come? "Yeah, I'd like to see those guys in suits play."

With 301 federal politicians to elect and five main parties, the election would be a tournament event.

As with governing, putting the right people in the right positions would be key to success.

Gjoa Haven's Enuk Pauloosie had a suggestion for the Liberals: Jean Chretien as goalie. "That way the rest could shoot pucks at him," he said.

The same principle could be applied to the territorial elections.

In fact, considering the hunger for hockey that exists in the east, it's surprising the Nunavut Implementation Commission did not incorporate the game into its plan for the eastern territory's first election.

Manitok Thompson defending the edge of the crease against Jose Kusugak, as Peter Ernerk goes down to block a Kevin O'Brien slap shot. John Todd and Ed Picco in a goalie fight....

Politockey, the ultimate democracy.