Hockey was quite simply, THE sport in Canada, and in Quebec, the only team was the Montreal Canadiens, and the player who all francophone Quebec children identified with, their hero, was Maurice Richard, with sweater No 9. Unsatisfied with his attempt, he declined the offer but as the CBC insisted, saying a time slot had been reserved, he instead wrote a short autobiographical story from his youth.

The English language public broadcaster, CBC contacted Carrier and asked him to write an essay on “What does Quebec want?”. A special 30th anniversary edition has just been published © sehldencohen.blogspotĬarrier was a rising author in Quebec in the 1970s, a time of political unheaval, when memories of the FLQ terrorist group in Quebec, the which had killed and injured many people were still fresh. Together they have created one of the most iconic short stoires in Canada, along with an animated film, and illustrated book. Listen Illustrator Sheldon Cohen (L) and author Roch Carrier (R).

This special edition has 16 additional pages of historical background, photos, and quotes and anecdores from well-known Canadians who have been touched by the story over the decades.Īuthor Roch Carrier joins me in studio with illustrator Sheldon Cohen. “The Hockey Sweater”Ī new 30th anniversary edition published by Tundra Books has just been released. It is one of Canada’s best known short stories.

Author of the hockey sweater