A rallying cry from sports that Canadians use
Sports are a strong part of culture and society today. They are a part of culture – how a group of people identify themselves, and society – how people relate to each other. Sports can be part of national culture and society – how a country identifies itself and how people relate. Although they are part of the same continent, Canada, USA, and Mexico have different national sports. Canada has used it’s national sport – the cultural sport that people of the country identify with and the societal sport, the sport people use to relate to each other. Recently it’s been used to develop a national rallying cry.
In a paper entitled “Leadership in Sports” by Packianathan Chelladurai of The Ohio State University, first presented at the First Congress of the Federación de Asociaciones de Gestores del Deporte de España (FAGDE) (Federation of Associations of Sport Managers in Spain), in 2011 Madrid, Spain “egalitarian sport (i.e., participant sport), elite sport, and entertainment sport” are differentiated. Egalitarian sport is a sport people engage in for fun (just shooting hoops with a friend); entertainment sport are for entertainment and elite sport are the best of the best.
A study entitled “Impact of Sports Mass Media on the Behavior and Health of Society. A Systematic Review” led by Puertas-Molero Pilar (2019) suggests that people can be persuaded by sports. Although sports are broadcast through different media and spoken about through different media – television, radio, social media, streaming, and others – this study concentrated on television and social behaviour. It found that
Athletes can play a role in influencing people to better themselves, being more physically active or eating a more balanced diet. The negative outlook of enhancers can play a role at an early age, turn young people away from drugs. It was also found that more intense feelings were present in sport stadiums and when someone has immersed themself more into the sporting event. Commentators can also influence the behaviour of a spectator. Ads play a strong role; paying for a Superbowl ad is commonly known to be pricey. Today there is discussion in Canada about gambling app ads during sports games.
Canada has a single team in Major League Baseball (29 other MLB teams from USA) and a single team in the National Basketball Association (29 other NBA teams from USA), it has 7 teams in the National Hockey League (only 25 others are based in the USA). All of these leagues are considered to be made of the best of the best. Although the Montreal Canadiens were the last Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup, the grand prize of NHL, the sport Canadians desire (not just Montreal fans), there are more Canadian players in the NHL than American players.
“Elbows up” is a phrase describing a common tactic of defense. CBC reported that
Elbows play a role in defense and offense in hockey. Purposely using the elbow instead of the body to knock a NHL player can result in Elbowing, a penalty.
According to ChatGPT, in defense the elbow is used by the body and to protect the puck. By positioning their elbows in a certain manner a player is able to stay stable, change speed, or change direction easily. Elbows also help a player maintain a wide stance, able to control the puck and avoid penalties. The elbows can help a player protect the puck and retrieve it when it’s against the boards. Using the elbows can help a player keep opponents away from the goalie. If someone is coming elbows allow defense to maintain stability and power in a shoulder-to-shoulder check that doesn’t get the player a penalty. The elbow also lets a player use a quick use of arms for things like poke checks, intercepting passes, or flipping a puck out of a zone. A smooth elbow motion adds accuracy and strength when passing. In defence the elbow acts as a stabilizer and protector, not a weapon.
ChatGPT also state that in offense the elbow plays a role in execution and physical protection. The elbow also plays a role in power and strategy.
Using the elbow can generate a “whip”, something that gives a shot precision and speed. The elbow also plays a role in slapshots. Elbows play a role in keeping the puck close to the player and moving it away. The elbow also helps players keep control of the puck through rough ice and through other players.
Like in defence the elbow plays a role in passing the puck. It plays a role in one-touch passes, backhand passes, and passes that lift the puck over sticks – create a surprise attack by making the puck come from further back. Similar to defence the elbow helps a player widen their frame and shield the puck from oncoming defenders. It also helps a player maintain a balance. The elbows also help a player move forward, protecting the body.
Properly using the elbows in a game of hockey can play a strong role. They protect and allow precision in different ways.
Canada’s movement of “Elbows Up” is meant to play strong role to affect USA like in hockey. Similar to defense, Statistics Canada, reported a decrease in travel by Canadians to USA . In June 2025 return trips were down 28.7% year over year while of trips to Canada by USA residents only decreased by 5.8%. On the other hand Canadians return trips overseas increased by 6.9%. It turns out that more residents of USA came to Canada than the number of Canadian residents that went to USA. Canadian humans played a strong defensive summer game in cross-border travel.
Another aspect of the Canada’s “Elbows Up” movement is buying Canadian, domestically manufactured, instead of the buying the cheapest or best quality. It came in response to President Donald Trump’s tariffs policy. Although Canada and USA have the longest undefended border and have had a strong trading relation for decades together with an intertwined economy, the new tariffs have changed many aspects of the trading relation. Recently a Buy Canadian policy was enacted by the federal government; it states that the federal government projects should buy domestic goods and give contracts to domestic companies. It has been hitting American companies for 2025; back in March, Global News reported that there has been less ordering of American goods. Canadian retailers have been buying “one truck instead of two trucks of products” because American goods aren’t moving off shelves. There was a time when American alcohol was pulled from shelves in all provinces; it’s back on shelves but located near the back stores across the country because of boycott movement; people are buying more domestic alcohol across all provinces. There has also been an investigation of false advertising; stores say products are Canadian but they are from another location. Buying domestic is a Canadian offense move but has some players with penalties because of false advertising.
American Ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, has commented that he has seen and felt a lot of anti-American sentiment in Canada. He says he is disappointed. CBC reported that Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association and member of the prime minister’s Canada-U.S. relations council, said “When you kick the dog, you can’t blame it for snarling back,”. Hoekstra said the “Elbows Up” campaign was an “Anti-American” campaign.
There has been a lot of reaction, including videos, to the Ambassador’s comments.
Research has shown that sports create divisions but it is clearly seen that sports has the ability to unite. In 1980 the boycott of the Olympics in Moscow brought countries across Europe and North America together. It’s seen regularly, countries putting aside their differences to compete as a single Earth in the Summer Olympics, Winter Olympics and FIFA World Cup. Outside North and South America the PanAm Games aren’t widely known but the 2015 PanAm Games brought people from Brazil, Columbia, and Argentina together in Ontario, Canada – people from multiple nationalities not just Mexico and USA. Every 4 years countries from the Americas and Caribbean come together to compete. The Asia Games does similar for its countries. In 2026 the FIFA World Cup will allow multiple nations to compete in three different countries; although Mexico and Canada have their differences with USA the three will be working together to crown a FIFA champion. The 4 Nations Face-off in February helped bring people across two continents together as Canada, USA, Sweden, and Finland played to become the champion of hockey. The final, Canada vs USA, was an “Elbow Up” game and used by Canadian satire like “This Hour Has 22 Minutes“. Although the Paralympics and ParaPanAm games don’t receive as much attention, they allow sports to play a role in society, to give people with disabilities a chance to make their country proud. There are always championships and tournaments being planned.
The 1972 Summit Series between Canada and USSR brought countries together using hockey. Legends such as the “Lucky Loonie” are still alive in Canada today. Today “Elbows Up” is a hockey term that has brought Canada together and is bringing people from multiple nations into the fold. Canada is keeping its Elbows Up, using them in defense and offense. Gordie Howe AKA Mr. Hockey AKA Mr. Elbows played offense as Right Wing.
Tie Domi was another Canadian Right Wing player who is strongly known for being active in the box because of his strong defence play. Of his 17 season career, he played much with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Sadly he didn’t win any Stanley Cups (makes sense since he did play with the Leafs).
Sports play can play a strong role in casual language. There is strong research worldwide about linguistics and sports. In many countries “score” can refer to an individual getting what was desired. Another common phrase is “hitting the back of the net” in countries where soccer/football and hockey are commonly known; it can mean someone making the exact point wanted. “Touchdown” is used in Canada and USA for getting something done by defying the odds, a term from football (CFL/NFL). “Dunked that” can refer to something that appears easily done, coming from the Slam Dunk play in basketball. “A hole in 1” often refers to something unbelievable or appears lucky like a hole in one in the sport of golf. “Offside” is used worldwide because the term appears in football (both kinds) and hockey. “Out of the park” is heard in USA in reference to something that amazes, coming from hitting a ball out of the ball park in baseball. “3 strike and you’re out” is taken from baseball too, based on the rules. The term “Curveball” is often used to describe the unexpected coming from baseball.
A form of “playing for the Leafs” can be referenced to someone who can’t or isn’t reaching a goal, often by a Canadian or someone who knows and follows the NHL; it’s a play on the Toronto Maple Leafs going 50+ seasons without a Stanley Cup, the longest of any professional team worldwide. It’s nothing new to Maple Leafs fans and often used in Toronto and Canada in a humorous way; there have been common predictions such as Canada will host the FIFA World Cup or Canada will win the FIFA World Cup before the Toronto Maple Leafs win a Stanley Cup. Canada is hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup, maybe the future of the World Cup in the hands of Team Canada and the Stanley Cup in the hands of the Maple Leafs is closer than they appear.
Today “Elbows up” is commonly known in Canada to mean playing defense against the USA President’s comments of making Canada “the 51st state” and playing offense against the economic power of USA by buying domestic.
Tie Domi is known for 333 fights and 3515 penalty minutes, “time spent in the box” a phrase used to describe someone not being able to do something because a rule was broken, coming from the “in the box” in hockey. Rather than give Red Cards (create a team that is one player less for the game) hockey has the penalty box (making a player sit away from the team and game, making the team shorthanded for the penalty duration). The question now: what will the USA do if Canada decides to take its “gloves off” that it knows will throw the player “in the box” (language coming from knowingly taking off the hockey gloves to gear up for a fight that will result in a penalty). The world is watching (Canada enjoying the publicity). The Blue Jays are really enjoying the publicity; they threw a Curveball, winning the AL East division for the first time in a decade (last won in 2015). Rumour has it they will hit one out of the park to bring the World Series back to Toronto, Canada; it hasn’t been seen by the Blue Jays since 1993.
The Nova's Rays 