Print

Mail

wiki links

`Big M' plays hockey with Taipei kids

Canadian Senator Frank Maho-vlich, a legendary ice hockey player known as "the Big M," had great expectations for Taiwanese youngsters' future performance in the sport when he visited Taipei's Ying Feng Park yesterday.

Mahovlich, 66, was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1981. In 1998, in recognition of his years of class on the ice and off, he was appointed to the Canadian Senate by Prime Minister Jean Chretien.

Mahovlich and a group of Canadian parliamentarians were invited to attend the International Parliamentary Forum for Asia-Pacific Security in Taipei from Jan. 13 to 14. It was his first visit to Taiwan. He is leaving the country today.

Coaches and hockey teams from the Chinese Taipei Skating Union enthusiastically welcomed Mahovlich by hitting their hockey sticks on the ground when he arrived at Ying Feng Park.

The senator also attended the opening ceremony for an ice rink in Taipei yesterday afternoon.

"I am so pleased to see so many youngsters play hockey ... Practice long and play with your hearts. I will be looking forward to seeing your youngsters in Canada for the championships someday," Mahovlich told the excited young players in the park.

Chris Chen (陳宥辰), 8, was one of the hockey players who came to see Mahovlich in the park. Having played the game for only a year, Chen said he was very happy to see the famous player.

Ted Lipman, executive director of the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei, also went to the park yesterday. He said it was great to see Mahovlich playing hockey in Taiwan.

"He is a great hero in Canada, a hockey legend," Lipman said, "I am not sure whether all of these kids know about him. If they grow up and read about hockey, particularly in the late 60s and early 70s, they will know he is a giant of our game."

Mahovlich said he was not a politician when Jean Chretien called him to be a senator. "I was very surprised to be honored to become a senator," Mahovlich said, "I enjoyed it very much."

Describing his career as a politician as "enlightening," Mahovlich nevertheless acknowledged he could not forget the game he was so good at.

"I cannot stop dreaming about hockey. Now you know you have passed a certain age. You have to do something else. It is very difficult for hockey players to transfer from the sport to something else," the senator said.

"I was born to play hockey, but it is a very short career," added Mahovlich, who had to stop playing and teaching hockey two years ago because of arthritis in his knee.

Although Taiwan's climate is not conducive to ice hockey, Mahovlich believes building more ice rinks will bring Taiwanese youngsters opportunities to discover their potential playing the game.

Talking about Taiwan's defensive referendum due to be held on March 20, Mahovlich said it was up to Taiwan and its people to decide what they want.

"We [the Canadian government] appreciate democracy. Our relationship with China is very good. They are very concerned [about the vote]," Mahovlich said.

Noting that the Canadian government understands Taiwan's position concerning the referendum, the senator said that although his government's role is limited to that of spectator, they do not like to see China's missiles pointing at Taiwan.
This story has been viewed 2758 times.