Abstract

Ice hockey at the Major Junior level is particularly significant in Canada as the players are simultaneously coming of age and beginning to take on a full-time career in the sport. This stage of life raises questions about masculinity on the public agenda in terms of the problematic nature of hypermasculinity in sport, stereotypical images of athletes, and questions of social responsibility as both men and athletes. This dissertation outlines a study conducted to address the relationship between masculinity and ice hockey. In particular, it concentrates on hypermasculinity (also referred to as hegemonic masculinity) as it relates to Major Junior Ice Hockey and the experience of being a player at that level. Surveys and interviews were conducted with an entire Canadian Major Junior ice hockey team as part of a research project with the overarching objective of comprehending how the players’ understandings of manhood influence their perceptions of and attitudes toward their lifestyles and environment. With this in thought, the players were asked a range of questions, most of which focused on the following themes: how their time is spent, their priorities, their social environment, how to be successful, and what it means to be a man. This dissertation will offer an overview of the data and findings along with the challenges that work of this nature presents. It will conclude by suggesting key issues that have been identified over the course of the research and areas requiring further investigation.