Lester B. Pearson Worried About 
Canadian Hockey Players Impact in Europe.

I recent discovered an old The Hockey News article which Lester B. Pearson said that Canada should be careful in choosing which hockey teams are sent to Europe to represent Canada. He wanted not only top hockey players, but top gentlemen on and off the ice.

The 1958 article quotes Pearson as saying "sports teams sent abroad, to Russia for instance, could do a lot of good, but they could also do a lot of harm."

"When a sport becomes an aspect of national policy and prestige, I think we should send our best men - both as sports and as players."

Pearson was also against subsidizing sports teams on such trips.

Pearson made the comments while moderating a Ottawa Citizen newspaper forum on sport. Five years later he became one of the most celebrated Prime Ministers of Canada.

  In Association with Amazon.ca In Association with Amazon.ca In Association with Amazon.ca