When a Canadian team comes to play the Syracuse Crunch in the War Memorial, both Canada and the USA are honored by the singing of each country’s national anthems. Such was the case when the Hamilton (Ontario, Canada) Bulldogs visited the Crunch last Saturday night. I used the Sigma 15mm f/2.8 EX DG Fisheye Lens to be able to get the entire Hamilton bench and the ribbon lights into the frame from close range.

Hamilton Bulldogs bench during the National Anthems before playing the Syracuse Crunch in an American Hockey League (AHL) game at the Onondaga County War Memorial on Saturday, November 23, 2013.
Nikon D700/Sigma 15mm, 1/125s, f/2.8, ISO 800, EV +1.0.

Back in the 1970’s most North American professional hockey teams consisted of Canadian borne players, today that is not the case.  While Canada is still the dominate country, most rosters have Americans, Europeans, Russians and players from the former Russian republics.  For example, the starting line up for the Syracuse Crunch last Saturday night consisted of three Canadians, two Americans and one Belarusian.  All in all, of the twenty-four players who have played for the Crunch this season, twelve of them have been non-Canadian.

Syracuse Crunch starting lineup, Dmitry Korobov (44, Belarus), Geoff Walker (67, Canada), Mike Angelidis (10, Canada), Drew Olson (21, USA) and Luke Witkowski (82, USA) before playing the Hamilton Bulldogs in an American Hockey League (AHL) game at the Onondaga County War Memorial on Saturday, November 23, 2013.
Nikon D700/Sigma 15mm, 1/125s, f/2.8, ISO 280, EV +1.0.

Let me share a little nostalgia with you.

I grew up watching and becoming a fan of the Montreal Canadiens on Hockey Night in Canada broadcasts every Saturday night. Before each game during the 1970’s, Roger Doucet (pronounced RO-gee DU-set), dressed in his very best, would open each game with a stirring rendition of Canada’s National Anthem.  If you never got the chance to hear him, please, watch the video below as he sings both the US and Canadian anthems.