"I don't think we can realistically expect that Canada will become a soccer nation, I think that would be foolhardy. To begin with, the national game in Canada is hockey, as it should be.
 Hockey represents this country's essence in some ways -- figures on the ice and playing against the elements is representative of the essence of Canada, that sense of survival against the elements.

"But soccer is growing in popularity -- it has more registered players in Canada than any other sport -- and I think that over the years, the children and grandchildren of people who came here from soccer counties will have a greater opportunity to play the game here, and that eventually soccer will become perhaps the second or third sport in Canada."