The theme that is present in the second part of the book is hockey can help an individual overcome his/her past and altogether makes and individual feel better. It is clearly evident that hockey plays a large role in Saul's life. Ever since he arrived at the residential school the only thing he enjoys is hockey while also using hockey as a as a way to overcome his past. An example from the novel that indicates that hockey is an escape for Saul is, “When I hit the ice I felt all of that behind me, I stepped onto the ice and Saul Indian Horse, the abandoned Ojibway kid, clutched in the frozen arms of his dead grandmother, ceased to exist.” (Wagamese, pg. 83). It is traumatizing for a child to be abandoned by their parents, and even more traumatizing to wake up in the dead arms of the one person who supported you and protected you. Through this quote Saul shows how hockey makes him forget about his past, it makes him forget who he is. This connects back to the theme because hockey basically helps Saul overcome his past. Through hockey he forgets about his past and leaves everything behind him.
This picture is from the movie Indian Horse showing Saul playing Hockey.
Another example of a quote that relates to this theme is, "...Wondered if maybe you'd wanna come and play with us?" (Wagamese, pg. 95). Fred Kelly asked Saul if he wanted to leave the residential school and join a all Indian Hockey team. This also meant that Saul was going to get adopted and change schools. Hockey helped Saul leave the place he dreaded the most and relocate himself to a new school. This shows how the author is trying to show the impact hockey has on Saul's life. Clearly hockey is not only Saul's favorite sport, it is also the only happiness in his life. Thanks to hockey Saul gets a family, leave the residential school and can continue enjoy playing hockey. I believe this connects back to the theme because hockey is indeed making Saul feel better.
This was the team Saul was asked to be a part of.
Through these quotes I believe that the theme hockey can help an individual overcome his/her past and altogether makes and individual feel better is indeed present in the second part of the book. This means the hockey helps Saul overcome his past while also making him feel better.
