Through the characters, the author makes it obvious that the main theme of the story is national belonging. Characters express and perpetuate their national identity through sportive athletic activities such as hockey, a sport that, in Quebec, both combines people from the same cultural circle but widens the gap between people from different cultures. When the main character, a young Quebecker who worships the national hockey team, receives a Maple Leaf sweater that represents his opponent's team, he says:“With tears in my eyes, I found the strength to say: ‘I’ll never wear that uniform.’”…