A lone figure stands poised on a frozen expanse of ice, hockey stick resting lightly near the puck, suspended in a moment of concentration before the shot. Dressed in a bright red jacket and blue toque, the skater’s back is turned to the viewer, inviting us into their private ritual rather than a public spectacle. Beyond the ice, Toronto’s skyline rises softly in the distance, the CN Tower cutting a familiar silhouette against a moody winter sky.

The painting captures a distinctly Canadian experience. Not the roar of an arena, but the solitude of outdoor hockey, where the game becomes contemplative, almost meditative. Broad planes of blue and white ice echo the cold stillness of winter, while the bold red jacket anchors the composition with warmth and human presence. The city feels close yet distant, suggesting a balance between urban life and personal escape.

This work celebrates pond hockey as both cultural symbol and quiet act of belonging. It is a portrait of pause, resilience, and ritual, where sport becomes a way of grounding oneself in place, season, and identity.