When Canadians query who they’re, the reply is hockey.
“It’s most likely the No. 1 signifier of being Canadian,” mentioned Jason Wilson, who teaches a course about hockey in Canadian historical past on the College of Guelph. “Not only for Canadians, however for folks all over the world.”
Final 12 months, greater than half of Canada was cheering for the Edmonton Oilers to beat the Florida Panthers within the Stanley Cup finals. An Ipsos-Reid ballot in June of 2024 confirmed 57 per cent of Canadians needed to see the Oilers win the cup, versus simply 9 per cent backing the Panthers.
This 12 months, with U.S. President Donald Trump’s discuss of turning Canada into the 51st state nonetheless burning, anticipate these numbers to be even additional aside, mentioned Wilson.
“It may very well be crucial playoff collection for Canadians in a really very long time,” mentioned Wilson, co-author of Lord Stanley: The Man Behind the Cup.
“The overriding majority will really feel like that it’s again to Canada versus America,” mentioned Wilson. “For the primary time in a really very long time we have now an adversary within the White Home. Somebody that’s actually testing our sovereignty and our personal sense of who we’re.”
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Because of the political tensions between Canada and our closest neighbour, “this collection will tackle a larger-than-life (side) virtually as thrilling, we hope, because the Connor McDavid aim within the 4 Nations Cup,” he mentioned.
In accordance with Wilson, McDavid’s time beyond regulation aim to take that collection this previous winter “turned crucial aim since at the very least” Sidney Crosby’s aim in 2010 on the Vancouver Olympics that secured Canada’s gold medal in opposition to america, and “presumably even” Paul Henderson aim in opposition to Russia to take the 1972 Summit Sequence for Canada.
Whereas the 4 Nations Cup was “squarely Canada versus America, we do have a number of the similar forged of characters,” Wilson mentioned, pointing to the Oilers’ McDavid on one facet and Panthers’ star ahead Matthew Tkachuk on the opposite.
And it may get chippy, mentioned Wilson.
“Florida, for higher or for worse, they’re a really nasty crew that manner,” he mentioned. “It’s clearly efficient. That is their third time within the ultimate in three years. That mentioned, Edmonton has the sting in different methods – in mobility and pace. So, does Florida need to gamble that proper off the highest?”
Whereas Canadians like to consider hockey as our recreation, Wilson reminds us that, since 1926, there have been extra American groups and house owners within the NHL.
“They’re very a lot a hockey nation, too. It’s clearly not their No. 1 sport, and Florida may not be the obvious market, however make no mistake, the Individuals are invested on this as properly. Whether or not that can be a regional factor for these specific playoffs (in Florida) in comparison with a nationwide factor in Canada, that’s open to query in fact,” he mentioned.
Will Canadians go as far as to boo the Star Spangled Banner, like they did again in February on the 4 Nations Cup?
“I believe we’ve settled down in that regard,” Wilson mentioned.
Wilson, who can also be a Juno-nominated reggae musician, instructed a music choose to heat up for Wednesday’s first recreation within the collection. “Let’s go along with Stir it up by Bob Marley and the Wailers,” he mentioned. “Simply the notion of stirring issues up in a recreation. Let’s begin there and see the way it goes.”
Chris Roberts, a professor of political science on the college of Calgary, isn’t so certain Canada will again the Oilers in big numbers on account of all of Trump’s tariff discuss.
“As an Oilers fan dwelling in Calgary, I’m not sensing that form of shift right here, however this can be the final place to search for it, given the Flames-Oil rivalry and the weaker anti-Trump, rising separatism sentiment in pockets in Alberta,” Roberts mentioned.
“If Trump awakened tomorrow and imposed oil and fuel tariffs on Alberta imports, nevertheless, which may change.”
Retired normal Rick Hillier, Canada’s former prime soldier, was completely satisfied to see the Panthers take residence the Stanley Cup final 12 months.
“This 12 months I’m going to cheer for Edmonton. I’d wish to see Connor win the cup. I’d wish to see the Oilers win once more,” Hillier mentioned.
“However right here’s what I might additionally say: no person’s going to present them that cup. Florida’s received an enormous, imply, sturdy, massively gifted fantastically coached crew, they usually’re on a mission additionally. So, if Edmonton wins the cup, they’re going to definitely deserve it.”
Aaron Ettinger, an affiliate professor of political science at Carleton College, isn’t so certain the U.S.-Canada rivalry can be as potent because it was in the course of the 4 Nations match.
“For one, the ‘Canadianness’ and ‘Americanness’ of the groups are diluted by the actual fact the rosters are multinational, with Individuals taking part in for Edmonton and Canadians taking part in for Florida,” Ettinger mentioned in an e mail.
“Within the 4 Nations match, the nationwide divide was stark: we noticed ‘our’ gamers have been sporting ‘our’ nationwide colors.”
It’s not a on condition that Canadians will rally across the final remaining Canadian crew, Ettinger mentioned. “Most say they may, however Canadian hockey followers are fickle about what crew they’d choose to win. Edmonton might have widespread help throughout Canada however not whole help.”
Ettinger pointed to an Angus Reid ballot from late April that confirmed a rise within the variety of Canadian hockey followers who need any Canadian crew to win the Stanley Cup, not simply their very own. On the time, 71 per cent of these polled mentioned they’d cheer for any Canadian crew, a seven-point enhance over 2024 and a 14-point bounce since 2016.
“The preliminary emotional shock of Trump’s threats have worn off since February” and the 4 Nations Cup, Ettinger mentioned. “Again then, feelings ran excessive and the US-Canada video games — particularly the three-fight-in-nine-seconds recreation — was an ideal proxy for trustworthy anger Canadians felt in that second.”
But indicators on the contrary are popping up in uncommon locations, actually.
A “Go Oilers Go!” banner was noticed on Montreal’s Champlain Bridge final week, and bridge officers say will probably be
on most recreation nights to cheer on the Oilers. The primary recreation within the collection is Wednesday, June 4.
“It’s a federally owned bridge, which most likely explains it,” Montreal Gazette sports activities columnist
wrote in an e mail. “Don’t assume that might have occurred if the bridge was provincially owned.”
Plenty of Montrealers will cheer for the Oilers as a result of they’re a Canadian crew, he mentioned. “However I think about there’s additionally so much who can be cheering for the Panthers so the Canadiens will stay the final Canadian crew to win the Stanley Cup.”
Doug Leonard, an Ontario Provincial Police constable from Burlington, has been a Panthers fan for 3 a long time. He has a Panthers flag flying from the pole in entrance of his residence. He’s received no qualms about cheering for Florida once more within the finals.
“I might like to see them repeat. That may be unimaginable,” Leonard mentioned in a phone interview from Kenora, the place he’s back-filling for officers coping with wildfire evacuations.
“Final 12 months after they went up 3-0 after which Edmonton got here again, I bear in mind pondering in the event that they blow this, I’ll by no means ever ever ever hear the top of this. Till the day I die I’ll by no means hear the top of this from any of my buddies (or) household. Ultimately, the hockey gods blessed me, and the Panthers gained.”
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