For Russ Jericho, seeing the Edmonton Oilers enter the Stanley Cup playoffs is the end result of an unlikely ardour.
Born and raised in the UK, Jericho mentioned he was first uncovered to hockey at age 13 when he was trying to find one thing to observe on TV one night and got here throughout a brand new channel that broadcast North American sports activities.
His childhood love of “Again to the Future,” starring Edmonton native Michael J. Fox, and Edmonton-based skilled wrestler Chris Benoit ultimately drew him to the Oilers fandom. The staff’s Stanley Cup victory in his delivery 12 months, 1985, sealed what would turn into a lifelong dedication.
“I at all times put it like this,” the now 38-year-old mentioned from Blackpool, Lancashire, Saturday: “I didn’t select the Edmonton Oilers. The Edmonton Oilers selected me.”
Jericho is certainly one of numerous Canadian hockey staff followers eagerly following this 12 months’s Stanley Cup Finals, which along with the Oilers options the Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks and Winnipeg Jets. Not since 2017 have so many Canadian groups made it to the match. And never since 1993 has Canada claimed a Stanley Cup championship.
Jericho mentioned he spent a part of his inheritance following his father’s demise final 12 months on a trip to attend 4 Oilers video games this season.
“I’m hoping they’re going to go all the way in which,” he mentioned. “I actually am.”
In the meantime, Bobby St. Laurent, a self-described diehard Jets fan and a season-ticket holder has to accept watching Sport 1 in opposition to the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday night time on TV.
However don’t really feel too unhealthy for him — it’s as a result of he and his girlfriend are at a resort in Cancun, Mexico.
“I’ll be partying within the pool on the resort all day. After which I’ll be in my room at 6 o’clock for the puck drop and I’ll watch the entire sport. I’ll in all probability order room service to the room and I’ll cheer on our Jets.”
“I’ve received a Jets tank prime I’ll be sporting tomorrow and I’ve additionally received Jets shorts, too. I’ll be able to go.”
St. Laurent, whose love affair with the Jets goes again to the Nineteen Seventies after they have been within the World Hockey Affiliation and he offered popcorn at their video games at Winnipeg Enviornment, mentioned he’ll be again within the metropolis to observe Sport 2 on Tuesday night time in particular person.
And he plans on collaborating in Winnipeg’s well-known Whiteout events, the place 1000’s of followers collect within the metropolis’s downtown for playoff video games.
“I’m only a diehard Jets fan. I hope they go all the way in which this 12 months. I used to be cautiously optimistic earlier within the 12 months however I’m beginning to consider now.”
On Saturday night time, there was disappointment within the air in Toronto’s Maple Leaf Sq. the place followers had gathered to observe their staff’s playoff opener in opposition to the Boston Bruins. They misplaced 5-1 and can return to the ice on Monday.
Farther west, Aaron J. More durable, 44, from Vancouver mentioned many Canadian hockey followers have underestimated the Canucks.
“Loads of the Canadian hockey followers didn’t perceive how good the Canucks have been,” he mentioned. Till final 12 months, “they simply didn’t have the teaching to place all of it collectively,” he argued.
Regardless of the sturdy exhibiting of Canadian groups within the playoffs this 12 months, More durable mentioned the inter-team rivalry is muddling any sense of unified, nationwide satisfaction on the achievement.
“I believe most hockey followers aren’t Canadian ‘Go Canada!’ They’ll go together with their staff, which is a part of the issue,” he mentioned. “They’re not likely for Canada as a result of there’s a lot tribalism between the hockey followers.”
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