If you want to root for this year's Stanley Cup Final, there are two options: the Florida Panthers or the Edmonton Oilers. For many in this market, making that choice can be a little awkward.
You see, the Panthers have two former Winnipeg Jets coaches, Paul Maurice and Jamie Kompon, two former players, Dimitri Kulikov and Kevin Stenlund, and one player, Matthew Tkachuk, whose mother is from the city and whose grandparents still live here. For some of us, that's enough to connect with Floridians.
On the other side are the Oilers, a team that is undoubtedly still a strong rival of the Jets, with a relationship dating back to the early 1970s and the WHA.
Sure, Edmonton does have fans, but for most of Winnipeg's faithful, supporting them is sacrilege. For decades, there has been an emotional disdain for the Smith Division Oilers — and now there's the Western Conference battle and, more recently, the bubble playoff series.
Breaking news from Canada and around the world
Sent to your email, as it happens.
But what changed the mood was Canadian culture. You know, when Canada played the United States in the cup final, we often heard nationalist rhetoric.
“I Canada team”, some of us will gasp.
While patriotic loyalty is noble, nothing can force you to follow suit. Your citizenship isn't revoked if you don't choose Edmonton, and rooting for the Oilers doesn't make you any less Canadian, even though no team north of the 49th parallel has had champagne at the Cup in 31 years.
The fact that your Canadian birthright allows you to make your own choice means that if you are still undecided, you will have until Saturday when the series begins in Florida to make a final decision.
So when it comes to showing support for the series, there are of course only two options. But for some of us, this might seem more awkward than the other, depending on who's involved and where we live.
© 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
