For Russ Jericho, seeing the Edmonton Oilers enter the Stanley Cup playoffs is the culmination of an unlikely passion.
Born and raised in the United Kingdom, Jericho said he was first exposed to hockey at age 13 when he was searching for something to watch on TV one evening and came across a new channel that broadcast North American sports.
His childhood love of B次元官网网址淏ack to the Future,B次元官网网址� starring Edmonton native Michael J. Fox, and Edmonton-based professional wrestler Chris Benoit eventually drew him to the Oilers fandom. The teamB次元官网网址檚 Stanley Cup victory in his birth year, 1985, sealed what would become a lifelong dedication.
B次元官网网址淚 always put it like this,B次元官网网址� the now 38-year-old said from Blackpool, Lancashire, Saturday: B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 choose the Edmonton Oilers. The Edmonton Oilers chose me.B次元官网网址�
Jericho is one of countless Canadian hockey team fans eagerly following this yearB次元官网网址檚 Stanley Cup Finals, which in addition to the Oilers features the Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks and Winnipeg Jets. Not since 2017 have so many Canadian teams made it to the tournament. And not since 1993 has Canada claimed a Stanley Cup championship.
Jericho said he spent part of his inheritance following his fatherB次元官网网址檚 death last year on a vacation to attend four Oilers games this season.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 hoping theyB次元官网网址檙e going to go all the way,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 really am.B次元官网网址�
Meanwhile, Bobby St. Laurent, a self-described diehard Jets fan and a season-ticket holder has to settle for watching Game 1 against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday night on TV.
But donB次元官网网址檛 feel too bad for him B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 because he and his girlfriend are at a resort in Cancun, Mexico.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檒l be partying in the pool at the resort all day. And then IB次元官网网址檒l be in my room at 6 oB次元官网网址檆lock for the puck drop and IB次元官网网址檒l watch the whole game. IB次元官网网址檒l probably order room service to the room and IB次元官网网址檒l cheer on our Jets.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e got a Jets tank top IB次元官网网址檒l be wearing tomorrow and IB次元官网网址檝e also got Jets shorts, too. IB次元官网网址檒l be ready to go.B次元官网网址�
St. Laurent, whose love affair with the Jets goes back to the 1970s when they were in the World Hockey Association and he sold popcorn at their games at Winnipeg Arena, said heB次元官网网址檒l be back in the city to watch Game 2 on Tuesday night in person.
And he plans on taking part in WinnipegB次元官网网址檚 famous Whiteout parties, where thousands of fans gather in the cityB次元官网网址檚 downtown for playoff games.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 just a diehard Jets fan. I hope they go all the way this year. I was cautiously optimistic earlier in the year but IB次元官网网址檓 starting to believe now.B次元官网网址�
On Saturday night, there was disappointment in the air in TorontoB次元官网网址檚 Maple Leaf Square where fans had gathered to watch their teamB次元官网网址檚 playoff opener against the Boston Bruins. They lost 5-1 and will return to the ice on Monday.
Farther west, Aaron J. Harder, 44, from Vancouver said many Canadian hockey fans have underestimated the Canucks.
B次元官网网址淎 lot of the Canadian hockey fans didnB次元官网网址檛 understand how good the Canucks were,B次元官网网址� he said. Until last year, B次元官网网址渢hey just didnB次元官网网址檛 have the coaching to put it all together,B次元官网网址� he argued.
Despite the strong showing of Canadian teams in the playoffs this year, Harder said the inter-team rivalry is muddling any sense of unified, national pride at the achievement.
B次元官网网址淚 think most hockey fans arenB次元官网网址檛 Canadian B次元官网网址楪o Canada!B次元官网网址� TheyB次元官网网址檒l go with their team, which is part of the problem,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e not really for Canada because thereB次元官网网址檚 so much tribalism between the hockey fans.B次元官网网址�
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-With files from Rob Drinkwater in Edmonton.
Thomas MacDonald, The Canadian Press
