[Josh]

First, I know I'm going to catch hell for this one, I'm prepared and honestly okay with it.

I'm a bit over 40, I literally grew up with the Calgary Flames, they have been a constant throughout my life. I still remember clear as day when the flames were about to win the cup that my dad brought in the radio by the TV so we could hear Peter Mahr's call as game 6 was about to end. I have old school Flames memorabilia on the walls of my home office and the "Countdown to the Stanley Cup" book by Bob Mummery on my shelf. I still watch every Flames game I can on TV. I plan on making a trip up for a game dome with my son before it gets knocked down, also to show him where I grew up because I love Calgary.

I grew up hearing the Saddledome say "whiner" when Gretzky touched the puck. Steve Smith is my all time favorite Oiler. I was also beyond upset losing to Tampa in 2004 and pissed at seeing how few fans attended their cup parade. It was pathetic to the celebration Calgary had for the "we had a great run" party. I have a deep hatred for the Oilers (as well as Tampa), while I never want the Oilers to fold, I do hope that the Lightning one day cease to exist as a franchise. I should also mention that I was thrilled when Edmonton lost in 2006 and Vancouver lost in 2011.

I moved to the US in the early to mid 90's just before I was a teenager, to this day I've always considered Calgary "Home" and its where my heart is. Didn't really adopt any of the local teams here, everything I cheer for has some sort of tie to Calgary/Canada (Mariners fan from when the Cannons were the AAA club, Jays because Joe rounded them all). I don't even feel a strong allegiance to the college I went to down here or their sports teams.

All that being said, I hate what's happening down here in the US, I have a newfound sense of pride being a Canadian (I'm dual), and am almost ashamed that I have US citizenship. I also despise the state of Florida. I had to go down there a couple months ago for work. I felt it was my patriotic duty as a Canadian to spend as little as possible (even on the company card) including eating on the cheap even if it wasn't as good. I hate and find the 51st state rhetoric and tariffs on Canada extremely offensive. I wear a lot more "Canada" shirts now to show how much pride I have in being a Canadian.

I cheered for McDavid scoring the winning goal in the 4 nations tournament (yeah, it felt weird) but felt a huge sense of pride in that win. I also should note that I liked Gretzky after he got traded to LA, but can't stand the sight of him now.

I know this leans into being political, but an attack on the country I love is also an attack on me. So goes the saying "the enemy of my enemy is my friend".

This year the landscape has changed, there are things that I hate far more than the city of Edmonton, I suppose the idiots down here have ruined sports rivalries for me as well.

So yeah, I'm fine if the Oilers win the cup, there I said it. I'd like to see it in Canada where its going to be appreciated. I'm not going to cheer loudly for them, rather I'll be fine and content if they do, I see it as "Canada's Cup" this year.

Anyways, Flame on (yes I said that on purpose), I'm ready for it, I'm not going to apologize for how I feel...........


Edit: I'm leaving my original post, seems to have (understandably) set people off. I'm sure I'd feel differently had I lived in Calgary the past 3 decades but that's not been my life experience. To say someone isn't a "true fan" is unfair, opinions are formed by our experiences. This is not to tell everyone that "you should feel this way too", rather maybe those who have moved away might feel the same.

For the comment that I'm trolling, yeah I joined almost 22 years ago just to wait until I'm in my 40's to create a post to troll everyone. I'm a true master at the long game.......