I have never really cared if a Canadian team makes it - at a league level, who really cares? Most teams are stacked with Canadians anyways.
There are only 2 Canadian teams I cheer for - Calgary and Team Canada. The rest I dislike (well, Ottawa isn't bad, but probably more because there hasn't really been any rivalry between the two orgs).
I think most hardcore Flames fans are focussed solely on the Flames, and develop intense rivalries with other fanbases. But, there are a lot of casual Canadian hockey fans who cheer for any Canadian team. My dad has been following the flames since the 80s. He's by no means a diehard, and the Flames are his team, but he will cheer for any remaining Canadian team to win the cup.
Big chance for the Raptors to go on a run to the conference or possibly NBA finals. The best team in their franchise history starting the playoffs with no Canadian NHL teams to compete with. Could get a solid bandwagon going. Here is hoping they don't bomb out in the first round again
I think most hardcore Flames fans are focussed solely on the Flames, and develop intense rivalries with other fanbases. But, there are a lot of casual Canadian hockey fans who cheer for any Canadian team. My dad has been following the flames since the 80s. He's by no means a diehard, and the Flames are his team, but he will cheer for any remaining Canadian team to win the cup.
Vast majority of people fall in to this category. We here online don't have very healthy relationships with hockey and other Canadian fanbases. We're a little too obsessed.
Even my most pessimistic side would have been surprised to not see at least 1 or 2 teams make it if I was making predictions at the start of the year. Not sure if it really says anything about the state of the Canadian teams. Seems like most the teams in Canada are in rebuild mode or the just getting out of the denial before rebuild period. Now all these teams have a better chance at nabbing more talent with high picks. I like seeing Canadian teams in it because it is nice to see fans who actually care get rewarded. When it comes to the Cup though I only want to see the Flames raising it before anyone else gets a chance.
I think the fact that news about Canadian teams not making the playoffs has turned into a "Good! I hate other Canadian teams." discussion is telling.
This is news regardless of how one feels about the other Canadian teams. It is news because it is bad for SN and there are, as has been alluded to above, quite a few people that just like to cheer for any Canadian team to win and the cup to come back to Canada.
I'm not saying it is weird or unjustified, I tend to agree for the most part, screw the other Canadian teams except the Flames. That being said a part of me does like the fervor and passion that Canadian fans have for the playoffs.
I think most hardcore Flames fans are focussed solely on the Flames, and develop intense rivalries with other fanbases. But, there are a lot of casual Canadian hockey fans who cheer for any Canadian team. My dad has been following the flames since the 80s. He's by no means a diehard, and the Flames are his team, but he will cheer for any remaining Canadian team to win the cup.
Ya this is true. Most people I know will cheer the last Canadian team. I've been accused of being unpatriotic in the past when people find out I'm cheering passionately AGAINST a Canadian team that they like. I avoid these debates now because most of these people can't name 3 players on the team they're cheering for so their condemnation of me seems so dumb when I can name that team's top 15 prospects. I only know two or three actual hard core fans in 'real life'.
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Ya this is true. Most people I know will cheer the last Canadian team. I've been accused of being unpatriotic in the past when people find out I'm cheering passionately AGAINST a Canadian team that they like. I avoid these debates now because most of these people can't name 3 players on the team they're cheering for so their condemnation of me seems so dumb when I can name that team's top 15 prospects. I only know two or three actual hard core fans in 'real life'.
Mixed feelings on this. Happy that the Oilers didn't make it, but if the Jets, Habs or even Leafs made it, I would be watching those series a bit. As it is, I am going to be watching the Panthers (Jagr/Luongo), Stars (go draft pick), Caps (my kid is cheering for the first place team in red), Pens (my kid likes Crosby) and hoping that Bruins, Flyers and Ducks get knocked out. I like hockey so I will watch regardless (although a Ducks/Bruins final would probably have me tuned out).
The problem I see, is that if it is systemic that Canadian teams are not making the playoffs, and last I checked Calgary is a Canadian team - is there a reason - is it because they are small market teams (Jets, Oilers, Flames, Sens), is it because our fanbases won't allow a proper rebuild (Toronto) or is it just a case of randomness that all seven Canadian teams missed out. It feels though like Canadian teams are not able to be competitive inside the system - for a Canadian team to not win the Stanley cup for 20 years, I think it is a 1% chance of that happening. Clearly US teams have an edge. That is my concern about Canadian teams not making playoffs (or for that matter winning cup).
I'm not going to lie as I would have more interest in the playoffs if other Canadian teams were in the playoffs. I had almost as much fun following the Canucks crash and burn in the 2012 Stanley Cup finals and Oilers lose in 2006 as any other playoffs that the Flames weren't overly involved in. It's pretty fun to cheer against the Canadian teams and gives me reasons to watch and care about the outcomes.
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I had originally dismissed this as a bit of a statistical anomaly (all Canadian teams are bad at the same time) but then wondered what the odds of this are?
Are there certain underlying reasons? Inability to attract free agents, top management talent, or lower willingness to spend to the cap because of weak Canadian $. I tend not to think so.
Most people I know will cheer the last Canadian team. I've been accused of being unpatriotic in the past when people find out I'm cheering passionately AGAINST a Canadian team that they like.
I got a similar response from my casual hockey fan co-workers in 2011 when the Canucks made it to the finals. One of the most satisfying things was to witness how quickly they soured on the Canucks. They did a complete 180 upon actually watching their games, realizing the team is nothing but a bunch of diving low-lifes.
Because, IMO, it's long overdue that a Canadian city and its fans gets to celebrate its teams success.
Last year I watched every game against the Canucks at the Kilt, the atmosphere was incredible. Game 6 was one of the most fun nights I've had out in years. And that was just the first round. I can't imagine what it would have been like to have gone all the way.
Has everyone forgotten the feeling of pride from 04? The car flags everywhere? Everyone wearing a Flames jersey? The deafening crowd at the dome? I was at Olympic Plaza the day after the Flames lost, even that was incredible.
Ya, I'd really like to experience that again. That was a hell of a ride.
You're talking about the Flames though. I'm pretty sure the guy you quoted "Calgary4Life" would be on board with that (as we'd all be). He was surely referring to not caring if any other Canadian team makes it. Big difference.
We hate it when our friends become successful
And if they're northern, that makes it even worse And if we can destroy them
You bet your life we will destroy them
If we can hurt them
Well, we may as well, it's really laughable
Because, IMO, it's long overdue that a Canadian city and its fans gets to celebrate its teams success.
Last year I watched every game against the Canucks at the Kilt, the atmosphere was incredible. Game 6 was one of the most fun nights I've had out in years. And that was just the first round. I can't imagine what it would have been like to have gone all the way.
Has everyone forgotten the feeling of pride from 04? The car flags everywhere? Everyone wearing a Flames jersey? The deafening crowd at the dome? I was at Olympic Plaza the day after the Flames lost, even that was incredible.
Ya, I'd really like to experience that again. That was a hell of a ride.
I don't understand your logic here. Who wouldn't be thrilled with another 04-esque run?
Didn't get my message across well. What I"m trying to say is I'd like to see that level of excitement in almost any Canadian city at this point. It's been waaaay to long since the cup came home. The comment "last years cup winners was made up of x number of Canadians" just doesn't do it for me. I don't agree with that sentiment. I would like to see a Canadian city celebrate a Stanley Cup win. Preferably the Flames but would take almost anyone at this point.
Last edited by GoinAllTheWay; 03-31-2016 at 02:28 PM.
