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 鈥淏ack to the Future,鈥� starring Edmonton native Michael J. Fox, and Edmonton-based professional wrestler Chris Benoit eventually drew him to the Oilers fandom. The team鈥檚 Stanley Cup victory in his birth year, 1985, sealed what would become a lifelong dedication.
鈥淚 always put it like this,鈥� the now 38-year-old said from Blackpool, Lancashire, Saturday: 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 choose the Edmonton Oilers. The Edmonton Oilers chose me.鈥�
Jericho is one of countless Canadian hockey team fans eagerly following this year鈥檚 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 father鈥檚 death last year on a vacation to attend four Oilers games this season.
鈥淚鈥檓 hoping they鈥檙e going to go all the way,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 really am.鈥�
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 don鈥檛 feel too bad for him 鈥� it鈥檚 because he and his girlfriend are at a resort in Cancun, Mexico.
鈥淚鈥檒l be partying in the pool at the resort all day. And then I鈥檒l be in my room at 6 o鈥檆lock for the puck drop and I鈥檒l watch the whole game. I鈥檒l probably order room service to the room and I鈥檒l cheer on our Jets.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檝e got a Jets tank top I鈥檒l be wearing tomorrow and I鈥檝e also got Jets shorts, too. I鈥檒l be ready to go.鈥�
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 he鈥檒l be back in the city to watch Game 2 on Tuesday night in person.
And he plans on taking part in Winnipeg鈥檚 famous Whiteout parties, where thousands of fans gather in the city鈥檚 downtown for playoff games.
鈥淚鈥檓 just a diehard Jets fan. I hope they go all the way this year. I was cautiously optimistic earlier in the year but I鈥檓 starting to believe now.鈥�
On Saturday night, there was disappointment in the air in Toronto鈥檚 Maple Leaf Square where fans had gathered to watch their team鈥檚 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.
鈥淎 lot of the Canadian hockey fans didn鈥檛 understand how good the Canucks were,鈥� he said. Until last year, 鈥渢hey just didn鈥檛 have the coaching to put it all together,鈥� 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.
鈥淚 think most hockey fans aren鈥檛 Canadian 鈥楪o Canada!鈥� They鈥檒l go with their team, which is part of the problem,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e not really for Canada because there鈥檚 so much tribalism between the hockey fans.鈥�
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-With files from Rob Drinkwater in Edmonton.
Thomas MacDonald, The Canadian Press