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 91裸聊视频淏ack to the Future,91裸聊视频� starring Edmonton native Michael J. Fox, and Edmonton-based professional wrestler Chris Benoit eventually drew him to the Oilers fandom. The team91裸聊视频檚 Stanley Cup victory in his birth year, 1985, sealed what would become a lifelong dedication.
91裸聊视频淚 always put it like this,91裸聊视频� the now 38-year-old said from Blackpool, Lancashire, Saturday: 91裸聊视频淚 didn91裸聊视频檛 choose the Edmonton Oilers. The Edmonton Oilers chose me.91裸聊视频�
Jericho is one of countless Canadian hockey team fans eagerly following this year91裸聊视频檚 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 father91裸聊视频檚 death last year on a vacation to attend four Oilers games this season.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 hoping they91裸聊视频檙e going to go all the way,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚 really am.91裸聊视频�
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 don91裸聊视频檛 feel too bad for him 91裸聊视频� it91裸聊视频檚 because he and his girlfriend are at a resort in Cancun, Mexico.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檒l be partying in the pool at the resort all day. And then I91裸聊视频檒l be in my room at 6 o91裸聊视频檆lock for the puck drop and I91裸聊视频檒l watch the whole game. I91裸聊视频檒l probably order room service to the room and I91裸聊视频檒l cheer on our Jets.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e got a Jets tank top I91裸聊视频檒l be wearing tomorrow and I91裸聊视频檝e also got Jets shorts, too. I91裸聊视频檒l be ready to go.91裸聊视频�
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 he91裸聊视频檒l be back in the city to watch Game 2 on Tuesday night in person.
And he plans on taking part in Winnipeg91裸聊视频檚 famous Whiteout parties, where thousands of fans gather in the city91裸聊视频檚 downtown for playoff games.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 just a diehard Jets fan. I hope they go all the way this year. I was cautiously optimistic earlier in the year but I91裸聊视频檓 starting to believe now.91裸聊视频�
On Saturday night, there was disappointment in the air in Toronto91裸聊视频檚 Maple Leaf Square where fans had gathered to watch their team91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淎 lot of the Canadian hockey fans didn91裸聊视频檛 understand how good the Canucks were,91裸聊视频� he said. Until last year, 91裸聊视频渢hey just didn91裸聊视频檛 have the coaching to put it all together,91裸聊视频� 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.
91裸聊视频淚 think most hockey fans aren91裸聊视频檛 Canadian 91裸聊视频楪o Canada!91裸聊视频� They91裸聊视频檒l go with their team, which is part of the problem,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檙e not really for Canada because there91裸聊视频檚 so much tribalism between the hockey fans.91裸聊视频�
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-With files from Rob Drinkwater in Edmonton.
Thomas MacDonald, The Canadian Press
