National pride

[Jane Hurl]

I don't suppose too many of you are hockey fans, so I'll relate the story from the beginning.

Edmonton, Alberta ("Edmonton Oilers") are playing way above their heads. They don't have a lot of money and haven't been to the Stanley Cup quarter finals, never mind the finals, for over a decade. So right now we are playing Anaheim for the western conference finals. Next stop: the Stanley Cup.

But, while playing San Jose for the quarter finals, after beating San Jose a couple of times, they were playing IN San Jose. At the beginning of the game (and much to the horror of San Jose's hockey coach, mayor and many San Jose residents), the San Jose fans at the arena BOOED (boo'd?)the Canadian anthem at the beginning of the game!

Our response?

When the next game was played in Edmonton, our fans not only didn't boo your anthem, THEY SANG IT!

And now, having claimed that series and moved on to tackle the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, this is what's happening: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meLpuF9UMvk

I hope it becomes an Edmontonian tradition.

They say the volume at that game was louder than the decibels of a jet plane landing. (And the little guy standing behind the hockey player and singing his heart out is Joey Moss. He has Down's Syndrome and is the brother to a woman Wayne Gretzky used to date. Wayne arranged for Joey to become the Edmonton Oilers' official locker room attendant -- a position he's had for over 20 years now, which makes him the longest standing Edmonton Oiler.)

The whole thing makes my little Canadian heart swell.

[Blameitonbrio]

My husband and daughters are Caniacs -- crazed Carolina Hurricane fans. Tony attends most of their games and I occasionally go (not my cup of tea and it would embarrass him if I sat there reading a book :razz: ). I am proud to say that Grayson knows the Canadian anthem, because our fans always sing along.

Go 'Canes!

[Jane Hurl]

That is cool, Jeanie! (Can't say the same myself. I know some of your anthem. Not all though.)

What I really like about this is that normally Canadians are not the least bit demonstrative about our national pride. You'd think we don't have any.

I've always envied the way Americans stand with hand over heart for your anthem. And you sing! Nobody does that kind of thing here. Heck, most don't even bother to shut up while it's being sung for them!

I'm glad this event stirred some Canadian hearts. I hope it's a trend.

[Blameitonbrio]

I have to say that I used to think of hockey fans as the more boorish sort of sports fan. Our getting an NHL hockey team in Raleigh and my southern born southern bred husband becoming a Caniac has given me the opportunity to see some pretty admirable behavior -- for sporting events.

Tony and some friends have season tickets, and they get to know the other season ticket holders who sit around them. When he first started going to games, he was a little worried he wouldn't be able to take Grayson, because a couple of guys who sat behind him couldn't speak (or yell as the case usually is) without using profanities. Now, I use a few "bad" words once in a while myself as my children will testify, but I am not ready to sit them down to a few hours of constant profanity. I agreed to let him take Grayson, and those guys didn't say a single unmentionable thing! Once, when things were not going their way, one of the guys yelled "Shucks!" Followed by, "I can't believe I just said shucks!"

As for the national anthems, both sides are very respectful and sing the others anthem and applaud at the end. The niceties often end there though -- after all, it is hockey!

I imagine that most of the hockey fans in San Jose are motified at what happened. It only takes a handul of jerks to make themselves noticed and embarrass everyone. I am glad the the Edmonton team made good use of the incident to show they are better than those jerks.

BTW, I think Canada has a beautiful national anthem -- much easier to sing than ours (which of course, I also love). Hey Jane! Maybe I will see you at the Stanley Cup Finals!!! :shock:

[Blameitonbrio]

Whoo hoo Jane! Looks like the Oilers are going for the Stanley Cup! Congratulations!
http://www.wral.com/apsportsnews/9285575/detail.html

[Jane Hurl]

Who woulda thunk it? WE'RE GOING TO THE STANLEY CUP! :shock:

You coulda had my heart for a nickel in the dying few minutes of the game ... especially when the Ducks went against us with 6 players to our 3!!!! We took entirely too many stupid penalties. I mean, "too many men on the ice" ... twice? I think that speaks to the inexperience of many of our players. Hopefully they don't do that in the finals!

And not to say he's a sore loser, but Selanne's a chump! "I don't think the better team beat us. We beat ourselves," said Teemu Selanne, who was scoreless on four shots.

Yeah? So how does he account for the statistics? The Ducks finished a combined 1-6-1 against Edmonton in the regular season and playoffs this season.

We're going to the Cup! We're going to the Cup! We're going to the Cup! *grin*

(Back in the glory days of Gretzky & Company, we used to practically own that thing ... but haven't had a sniff since 1990!)

[Abejita]

Steve who works here is a hockey fan and he told me about the booing of the Canadian anthem..if I remember his words correctly it was something like "do you wanna hear what us dumb a$$ Americans did now??"So yes many were horrified..

[Jane Hurl]

We know that, Abejita! We know that the majority of Americans are wonderful people.

And you don't have the corner on dumb-a$$es either! Last night, after this fabulous win, our fans went to Whyte Avenue (the official post-game party place) and started lighting fires! Police had to bring in water cannons! :shock: So, as you see, you ain't alone in the dumb a$$ department! *shaking head in disbelief*

But we're still singing our national anthem at top volume, which we never did before, and I think that's awesome! Without any idea of the consequences, I guess the San Jose fans delivered a much needed kick in our Canadian pants! *grin*

(Nobody will ever convince me that our LOUD show of patriotism hasn't done a lot to help the Oilers get where they are! Thanks, San Jose!)

[Got Brio?]

Speaking of the playoffs I'am watching the CANES play Buffalo.....the score is currently 1-0 canes losing(1st pd isnt our strongest)
Yes I'am proud to say I do indeed know Canada's national anthem. And I think also it is a beautiful anthem.
The guys still do let some words slip when we get scored on.....I'am going to go watch the game now!

LET"S GO CANES!!!!!!

[Got Brio?]

Bret Hedican(6) just scored with 3:58 minutes lefted in the 2nd period!!!

LET'S GO CANES!!!

[Monty]

Oh Canada , yup I know it - my Mom was raised in Seeley's Bay Ont., ( her Mom died when she was 3) - she hooked me on Hockey -

Sure hope your team wins - I love the underdog coming out on top !

Yup - no country is without their idjits! :roll:

[Jane Hurl]

Well, Jeanie ... the consensus in Edmonton is that we do NOT want to play you guys! We think you're too fast and we're afraid of your defence.

We'd rather play Buffalo, thank you very much. Slower. More banged up from this series.

So ... here's hoping you 'Caniacs can pull it off. THEN we'd see some hockey! *grin*

I laughed at one woman interviewed. She said, "No way the Stanley Cup should go to a team that doesn't even get snow! I vote Buffalo!"

Go, Oil!

[Blameitonbrio]

I laughed at one woman interviewed. She said, "No way the Stanley Cup should go to a team that doesn't even get snow! I vote Buffalo!"


Yeah...I laugh when I hear that one too. We've heard a lot of that since the Hurricanes relocated here. Tell her to tell it to the Tampa Bay Lightning who won the cup last year! And hey! We get snow...sometimes...;-)

It will be a good series -- if you like hockey -- no matter who plays. I have to admit, that even though I am not Caniac material like my husband and children, I am getting bitten by the bug now. Tony and Grayson are going to tomorrow night's game, and if they win, I am going to one of the Stanley Cup games with Tony -- and I promise not to sit there reading a book!

:lol:

[Jane Hurl]

As I mentioned above, most Edmontonians don't want The Oil to play you because you're too fast and your defence is too good.

Not me! I'd rather we take on the best. Then either we beat you and are CROWNED as the best ... or we go down trying! I mean, what's the point in beating a beat up team?

Go 'Canes (for now)! *grin*

[Jane Hurl]

Whoa, Nellie! :shock: Tickets to the Stanley Cup play-offs here are selling to other than season ticket holders now. Just saw an ad in "The Social Insider". Prices are STARTING at $1,000 per seat -- for the nose bleed section!

With prices like that, Jeanie, best you leave your book at home! *grin*

[Blameitonbrio]

Since Tony is a season ticket holder, I think he gets tickets much cheaper. Just the same, I think I will check and make sure our children's college funds haven't had any unplanned withdrawals lately. :rofl

Raleigh is abuzz with excitement. I just heard that people are already tailgating! I hope they don't get so drunk from drinking all day that they do something stupid tonight and embarrass the whole town!

Interesting note...today is the first day of hurricane season.

[Got Brio?]

Canes game tonite and I'am going I'am so excited!!!

[Blameitonbrio]

Yoo Hoo!!!! Jane!!! Better board up your windows! It's going to be hurricane season in Edmonton! We beat Buffalo 4-2 tonight.

[Jane Hurl]

Bring it on, 'Canes!

I'm looking forward to this!
For the regular season, I'm just not there ... but play-offs? With The Oil in?

Yee haw!

[Blameitonbrio]

I am the same way. The regular season is so long and there are so many games. I am just not that into it. Now, everyone is into it here. The Canes went to the Stanley Cup finals a few years ago and lost to the Detroit Redwings, so everyone is primed for this. It will be a good series with two deserving teams. I am actually looking forward to it.

Funny thing yesterday...at Bailey's elementary school, they had Wear Red Day for the hurricanes. Well, several players have kids that go to that school and the area has a high concentration of Caniacs. As I was dropping Bailey and our neighbor's kid off at school, I noticed a lot of kids had on hockey jerseys. It was probably 90 degrees yesterday; I hope no one suffered a heat stroke on the playground!

Also, in carpool line, I was amazed at how many cars had hurricane flags on them. It is kind of hard not to get excited in this atmosphere.

[Jane Hurl]

Yep, same thing's happening up here ... only we started at the quarter finals. (The Oilers have not been in the play-offs in over a decade so we excite easily up here. *grin*)

Every other car is flying those flag thingies. There are Oiler jersies all over the place (temperatures are more moderate here so we can do it without heat stroke).

The only thing I worry about are the hooligans. They come out to "play" when something this big happens. When we beat The Ducks some of them started fires in the street. Others pushed over and smashed phone booths, etc. It gives legitimate Oiler fans, who want to celebrate in the streets, a bad name, and it isn't fair. Right now the police have pictures out of folks they are looking to arrest for crimes during the last series. I say, offer a reward for info and GO GET 'EM!

For THIS series, they've got the riot police organized.

But, back to hockey! Hello, 'Caniacs. Go, Oil! I am sooooo excited!

[Got Brio?]

LET'S GO CANES!! :D