Anaheim’s gritty style of play wins over at least one Canadian fan

It was in 1993 that the Patrick Roy-lead Montreal Canadiens hoisted the Stanley Cup in triumph, but since then it has been a long wait for the next Canadian champion. After dominating the NHL from 1984 to 1990 on the strength of some very good Edmonton teams, Canada has run into a dry spell.

The lines between bandwagon-jumping and nationalism have been blurred in recent years as any Canadian team in the midst of a “cup-run” instantly inherits the title of Canada’s Team, and by extension the hopes and dreams of a championship starved nation. It happened with both Edmonton and Calgary, in 2005 and 2006 respectively. Did that title get passed to Ottawa this year? All “blue and white” biases aside, the answer is a resounding “No!”

Bringing their Eh-game

There was something special with Edmonton and Calgary-some energy that touched the hearts of Canadian hockey fans and transcended petty provincial rivalries. They were small-market Canadian teams, playing the underdog role and chasing the Canadian dream of playing for hockey’s holy grail. Not only were they storied Canadian franchises, but they were led by Canadian captains Jerome Iginla (Calgary) and Ryan Smith (Edmonton), who have become synonymous with Canadian hockey at the international level. Both play the gritty hard-nosed brand of hockey that Canadian players have always been known for.

This year, however, it was not uncommon to find Canadian fans cheering for the team south of the border. With a team comprised of 18 Canadians, the Ducks’ heart and style of play proved slightly more palatable to a Canadian audience. The combo of Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger showed their leadership and grit, shutting down the Senators’ top line of Alfredson, Heatly and Spezza.

The same, however, cannot be said of this year’s Canadian representative. Ottawa plays with more creative flair, but is often branded with a “soft” reputation. With a European-heavy roster, including a Swedish captain in Daniel Alfredsson, there is nothing distinctly Canadian about Ottawa other than where they play their hockey.

Cherry picking

Does location make a team Canadian? No, and neither does the fact that Anaheim was a team built and led by Canadians. Those would be Don Cherryesque opinions to a question that isn’t so black and white. Anaheim was simply a more intriguing team to watch because they embodied many of the qualities that we hold to be distinctly Canadian. There was something deeper which we could relate to, bringing hockey to a place familiar for Canadians everywhere. That’s what made the finals so special in Edmonton and Calgary: the feeling of belonging for thousands. What Calgary, Edmonton and Anaheim did was bring the game home.

Birds of a feather

Scott Niedermayer left perrenial contender New Jersey for the unproven Anaheim team, so that he could win a cup with his brother, Rob, Teemu Selanne flew in 15 of his closest friends from Finland so he could enjoy the moment with them. Then there was J.S. Giguere, playing for his son in Quebec who is blind in one eye. Giguere said it best: “You don’t lose sleep from this game, but you do lose sleep over your son.”

The Ducks, much like the Calgary and Edmonton teams of recent vintage, have provided fans with the sort of insight not often found in professional sports. They show us that there are more important things in life than putting a puck in a net or keeping it out. Players like the Niedermayer brothers, Selanne, and Giguere teach us that the Stanley Cup will come and go every year, but friends and family will always be there, win or lose. Realizing these simple, pure aspects of life brings even the most experienced of players back to that pond they played on as children,