Is there anything wrong with treating the Cup Finals as USA vs. Canada?

Question

I think you can answer this yes or no and still be right.

The Stanley Cup was born in Canada. Therefore, there is nothing wrong with all Canadians pulling for Ottawa to get the Grail back home. I get it.

The US will not rally behind Anaheim because they want to see the Cup come to the States. But some Americans will root against the Sens because they don't want the Cup to go to Canada.

So I think that because Canadians rally around the Cup, some Americans get defensive and root against them. Fair statement?

Is the US/Canada rivalry a good thing or does it encourage some of the stupid statements that have been popping up on here more often?

I am not encouraging people to act this way. I'm only identifying that there is a problem. I don't cheer for teams this way, but people are right now on both sides. Good answers so far. Even the ones that took the question the wrong way.

Answer 1

I think it is a bad thing. This isn't an INTERNATIONAL competition. Heck what about half the players on the teams are Canadians anyway. Either way it will be visiting in Canada when the players take it there, and spends plenty of time in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Yeah I think most of the anti-Ottawa thing is because we Americans are tired of this "The Cup belongs in Canada" thing. I don't even mind them CHEERING for Ottawa or a Canadian team, that is their choice, but this ENTITLEMENT thing DOES bother me. The Cup BELONGS with the players who EARN it. Funny thing is most Hockey fans in American would probably cheer for Ottawa if it wasn't for those Canadians and the "The Cup belongs here" attitude. Most Americans aren't going to cheer for Anaheim or for The Cup to end up in Cali. I mean of all places we aren't picking Cali. or the South. If it was Detroit then MAYBE we could accept cheering for the American city, or the Wild, or an area where we will agree they should have a hockey team.

Answer 2

Here's a little NHL article concerning Toronto Maple Leafs fans not pulling for the Ottawa Senators as "Canada's Team":
http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?articleid=310758&page=NewsPage&service=page

Yes, there is something wrong with it... I completely agree with Bob Loblaw's answer, but I'll share my spiel.

When someone starts to root for a team because they are winning, they are called bandwagoners. I'm considering any Canadian who roots for a team that is NOT THEIR FAVORITE (and possibly THEIR RIVALS) in the Stanley Cup finals a bandwagoner because they didn't help FILL THAT TEAM'S ARENA, they rooted against them BEFORE their team was eliminated, and they will root AGAINST them again next season. They weren't supporting that team when it had its lows during the season. The same would go for any AMERICAN who would do the same thing.

What is this whole shenanigans concerning bringing the Stanley Cup back to where it "belongs"? There is a difference between where it belongs and where it's FROM. Newsflash: The Cup belongs with whoever gives up blood, sweat, and tears to WIN IT, wherever they might be from. It must also be taken into account that whichever teams wins it will probably have Canadians on their team and the Cup WILL be in Canada physically. There is no shortage of hockey or history in Canada whenever a franchise located in the States wins the Cup. Canadians invented the sport, they brought the Cup to this continent, and they should always be proud of that no matter who has won the Cup.

If someone's rallying behind a Canadian team so there's a parade and festivities in their area all summer, that's just selfish. Here's a personal example: If Ryan Malone, a Pittsburgh native, was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers there's no way I'd want Philly to win just so he can bring the Cup back here, in Pittsburgh. The people who know him personally---friends and family---reserve the right to be sentimentally involved. I don't want some guy playing for one of my team's biggest rivals to bring the Cup THEY won to my hometown. I'd love to see the Cup in person, but not more than I'd love to see my team win it. I don't even know how to classify what kind of fan you are if you're more a fan of the Stanley Cup than your favorite team---a team whose goal is to win the Stanley Cup... A fan of Canadian history, maybe?

The US/Canadian rival is not a good thing because it does breed some stupid statements where people are more concerned with the rivalry than their team or hockey in general. Those kind of politics have no place in this great sport; they'll just potentially degrade it.

Answer 3

Because the Finals is not a USA vs. Canada issue. There's more Canadians on the Anaheim Ducks than there are on the Ottawa Senators. So by your logic, people in Canada should cheer for Anaheim right?

Come on, we have nothing to prove. Just enjoy the finals and treat it like it really is: 2 NHL teams playing eachother, NOT 2 countries.

Answer 4

Considering that there are a bunch of Canadians on both teams, not to mention Finnish, Russian, and other nationalities. This is NOT about USA vs. Canada; stuff like that should be saved for the Olympics, IMO. Still, Sabres girl that I am, this American refuses to root for the Sens!

Answer 5

I (as an american) can not say that i'm gonna root against the sens because i don't want the cup to go to canada. I'm rooting against the Sens cause I'm not a really big Sens fan. I was born and raised in Buffalo, so naturally I'm a die hard Sabres fan. That being said, let me say this. I'm not against the Sens cause they beat Buffalo, cause I will be the first to agree that the Sens earned it. Buffalo didn't show up to play for the whole series, and the better part of the playoffs for that matter. I just don't like the Sens cause they are in the same division as my Sabres. Just like i don't like the Leafs, Habs, or Bruins (even if they haven't done anything in a few years, i still don't like them.) I, honestly, was pulling for a Buffalo/Vancouver series this year or Buffalo/Calagry series. I really would have liked to see the cup go to either of those two canadian cities or to Buffalo.

I agree with you that a lot of people (Americans) got defensive and started rooting against the Sens for that reason. I think it is a good thing for the sport cause it will bring a little bit more light on the subject for people who were kinda half and half about hockey. Even if it's only for a couple of weeks, it will bring more people in contact witht he sport and maybe help boost fan bases.

Answer 6

Yes. There is something wrong with it and that is THE ONLY right answer. Unless this is international play, your question makes no sense. Anaheim is chocked full of Canadians.

This whole bring the cup back to Canada is bullcrap. Let me put it in perspective for you, I live in Nova Scotia, Canada and if Ottawa wins, I won't see the cup this summer BUT if Anaheim wins, it will be here TWICE. JS Giguere will be bringing it here and so will Joe Dipenta (Go Joey). What is American about that?

Answer 7

The Ducks actually have 11 American born players on the team, which in my estimation is pretty high.

I know my team, the Dallas Stars have 2 Americans. Mike Madano and Jeff Halpren.

By the way, The Sens have 4 Americans.

Answer 8

well you can say that and it wouldn't be wrong because its a team from the USA and a team from Canada but the Ducks have many (i believe around 18) Canadian players so people could say that its wrong. go sens the cup hasn't been in Canada or at least won by a Canadian team for 17 years!!!

Answer 9

With teams being made up of players from all over the world, I don't see the point in treating it as a USA vs Canada match. Just root for the team that you like best, I'm in Canada and rooting for the Ducks to win it.

Answer 10

it seems to encourage the stupid statements about both countries. I think that people should pick based on a team, not a country. Most players are canadian, it doesn't really matter! Nationalism pride is an ugly thing when it gets out of hand. This is not the worlds, the teams are not representing nations- they're representing themselves.