February 21, 2025

Oh Canada!

On hockey, because politics are too much right now.

Last night Team Canada defeated Team USA in a dramatic overtime to win the first 4 Nations Face-off challenge. Earlier this week, I watched two full periods of hockey, that’s 40 minutes of game time, for the first time in over a decade. Recently I wrote how the NHL lost me as a fan. What I did not explicitly state was that I haven’t actually watched any hockey since 2012. Between my self-righteous boycott of the NHL, lack of NHL players at the Olympics or any international tournaments, there really was not much of an opportunity. I knew of the 4 Nations Face-off but with construction at home, new job, and the general state of fascism all around us, I was not planning on watching a tournament that to me was a bit gimmicky especially since it was limited to the 4 nations1.

Then, while doom-scrolling on BlueSky, I noticed skeets about something extraordinary at the beginning of the USA-Canada game. Of course I had to look up what all the fuss what about. I expected the Canadian crowd to boo during the American anthem, I did not anticipate that the recent American imperialism will turn Quebecois into the most avid Canadian patriots. The three fights in nine seconds to start the game? Doubt that ANYONE had that on their bingo card. Quickly I got into the game and rooting for Team Canada2, unfortunately, Team USA won. In the midst of it all, I was reminded of my experience attending the inaugural World Cup of Hockey in 1996. The direct parallel was to the Game 1 of the best-of-three Finals, where for the first time in my entire life I rooted for the hockey’s version of Mordor - Team Canada playing against the Americans.

You see, I have a very complicated history with international sports and my rooting interests. Growing up in the 70s and 80s Soviet Union I could never bring myself to root for ANY of the national teams. While I may not remember watching the Miracle on Ice at that time, I have, on the other hand, seen the end of the ‘72 Olympics Basketball Finals entirely too many times3. I am sitting here, wondering if perhaps I might be forgetting an athlete or an event where I may have been rooting for the Soviets and I am coming up with nothing. My interests, including sports, have always been varied, however on the national team level while growing up I only followed FIFA football4 and hockey.

One of the questions I am yet to answer for myself is how and why did my deeply ingrained need to always root for the underdog5 ever began. It’s not that I picked a bad team to root for, but the Johan Cruijff’s Oranje showed a whole lot more promise and ability and talent than actual results, suffering two of the most dramatic losses in the World Cup history to that point. It has not gotten much better since with the Dutch national team, alas I still root for them6. In terms of hockey, to bring the story back to the topic, I have always rooted for Suomi7, the Finnish national team. They were the perpetual underdog who might luck out into a 3rd place here or there if everything went their way. In addition to my favorites in Netherlands and Finland, I always rooted for whatever team was playing against the Soviets… and against Canadian national hockey team.

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Team Canada was seen by me as the embodiment of Evil Empire8. I may have been a Stevie Y. fan but the teenage me despised Mario and his nonchalant-like appearance on the ice or Gretzky and his disdain for any physical contact. I hated Messier so much that I simply started to dislike all of the top players on the Rangers when he got there9. It only got worse when the proverbial star of the team became Eric Lindros10 in the 90s. All of this is to say that by the time the 1996 World Cup of hockey was announced I had plenty of reasons to root against Team Canada.

Team Suomi was eliminated by team Russia (more on this in a bit) in Ottawa, too far and too expensive for a 21 year old college student. Especially a college student who “shelled out” a lot of money for the “season tickets” in Philadelphia11, which included:

• US-Canada group stage game,

• Semifinals game,

• Game 1 of the Finals.

I was ecstatic to find out that Team Russia was holding it’s training camp in the town next to where my parents lived. In a vain attempt to be more aloof and less of a fanboy, I brought my 11 year old nephew to the rink where the team was practicing. Ostensibly, I was a good uncle bringing a kid to meet star players and get their signatures. However, I geeked out too much and my facade was pretty obvious. This was still mid 90s with naive younger me falling for the Russian fascist propaganda under Yeltsin and for a short period thinking of myself as a россиянин, and thus allowing myself to root for Russian rather than the Soviet team.

It was a different time I guess because the degree of access we received would be impossible today. The first shock was when we were able to walk into the tunnel going towards the locker rooms and had to pin ourselves against the wall as Darius Kasparatis walked through - he was shorter than me but bloody hell, his shoulders without pads were so wide and huge than he essentially took the entire tunnel’s width. The next shock for me was the realization that not all Rangers are bad, as Alexei Kovalev overheard me speaking in Russian and immediately inquired if we want him to get the team to sign something. “Luckily” I had a Red Wings practice sweater12 that I got from Stevie Y. a year earlier at a game at the old Nassau Coliseum. Alexei, true to his word, got the entire contingent of players who were at the rink to sign it. One of the Red Wings players, I don’t remember if it was Larionov or Fetisov13, asked about the sweater. That started a conversation that ended up with lots of vodka shots at their hotel’s bar later in the evening.

Oh the stories I’ve heard. I could probably write a short novel about personal details of many a player on that team, details that likely never been shared outside of similar situations where vodka involved. I will disappoint you, the reader, by choosing to keep this stories private. Except one, as I have seen a version of it published online in the past. The story was told by Slava Fetisov, legendary Soviet and Russian defenseman, who recalled the other Soviet hockey legend Igor Larionov getting incredibly upset at the young Slava Kozlov for not coming back to the bench after a particularly hard hit. During the intermission, Larionov got a crumpled one dollar bill, held it within half an inch of Kozlov’s nose while the latter was laying down on the trainer’s table and asked him: “What do you smell?” The younger player responded that it was money. “Well, then get your ass back on ice so you can earn more of it.” Kozlov went out next period and scored.

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As usual, I digressed. The first game I went to see was the preliminary group match between US and Canada. Since I was for once rooting for Russia and it was in the same group, I grinded my teeth at the thought of having to root for a team with Richter in goal, Keith Tkachuk, Brett Hull, Adam Deadmarsh up front and the Hatcher brothers and Brian Leeth on D. Alas, Team Canada was the evil empire and it would be best for team Russia if the Americans would win. I borrowed Team USA sweater from a friend and spent the entire game enjoying banter with a bunch of Flyers fans who were very much split between desire to root for the United States and having to root against Eric Lindros but for Mike Richter. US won that game and in the end, I think everyone who sat in my vicinity at the stadium, left the building fairly happy.

The next game was the Semifinal between Canada and Sweden. Once again I had to choose which hated rival I can stomach rooting for during the game. With the same logic I borrowed Swedish mustard yellow sweater and quickly deepened the connection with everyone in the section since it was the same people as the prior game. Unfortunately, I might have had a few too many beers because I don’t have any specific recollections from the game itself, even though it went into a double overtime!!

However, the next game I remember rather well. It was Game 1 of the Finals between USA and Canada. In that moment, I could not make myself root for Hatchers and Tkachuks. I proudly put on my Red Wings sweater (I did not know anyone with a Canadian one), swallowed my decades old dislike for Team Canada and immediately shocked everyone in my section by loudly singing Oh Canada! I was questioned, my mental health state was questioned, and I was told to be a quiet little mouse by the Flyers fan around me or there would be repercussions, past friendliness and comradery notwithstanding. I did write about how Philly is often really is a city of brotherly love, but not when it is about sports. I am sure you have heard and read stories about Eagles fans. Flyers fans are scarier.

The first period started off with a proverbial bang, with 8 penalties combined between the teams, including a scuffle leading to a bunch of “roughing” penalties that led to the hometown hero Eric Lindros scoring a power play goal to give Canada the lead. The crowd’s reaction was split. Many were upset at Canada taking the lead, yet many could not help themselves and started a chant “Richter SUCKS.” I had to point out to the people near me that Richter was pretty much the only reason the game was 1-0 and once again was told to shut my trap or else. In the second, US quickly evened the score and then took the lead courtesy of Darian Hatcher. It has been nearly 30 years since then and I still am shocked at the thought of Darian Hatcher as a dominant scorer!

Canada on a brilliant play by, who else but, Gretzky, evened the score and then the little engine that could err Theo Fleury, gave Canadians the lead mid-way through the third period. As the time started to wind down, I started to celebrate, first quietly, then slightly more less so until I was on my feet and yelling at the top of my lungs to cheer the Canadian defense. It was a whole lot easier with Curtis Joseph in net rather than Martin Brodeur. The agony among Flyers fans who were rooting for the US team was such that they started another “RICHTER SUCKS” chant which then shocking the entire arena turned into “LINDROS SUCKS” chant. Yeah, I did not see that one coming either.

John Leclair, another local hero, beat Joseph to tie the game with less than 10 seconds left. I dropped down to my knees hearing dozens of now excited Flyers fans cheering on and egging me on at the same time. From that moment I stopped carring about the abuse as it was pretty much pointless since it grew to become none stop through the overtime. The specifics of the play are a bit vague in my memory but I do vividly remember jumping up and spilling whatever drink I had in my hand all over the now pissed off local fans as Steve Yzerman scored the game winner (assisted by yet another local hero Rod Brind’Amour). Ostensibly I did attempt to dance a full on Irish jig right then and there in the stands. In no uncertain terms I was told that if I dare not stop immediately I’ll be kissing the ice and we were on the second level. Knowing that the threat was not idle, I stopped and while I tried to start a CANADA chant while everyone was walking out of the stadium, I was sternly reminded that I was still in South Philly and it was not a good idea.

Thinking back to those games, I realize that it is probably the first time US team has overcome Canada with full NHL rosters. The rivalry only intensified over the few tournaments since and now with the absurd possibility of a trade if not open kinetic war between the two countries. I may not know players today but I feel there is a parallel between Yzerman scoring the game winner in 96 in overtime and Connor McDavid doing the same last night in Boston.

This time, the OT goal won the game and I am glad Canada came out on top.

So should everyone.