So true…..they have a “holier than thou” attitude about hockey. Fact is more people in the USA watch hockey than Canada. Maybe we are bigger but HNIC gets 2 million viewers for the SCF.  That’s only 5% of Canada. The Superbowl draws 30% of Americans. Canada has one sport and they don’t even watch it in large numbers. Then they bring up excuses like there are no Canadian teams playing…do they like hockey or don’t they?

Posted by kevin from boston on 05/29/08 at 12:23 PM ET

Proteau making veiled attacks on Don Cherry, what a shock! Hasn’t it been at least a week since he wrote such predictable garbage. So Canadians take pride in a game they invented and cherish. So what? I love it when a half baked globalist sports writer sites a premise with no basis in fact and then goes on with it? If his premise is true how did a Russian (Ovechkin) get nominated for the Hart and beat a Canadian (Crosby) for the Calder?  Must be all of those close minded Canadians that cover the sport, or maybe it is just the unwashed masses of Canada that are xenophobic.

Canadians root for the home team, guess what? So does every other country in every other sport. In fact, its called the Olypmics and they have national anthems and flags too. Sorry he doesn’t have the old CCCP team to root for anymore. He pulls out stereotypes from a Cold War he still yearns for because in his world maybe the Reds like him won’t lose. If what he says is true, were is the ample evidence to back this up outside of the obvious Don Cherry reference. Guess the one over the top pro-Canadian voice on CBC needs to be silenced or the politically correct thought police will need to come in for some Maoist brainwashing. Don Cherry has never had the ability to sway any of my beliefs or convictions. What’s the threat of free speech? I rather know where he stands so I know which side I can choose to be on.

Then there is the ignorant statement citing a US stereotype of “chest thumping arrogance.”  Had to slide in a shot about Canadians don’t need to take pride in hockey because at least we ain’t Americans didn’t you Adam? There’s a reason I cancelled my Hockey News subscription, I care about hockey analysis, if I want to read Proteau’s politics I’ll buy Pravda.

PS
I apologize in advacne since I try to keep these posts civil out of respect for a site that is very well self moderated, but I just couldn’t hold back this time. For the record, I am NOT Canadian either and the only time I ever agree with Cherry is on hits from behind.

Posted by Hockey1919 from Montreal on 05/29/08 at 01:32 PM ET

It also bears pointing out that the Stanley Cup actually does belong to Canada, in a sense, or at least it did, originally.  It was founded originally by the outgoing Governor-General for the best amateur club in Canada, and “Dominion Challenge Cup,” the proper name of the trophy, is a direct reference to this country.  Of course, no one is presuming to say that only Canadian teams can win the Cup—that ship sailed over 90 years ago, for anyone who was interested in boarding it—and the “amateur” clause died long before then.  Trusteeship has belonged to the Hockey Hall of Fame almost since its inception, and given that the HHOF is an NHL-dominated body (hence the rejection of the WHA’s challenge for the Cup in the 70s, among others), it will remain an NHL championship trophy for as long as there is an NHL.  All this is part of the evolution of the game and the Cup, and it’s all fine and dandy.  But you can’t blame us for getting a wee bit patriotic about one of the few things we’re actually noted for internationally, especially since for most of the Cup’s history, it’s been won by a Canadian team, anyway.

Posted by Doogie2K from Calgary, AB on 05/30/08 at 11:32 AM ET

Though now that I think on it, if I want to use history to defend overzealous patriotism on the part of Canadians, I could also point out that the Stanley Cup, in its early years, was regarded as the World Championship (since realistically, there were no amateur or pro clubs in other countries, outside the handful of American teams in Canadian-based leagues, that could compete for it).  I don’t think anyone would presume to call the Detroit Red Wings or Pittsburgh Penguins 2008 World’s Champions, because I think the KHL and a bunch of other European leagues, as well as Team Russia, might have a bone to pick about it.  Now, whether you want to interpret that as more Canadian jingoism or an attempt to deflect criticism and turn it into a weak, “See?  We acknowledge that it’s for everyone!” defence is your business, but I thought I’d throw that out there.

Posted by Doogie2K from Calgary, AB on 05/30/08 at 11:37 AM ET