Call this a very informal poll of Canucks hard cores, casual fans, and local Canadians who simply don’t give a hoot about hockey.
That last group, ones that don’t have an allegiance to Vancouver’s NHL franchise, or any other for that matter, are almost unanimously rooting for the Edmonton Oilers, if they hypothetically were to root, because it’s a Canadian franchise. I’m out and about and mix with the general public quite a bit and I’d say 90% of the folks who are not dedicated to hockey or a franchise feel this way. Canada proud they say; yeah why not.
For casual hockey fans, it drops to a slight majority pulling for the Oilers.
Among them, I’ve spoken to a couple of Flames fans who actually said they were first rooting for the Canucks over the Oilers, but since Vancouver lost that series, they’re rooting for Edmonton to win for Canada. Both are women. Not sure that means anything demographically or psychologically, but that’s the case.
I would suggest those two would be the exception. Just a guess, but I think Flames fans in general loathe the concept of the Oilers being Stanley Cup champs. Agree?
Finally, informal chats with Canucks hard cores reflect that emotion, maybe to a slightly lesser degree. Do certain Canucks fans hate the Oilers as much as Flames fans do? Across the board, probably not. I mean, come on, it’s the battle of Alberta.
That said, determining the degree of dislike on a scale is practically impossible. But I can report that a majority of Canadians in general, from Cape Breton to Saskatoon, based on a limited straw poll, are pulling for the Canadian team.
Ask around.
Not surprising, the local VAN media seems to be pulling against Mr. McDavid and his pals, but that’s also from very limited exposure.
Either way, we’ll find out a heck of a lot more from reactions on Friday night.
Game-6. Drop the puck!
Earlier Canucks:
— Canucks Hronek The Right Man For The Job … Again
