Montreal Canadiens draw nationwide Canadian support in Stanley Cup playoffs

With the Montreal Canadiens becoming the last Canadian team still alive in the NHL postseason, fans across the country have shifted their loyalties to back the Habs. In Edmonton, former Oilers devotee James Obenauer‑Fossett—who even sports an Oilers tattoo—said, “It doesn’t matter which Canadian team is going for it. I’ll cheer for any Canadian team.” Similar sentiments were echoed by 22‑year‑old Naseer Hussain, who admitted it hurts to see the Oilers eliminated but wants the Cup back to Canada.

Supporters from Calgary, Winnipeg and other cities have turned up in large numbers at local bars and arenas, often wearing red jerseys. Calgary resident Robert Hing, who describes himself as “born with the Habs crest on my chest,” travelled to Montreal to watch the team win a dramatic Game 7 against Tampa Bay. Winnipeg’s Pregame Sports Bar offers $5 drinks while a Canadian team is on the ice, reflecting the heightened enthusiasm. If the Canadiens capture the Stanley Cup, it would be the first time a Canadian club has done so since Montreal’s 1993 victory, ending a 30‑year drought.

The rallying call – “It’s important that we unite” – captures a rare moment of nationwide solidarity among hockey fans, uniting disparate regional loyalties around the shared goal of bringing the Cup home.