CANADA’S TEAM NOW
Edmontonians commiserated with our fellow Canadians a year ago when not a single team based in Canada made the NHL playoffs. After all, who knows better than Edmonton hockey fans the emptiness of watching teams south of the border compete for glory in “our” game?
When the Oilers enthralled their fans by finally making the playoffs this spring, Edmontonians were happy to have the company of four other Canadian teams and even looked forward to renewing post-season acquaintances with old rivals like the Calgary Flames or Montreal Canadiens.
Alas. One by one, Canada’s teams are falling by the wayside — the Flames (so soon?), the Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Their regrettably early exits leave the Oilers and the Ottawa Senators as the last Canadian squads standing and preparing to do battle against formidable U.S.-based teams in the second round.
One of these two franchises will become Canada’s team, representing the country in the year of its 150th birthday, shouldering the hopes of a nation in bringing Stanley home for the first time since 1993 and towing a bandwagon big enough for fans in other Canadian cities to hop on board. For so many reasons, the choice for the national team is obviously the Oilers.
The team is led by captain Connor McDavid, a homegrown superstar-in-the-making and, at 20, already the league’s most exciting player. Unlike Sidney Crosby, who patriotic fans have obligingly supported over the last decade in some measure because of his citizenship, McDavid plays for a team on the right side of the border.
Make no mistake. Ottawa is a fine team, but its best player is Erik Karlsson — from Sweden.
The Oilers play either a fast-skating finesse game or a heavy-hitting physical style. Either way, it’s breathtakingly fun to watch. Just listen to the fans roar at Rogers Place these playoffs. The Senators? No offence, but their best player is a defenceman and can anyone really get behind a team named for politicians?
The Oilers have already long represented their country. Post-season after post-season, many Oilers, finding themselves out of the playoffs, eschewed the golf course to wear the Maple Leaf in international competition. This yeoman service earned Ryan Smyth the moniker of Captain Canada. It’s a tradition that’s been upheld by the likes of Jordan Eberle, Cam Talbot and McDavid.
It’s clear the Oilers are the best hope to give Canada what would be a joyous sesquicentennial birthday present — so climb aboard the blue-and-orange bandwagon and enjoy the ride.