Josh Morrissey recalls how his city lit up during the spring of 2004. Back then, just nine years old and a Flames fan, he was mesmerized by every play from Jarome Iginla and every save from Miikka Kiprusoff as Calgary made its way to the Stanley Cup Final.
“It was such an amazing experience,” Morrissey said. “Feeling every win and loss.”
Once again, hockey fans across Canada are gearing up for the rollercoaster ride of emotions that come with playoff season. The Jets, Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, and Toronto Maple Leafs are among the 16 teams set to kick off the action on Saturday.
Morrissey still remembers the buzz in his hometown as the Flames battled through three tough rounds to reach the final.
“That’s the best part about Canadian teams doing well in the playoffs … it means so much,” he shared with The Canadian Press. “A special time of year.
The further you go, the more the excitement builds. It can mean a lot to the cities. I know as a kid, it meant the world to me.”
Canada’s wait for another Stanley Cup win stretches back to Montreal’s victory in 1993, a long time for fans in the country that lives and breathes hockey.
Since then, teams like the Canucks (twice), Flames, Oilers, Canadiens, and Ottawa Senators have all made it to the final only to fall short. With four Canadian teams in this year’s playoffs, it’s the most since 2017.
Vancouver defenseman Carson Soucy, who hails from near Edmonton, reminisces about the Oilers’ journey to the 2006 final. “That was when they started using the car window flags,” he recalled. “They were everywhere … they were really popular that year.”
Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon, a lifelong Canucks fan, was in Vancouver when the team lost to Boston in Game 7 of the 2011 final. “Playoff hockey in Canada is truly special,” he remarked. “It brings everyone together.”
Maple Leafs defenseman Simon Benoit, who grew up in the suburbs of Montreal, remembers watching the Canadiens make playoff runs when he was younger.
“Having the chance to compete for the Cup here is something really meaningful,” he expressed about his opportunity with Toronto. “I’m pretty thrilled about it. When the time comes, I’ll be prepared.”
Canucks coach Rick Tocchet, who won the Cup as a player with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1992, believes that the team bringing the Cup home will have lasting bragging rights.
