Is US dominance finally ending?
Canada’s ice hockey longs for the ultimate triumph
March 29, 2024, 9:37 p.m
Canada, the starving ice hockey motherland, has been waiting to win the Stanley Cup for more than 30 years. This time there are four teams that give hope. Among others, the Edmonton Oilers, with German superstar Leon Draisaitl.
The “Hockey News” didn’t really want to commit at first. Before the season in the North American professional league NHL, the ice hockey trade journal, something like the bible of sport, especially in the mother country of Canada, only very cautiously predicted that the Edmonton Oilers would have the best prospects of a good “play” of the seven Canadian teams. off run”. There was no talk of winning the Stanley Cup, wisely. Canada has been waiting for the ultimate triumph for more than 30 years.
The Montreal Canadiens, cult club and record champions, were the last to bring the Lord Stanley’s Cup to Canada in 1993, and as finalists in 2021 they were also the last ones who could have won it. In between, the Ottawa Senators (2007), Edmonton Oilers (2006), Calgary Flames (2004) and Vancouver Canucks (2011 and 1994) tried, all in vain. 30 years of just looking, not touching. 30 years in which 15 clubs from the USA triumphed, most often the Detroit Red Wings (4).
Also bitter: The Stanley Cup has gone to a club originally from Canada three times since 1993. The Colorado Avalanche were the Quebec Nordiques until 1995. After moving to Denver, the franchise promptly won its first of three titles in 1996. The decisive and therefore legendary goal for the triumph in the seventh game at the Florida Panthers (1:0 nV) was scored by: Uwe Krupp.
Where does the confidence come from?
Now, however, hope is emerging: “The good news for Canadian fans is that the wait may soon be over,” says ESPN, “the current season offers the greatest chance of ending the dry spell in a long time – perhaps even since it began .” Where does the confidence come from? Well – in addition to the Oilers with Leon Draisaitl, three other Canadian teams are in very good shape: the Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets – and especially the Canucks.
The “regular season” runs until April 18th, after which, according to “Hockey News,” the New York Rangers will go into the play-offs as title favorites. And the Canadians? In Draisaitl, superstar Connor McDavid and goalgetter Zach Hyman, Edmonton has an offensive trio that is second to none, but so far they have not even won 50 percent of their games this season against teams with a positive record. “This could be a problem, no matter how good they look on paper,” fear the experts at ESPN.
And what do those directly involved say? Oilers manager Ken Holland believes the four of the seven Canadian teams with a guaranteed playoff ticket “are legitimate Cup contenders.” He added that he couldn’t remember the last time that happened. But what Holland already knows for sure: “We can talk about it now as long as we want. We have to go out and do it. A lot can happen in the play-offs.”