Buckle Up :

I know many Tenters don’t know much about Hockey Culture in Canada so Let me educate you on an event that is bringing the Political Landscape ( TRUMPISM) to the Canadian Hockey World …Tonite

To say Hockey IS Canada would be a gross Understatement . Canadians live and breath Hockey for 8 Months of the year.

We Invented the game and for a long time we dominated the game .

Hockey is EVERYTHING up here particularly in Rural Canada ( but even in the big Cities)

Every Parent is a Hocky Mom and Dad. The leagues are so organized right down to the 5 and 6 year olds

It’s incredibble. The kids have full gear ( expensive) and coaches and referrees and rink times starting at 6 AM and going to Midnight for many of the “Beer” leagues of older guys.

The NHL ( National Hockey League ) Started out for years with 6 teams and ALL the players were Canadian..back in the 60s and into the 70s

There would be international tournaments occasionally

The Big one was in 1972

The Russians were looking pretty impressive back then ( Soviets…. at that time…feared and hated because “Cold War ” )….they had their own league and their top team of course was the Soviet Red Army team.

There had never been a game between the Canadians and Russians …but a Tournament was set up

Best on best…4 games in Canada and 4 games in USSR.

This was HUGE …The Canadian game is TOUGH ( most Canadians Love the actual Fights where the players drop their gloves and punch the shit out of eachother periodically ) The Russians were team discipline…they would never resort to Fisticuffs but they were “monsters ” probably on steroinds

Anyhow Game one in Montreal was the HUGEST DEAL…EVER !

It shocked and devestated the whole Country….We watched in horror as the undisciplined Canadians ran around the ice trying to smash the Ruskies but the Russians crushed Our Best like 7-2 or something

At the end of the 4 games in Canada the Commie bastards were up a convincing 2 games to 1 with one tied

OUR ego was crushed. Fans were acusing the Team Players of being overhyped pussies …Fans abandoned team Canada in droves .

Now for the 4 games in Russia…which of course everyone begrudgingly and disheartedly had to watch

The Reds handily won the first game and now were up an insurmountable 3-1-1

That game was rough..Fights and at one point the Canadians walked off and quit because they were humiliated by the fans and the Huge Police Presence…Their Manager walked out on the ice and gave the finger loudly to the fans …turmoil

BUT

They won the next Game ( barely ) scoring late in the game….now it was 3-2-1

Then the won the next again barely …….3-3-1

The final game ? Ask any Canadian who is still alive where they were the day of that game and they will instantly tell you exactly where and how it affected them

Canada was behind by one late in the game …then they scored with just over a minute left…BEDLAM …then with seconds left Canadian Left Winger Paul Henderson scored the Goal of Goals that is still the greatest moment in Canadian hockey history ….WE WON..WE BEAT THE COMMIES ….WOW EUPHORIA

For decades after that with many Countries becoming competitive…Notably Sweden Finland Checzlovakia and slowy the USA …there would Be International Tournaments at all levels

Canada won most of them but there were some breakthroughs

Fast forward to today…there has not been a meaningful International tournament at the NHL level for a long time.

BUT the Juniors 18-19 year olds have played tournaments every year and lately the USA has been kicking our BUTTs…and we Dont like it..AT ALL !

Likewise the Women’s Tournaments have been trending the same way

Canadians have been deprived of seeing their best Players ( who are scattered amongst the 32 team NHL) come together and take on all these upstarts

So now we have the 4 Nations Cup…The NHL has paused its schedule and here we go

NO Russia though…even though the Russians have some of the greatest Players …like Alex Ovechkin who is soon to pass the great one Wayne Gretzky ( a Canadian in spite of the name ) in total all time goals….Unfortunately he made the mistake of NOT denoucing Putin…so it’s NYET for the Ruskies

The initial games were played and USA beat Finland Handily while Canada prevailed over Sweden in an overtime Thriller where the beloved 40 year old superstar Sidney Crosby was player of the game.

During the USA Finland Game …Canadian Fans strongly Booed the Star Spangled Banner . FUGLY !

This is expected to happen again Tonite for the Big Canada USA game that is perhaps the biggest game since that final game of the 72 Summit Series.

There is a LOT of HATE here for Trump AND for Americans in general ( How could they have ever elected this Rapist felon blah blah blah.It really is a deep visceral hate and feeling of betrayal by our best friend

The passion is off the Charts.

Now this Game in Montreal is just part of the round Robin. The 2 teams are likely (but not certain) to meet again for the Final…in BOSTON ( will the Americans BOO Oh Canada ? ) ..probably !!!

But here’s the thing…The Americans are actually Favored…They have a powerful team

Keep in mind many of these players have teamates on their NHL teams who are now on the other side…and there will be NO LOVE LOST between them.

So to sum it all up..These are not just hockey games…This is Hockey Wars…Super Star vs Super Star

It’s Conner McDavid , Sydney Crosby and Nathan Mackinnon vs Austin Mathews and the Villainous tough Tkachuk Brothers ET AL

The Americans are Embracing their Villian Role and the booing of the National Anthem might be just the catalyst they need ..

If the American’s win…expect Canada to be Crushed beyond belief and the hate for America will be off the charts….but if they win ….the Euphoria and Glaoting will be off the charts….It might even save the Country !

Pass the Molson’s