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Canada's Team?

HabsInsider

HabsInsider

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Mar 2, 2013
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There's a lot of talk about which Canadian NHL team is "Canada's Team." To me personally, it doesn't really matter as we are all entitled to like whichever team we want. But out of curiosity, I've been looking at some stats regarding the matter. I'm not trolling but laying out the facts. If you ignore the facts, then I cannot help you. It's obvious to me that only the Habs and Leafs can be considered in this debate.

Stanley Cup Wins/Team Success

Habs: 24
Leafs: 13

Conclusion: Habs historically are the more successful Canadian hockey team.

Fan Support/Ratings/Revenue

Habs: A Ipsos-Reid poll had 1/3 of participants declare that the Canadiens are Canada's team, the most for any team. However, only 1015 people participated in the survey, giving it a rather small sample size. Revenue for the Habs in 2012 was approximately $575 million. The Bell Centre is essentially always at full capacity.

Leafs: Revenue for 2012 was approximately $1 Billion, almost double that of the Habs. ACC is essentially always at full capacity.

Concerning TV ratings, it depends how you look at it and what networks are carrying the games. Hockey Night In Canada's ratings for Leafs/Habs vs the Penguins show that the Leafs had more viewership on CBC.
DEC. 20th - Toronto/Pittburgh : 1,163,000 (CBC)
DEC. 27th - Montreal/Pittsburgh : 900,000 (CBC) & 729,000 (RDS)

From my own personal experience traveling across many parts of Canada...I tend to see and meet slightly more Leaf fans throughout Canada than Habs fans. Hab support seems to be especially strong in Quebec, southern Ontario, and BC. Leaf fans in general are just everywhere in Canada but most strongly in Ontario. Even folks in Igloolik, Nunavut wear Leaf jerseys. Also, because the Leafs seem to be the team most hated on, that indicates to me that they may be the most popular.

Conclusion: Leafs have slightly more fans than the Habs.

Heritage/History

Leafs: Conn Smythe after the St. Pats had been renamed to the Toronto Maple Leafs: “The Maple Leaf to us, was the badge of courage, the badge that meant home. It was the badge that reminded us all of our exploits and the different difficulties we got into and the different accomplishments we made. It was a badge that meant more to us than any other badge that we could think of... so we chose it... hoping that the possession of this badge would mean something to the team that wore it and when they skated out on the ice with this badge on their chest... they would wear it with honour and pride and courage, the way it had been worn by the soldiers of the first Great War in the Canadian Army."

The Leafs carry the torch of the Maple Leaf on their chest passed to them from Canadian soldiers, and for this reason are strongly associated with the Canadian military, our veterans, and the "Canadian spirit."

Habs: From About.com: Habs is an abbreviation of "les habitants," the informal name given to the original settlers of New France, dating back to the 17th Century. So it's a natural fit for the The Montreal Canadiens, established in 1909 and marketed as a French-Canadian hockey team.

Conclusion: The Habs are still well-liked by non-French Canadians as is evident but the Leafs are more accessible to the average Canadian as a team that they can identify with.

The historic rivalry between the Habs/Leafs has caused a lot of fans to hate on each other. Personally, I like the Leafs as my 2nd favorite team. Problem? Anyone who trashes and disrespects another hockey organization is in fact quite childish. Chirping is fine, but the way some of you talk about the Leafs and other teams...it's just pathetic and embarrassing.

So, let us all like the team of our choice and enjoy the playoffs. Carry on.
 
Yes I would agree. Let us put all our players together to make the best team, no matter where they are from in Canada.

But, I was catering to the argument of Habs vs Leafs as Canada's team in terms of sheer popularity. I don't look at it that way though. It's irrelevant because each Canadian likes his/her own team.
 
Habs are more popular in Quebec, the Maritimes (though it's split between Habs, Leafs and Bruins fans), and Francophone pockets. The Leafs are probably more popular in western Canada and of course Ontario.
 
habsinsider said:
Yes I would agree. Let us put all our players together to make the best team, no matter where they are from in Canada.

But, I was catering to the argument of Habs vs Leafs as Canada's team in terms of sheer popularity. I don't look at it that way though. It's irrelevant because each Canadian likes his/her own team.
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No offense but I think that's a silly debate. Hence my comment
 
Et le But said:
Habs are more popular in Quebec, the Maritimes (though it's split between Habs, Leafs and Bruins fans), and Francophone pockets. The Leafs are probably more popular in western Canada and of course Ontario.
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I'd say Habs are more popular in Western Canada as well. I don't think Toronto invades the Alberta arenas like we do.
 
Ezpz said:
I'd say Habs are more popular in Western Canada as well. I don't think Toronto invades the Alberta arenas like we do.
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I agree. I saw the Habs in Calgary every time they played for 10 years. Also saw games in Edmonton and Vancouver. Seemed like the Habs fans outnumbered the home teams in virtually every case.

Then there was the Canada Cup in the early 80's. Gretzky, Lafleur and
Perrault playing on the same line. Even in Edmonton, they screamed for Guy.

Worst part was in a pre-tournament game, Gretzky accidentally took Perrault into the boards hard and knocked him out of the tourney. Best line I ever saw. Sigh....
 
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Ezpz said:
I'd say Habs are more popular in Western Canada as well. I don't think Toronto invades the Alberta arenas like we do.
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I personally know a good deal of Albertan Habs fans but I assumed that was just me, because Albertans aren't really know for their love of Quebec, to say the least.
 
This is Canada's team.

Team-Canada-IIHF-Swift-Replica-Red-Hockey-Jersey-N6370_XL.jpg
 
habsinsider said:
There's a lot of talk about which Canadian NHL team is "Canada's Team." To me personally, it doesn't really matter ......
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but then the OP carried on for many paragraphs, LOL.

The way I see it, we can go by process of elimination.

The Flames were originally Atlanta's team, and Calgary never changed the name to a homegrown one, so the Calgary Flames are out.

The Edmonton Oilers had a great team for almost 10 years, but there is too much controversy today over oil and the environment. Next!

Winnipeg Jets are disqualified being yet another Atlanta transplant that has not yet had a chance to establish firm roots here. Maybe some day.

Senators are possibly even more controversial than Oil. Canadians in general make fun of senators too much. Just can't have them as the Nation's team, sorry!

So that leaves three teams, two are named "Canadian" for all intents and purposes, and the third is named after the symbol on the nation's flag.

I eliminated Vancouver for only one reason....they have never won a Stanley Cup, never been champion of their own league. Doesn't mean we won't pull for them if they are playing against any American team, but they can't YET be annointed "Canada's team".

That leaves Montreal and Toronto, both great cities, both historic teams, both have Canadian symbols. However, Toronto is eliminated because its team colours are the same as those of the Parti Québecois, and the Parti Québecois has stated that they will not be associated with Canada's team.

So we are down to Montreal, but it seems totally unfair for the Habs to win because of politics, so I hereby suggest a non-NHL team, the perfect compromise, and a city that is home to Kirk Muller and Doug Gilmour, two players who played their hearts out for both the Leafs and the Habs - the Kingston Canadians. They may not be an NHL team, but who cares!!!

If anyone thinks my reasoning is silly, I agree. The whole idea of identifying ONE team as Canada's team is silly!!
 
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BaseballCoach said:
but then the OP carried on for many paragraphs, LOL.

The way I see it, we can go by process of elimination.

The Flames were originally Atlanta's team, and Calgary never changed the namWwwe to a homegrown one, so the Calgary Flames are out.

The Edmonton Oilers had a great team for almost 10 years, but there is too much controversy today over oil and the environment. Next!

Winnipeg Jets are disqualified being yet another Atlanta transplant that has not yet had a chance to establish firm roots here. Maybe some day.

Senators are possibly even more controversial than Oil. Canadians in general make fun of senators too much. Just can't have them as the Nation's team, sorry!

So that leaves three teams, two are named "Canadian" for all intents and purposes, and the third is named after the symbol on the nation's flag.

I eliminated Vancouver for only one reason....they have never won a Stanley Cup, never been champ;ion of their own league. Doesn't mean we won't pull for them if they are playing against any American team, but they can't YET be annointed "Canada's team".

That leaves Montreal and Toronto, both great cities, both historic teams, both have Canadian symbols. However, Toronto is eliminated because its team colours are the same as those of the Parti Québecois, and the Parti Québecois has stated that they will not be associated with Canada's team.

So we are down to Montreal, but it seems totally unfair for the Habs to win because of politics, so I hereby suggest a non-NHL team, the perfect compromise, and a city that is home Kirk Muller and Doug Gilmour, two players who played their hearts out for both the Leafs and the Habs - the Kingston Canadians. They may not be an NHL team, but who cares!!!

If anyone thinks my reasoning is silly, I agree. The whole idea of identifying ONE team as Canada's team is silly!!
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Wonderful post! Clever and funny.

Not to diminish your post at all, but the idea is really about the popularity of a team across the country.

By sheer regional numbers alone, the Leafs could have this wrapped up. But "Canada's" team implies a broad support in all regions.

No doubt in my mind that the Habs occupy this possibly unimportant, but still interesting position.

I would even venture that in Ontario, the Habs are number 2 in popularity.
 
Et le But said:
Habs are more popular in Quebec, the Maritimes (though it's split between Habs, Leafs and Bruins fans), and Francophone pockets. The Leafs are probably more popular in western Canada and of course Ontario.
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I'm not so sure about that. When either teams comes to town, they both have a large contingent out here, but I personally know way more habs fans than leafs fans. I can't put a number on it, other than my personal encounters with people.
 
it's the Leafs, the self-proclaimed "hockey mecca".





IMO, no offense OP, but thread should be closed. It's just embarrassing to be even trying to rationalize which multi million dollar corporation/money vacuum, represents "Canada". None of the above.
 
uiCk said:
like i said, leafs win the "Canada's Team".

http://sports.nationalpost.com/2013...-collar-maple-leafs-have-become-canadas-team/
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Having a line of goons makes you a "blue collar" team? The funny thing is the Leafs core is mostly smooth skating perimeter players.

This also doesn't say anything about popularity, it's Jacques Demers opinion based on the type of nationalism that glorifies tough, hard working individualism. Whether the majority of Canadians buy into that mindset is another story entirely. As is if that actually describes a team whose best player is Phil Kessel.
 
Just a shout out from Saskatchewan!

The Habs had their farm team / western affiliate stationed in Regina for many years. Regina's MidgetAAA club is still called the Regina Pat Canadiens. If I am not mistaken the Habs Western Canadian Fan Club is based out of Saskatoon. Plenty of Leaf fans but I would argue more Habs fans..... :yo:
 
Et le But said:
Having a line of goons makes you a "blue collar" team? The funny thing is the Leafs core is mostly smooth skating perimeter players.

This also doesn't say anything about popularity, it's Jacques Demers opinion based on the type of nationalism that glorifies tough, hard working individualism. Whether the majority of Canadians buy into that mindset is another story entirely.
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One man's opinion, over a 40 game sample, about something so subjective, only leafs fans can find joy in

it'll be fumy to re-examine Canada's team in a weeks time ;)
 
Nice post. Very long and detailed. I think it's hard to define "Canada's Team". Since if you mean which team represents Canada then it's Team Canada but for which NHL team then it gets tricky since it depends on the area. I know here in Atlantic Canada it's a mix of the Habs,Leafs,Bruins and the Pens in Nova Scotia.
 
I find this "Canada's team" thing ridiculous. Toronto isn't Canada's team, it's Toronto's team. Nor is Montreal and Vancouver. Maybe the Leafs get more viewers and revenue, doesn't make them "Canada's team". Leafs are Toronto, Habs are Montreal and Canucks are Vancouver, and you can just root for whatever team you want, end of story.
 
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