How Do Canadian Fans Feel About Sons of Former Can Stars Playing For the USA

[Spearmint Rhino]

Probably weirder for the parents, especially those that represented Canada like a Ray Bourque to now have to be neutral or cheer for the US, than the regular fans. Majority of stars have been flocking to the less stress/lower taxes for a long time so it's something that will happen more in the future.

I have dual citizenship and would hope my kids chose Canada if they ever made it big in anything but it's up to them, half their life has been spent in a different country

 

[Riptide]

Indifferent. Some are good enough to make either team, and others probably were not. The bottom line is it's their choice. If they feel more American then Canadian, then they should be playing for the US.

 

[Knave]

They probably spent much of their lives in America and if they see themselves as American (or if USA Hockey approaches them) - why not?

 

[canuck2010]

Yes it bugs me. Only because Canadian hockey players have no choice but to leave home to ply their trade. Hockey for god sakes! It's a loss to our country, just as it is a loss to lose the best and brightest individuals in any field or endeavour. (The difference with hockey is that the offspring can come back and try and kick your ass every year).

I have no problem with any individual decision to play for the USA or any other country. If you legitimately feel that you are one or the other then that is your business and that decision should be honoured.

Canadian and American citizenship is of equal value. Someone born to Canadian parents in the USA has as much right and can have as much affinity to Canada and Canadian citizenship as someone born to American parents in Cambodia can have to the USA.

 

[CrypTic]

American born players usually go back. Phil Kessel even when he was playing for the Leafs had a full time home in Florida. I think JVR rents in Toronto and lives in the states during the summer too. Not sure about Gardner.

Yeah, I wonder about that too. I was more responding to the "they move to the USA for lower taxes" bc, from what I've seen, whether your taxes are lower in the USA or Canada varies by where you live (and how much you make but I'm assuming high income in this scenario). When I looked at it a couple of years ago, taxes were higher in California than in some of the provinces and close in others. But that can always change with new tax laws.

I love California bc of the weather. I wouldn't want to move. It attracts many ppl for that reason. I think climate plays a big part of why some players choose to live in the US over Canada but, depending on the part of the USA and the part of Canada, the climate's not that different.

 

[Skobel24]

I don't understand why so many Canadian born players on US NHL teams decide to retire in the states. European players playing for Canadian or American NHL teams usually go back home. American born players playing in Canada are almost guaranteed to go back home.

Heck there's many cases of Canadians playing more years in Canada then are traded to a US team that stay.

Alfredsson couldn't get his family out of Canada quick enough when he went to Detroit. Even after only playing one year for the Red Wings they stayed in Michigan another year.......I think they moved back this year.

Can't be the weather, Sweden, Finland etc weathers similar to Canada's.

Can't be taxes, Sweden, Finlands taxes are similar to Canada.

Hell, many Canadian born players retire to upstate New York. Even Canadian officials move to the US. The best players in history are all now/were American, Howe, Orr, Gretzky, Lemieux.
Leafs president Shanahan is now American, so is Joe Thornton. Former Leafs GM Dave Nonis lives in Vermont or NH.

In fact I think it's extremely rare for Canadian born players to move back home after they retire. Of course they may return, to visit Mom, Dad and the old family dog once in a while

Majority of canadian players play for US teams. Eventually, it becomes home to them.

Edit: Not to mention a lot of them get married down there, have kids there. It's their home too.

 

[Scotty B]

Feel happy for them...and when transplanted Canucks do well playing for other National Teams, generally speaking, I'm good with that too...just so long as they don't play too good vs Canada...cause then they're *&^%!'s traitors

Paul Dipietro ( sp? ) I'm talking to u!

 

[JayKing]

When they are born in Canada it sucks a little bit. If they're born anywhere else it doesn't matter at all.

 

[mjlee]

Didn't Luongo maintain his home in Florida during all the years he played for the Canucks?

 

[Crosbyfan]

Didn't Luongo maintain his home in Florida during all the years he played for the Canucks?

I think the lawn got a little long at times...

 

[Carolinas Identity*]

When they are born in Canada it sucks a little bit. If they're born anywhere else it doesn't matter at all.

why does this matter tho? where you are born and what you are are two completely different things

 

[Melrose Munch]

I'm a little more bothered that Canadian players prefer to stay in the US and not returning to Canada after they retire. Compare to Europeans who the majority would rather return to their country. The kids I can get it since they grew up in the US so I can understand their lack of attachment to Canada. Beside, so far, not many kids of Canadian players suiting up for the US are that good that I'd wish they'd play for Canada. I didn't even care when Hull played for the US and he was born in Canada.

I don't understand why so many Canadian born players on US NHL teams decide to retire in the states. European players playing for Canadian or American NHL teams usually go back home. American born players playing in Canada are almost guaranteed to go back home.

Heck there's many cases of Canadians playing more years in Canada then are traded to a US team that stay.

Alfredsson couldn't get his family out of Canada quick enough when he went to Detroit. Even after only playing one year for the Red Wings they stayed in Michigan another year.......I think they moved back this year.

Can't be the weather, Sweden, Finland etc weathers similar to Canada's.

Can't be taxes, Sweden, Finlands taxes are similar to Canada.

Hell, many Canadian born players retire to upstate New York. Even Canadian officials move to the US. The best players in history are all now/were American, Howe, Orr, Gretzky, Lemieux.
Leafs president Shanahan is now American, so is Joe Thornton. Former Leafs GM Dave Nonis lives in Vermont or NH.

In fact I think it's extremely rare for Canadian born players to move back home after they retire. Of course they may return, to visit Mom, Dad and the old family dog once in a while

More opportunity for your children down south. More opportunity in general.

IMO weather is the main reason for Canadians staying south of the border. Euros will always feel more comfortable in a country that speaks their native language.

Europeans simply have a better sense of nationality than Canadians. That and also there are not much differences between Canadians and Americans. Canadians can bland in American society in no time so it's easier to switch. I believe most Canadian players playing in Europe return to Canada?


Yet Europeans still go back to their country.


How do you explain American players always go back to the US? It bothers me a little that Canadians are not patriotic and are quick to leave Canada compared to other citizens of other countries. I guess with the Americans, Canadian taxes are enough reason to go back to the US LOL and who could blame them? Come to think of it, I think taxes are the #1 reason Canadian players stay in the US.


He probably stayed in Michigan another year for logistics reason. Alfredsson is one of the few foreigners who seems to love Canada, or at least Ottawa. He became a Canadian citizen just recently during the 2016 World Cup when he's already in retirement for 2 years. Normally players get citizenship for practical reasons whilst playing for a team, but after retirement? I think he feels a deep connection to Ottawa. An interesting note is that his brother Henric who played with the Ottawa 67's junior team stayed in Ottawa after his junior hockey career was complete, and now works for the Ottawa Police Service.

Local climat temperature ?

A lot of these Canadian players in U.S. markets end up marrying Americans. I would wager that's a major reason so many stay behind. Doesn't hurt you can get a small town feel with additional economic and climate advantages.

Yeah, that's the gist of it. Canadians are inundated with American culture, so it's mostly a comfortable place for them to live culturally. The climate in many places is better than that in Canada, and USA is a great country to live in if you have lots of money. If you've got an American wife who has run your household for years while you were in the NHL... it makes sense that you would stay in the United States where you and your family are already comfortable?

Even with the above said though, there are still cases where the Canadians come back. For instance, Pierre-Luc Dubois from the Canadian WJC team is the son of a Canadian professional hockey player and an American woman from the southern United States, and they moved back to Quebec.

taxes are too high in canada....thats one reason why canadian players become american citizens.........

Taxes are arguably not high enough. Hockey players are no different from anyone else, they have social responsibilities too.

American born players usually go back. Phil Kessel even when he was playing for the Leafs had a full time home in Florida. I think JVR rents in Toronto and lives in the states during the summer too. Not sure about Gardner.

Happens all the time to Canada. Most famous Canadians are down south. Hockey players stay there while the euros go home. Americans go home. It is what it is.

 

[nhlfan9191]

Didn't Luongo maintain his home in Florida during all the years he played for the Canucks?

His wife was living in Florida while he played in Vancouver.

 

[ashs]

hockey canada has played a big role in growing the game in the states just as USA basketball has grown that game here(props specifically to butch carter).

 

[ACC1224]

Must be hard to have Canadian players living and staying in the US post-career and have their kids develop into stars for the USA...

I think it's great, I can explain to my kids who their fathers were.
Makes me feel old though.

 

[SenzZen]

Why would it bother me?

Isnt limited to fathers, Deadmarsh played for the states because his mother is american

And also because he wasn't good enough to crack TC.

 

[MeHateHe]

Considering that:
A) We are a nation of immigrants - just about everyone came from somewhere else; and
B) Canada uses foreign-born athletes in a lot of our international (soccer, rugby, basketball) teams
... it would be pretty hypocritical for Canadians to be at all bothered by U.S.-born athletes playing for the country of their birth.

Those Deadmarsh boys, tho...

 

[Jets4Life]

Brett and Bobby Hull.

Being from Winnipeg, even though Bobby Hull was before my time, he is still somewhat of a icon in Winnipeg. Brett was initially cheered when he came into the NHL considering he spent his childhood in Winnipeg, even though he decided to play for team USA. I think most people forgave him since he was Bobby Hull's son, and mainly since he was cut from the Team Canada roster for being out of shape at the time.

There was a player (name eludes me) that grew up in Winnipeg with duel citizenship, that chose to play for Team USA. In the 99 World Juniors in Winnipeg, loud chants of "TRAITOR....TRAITOR" were heard. Poor kid.

 

[Homesick]

Never had a problem with it.....Brett Hull on the other hand

 

[Claypool]

It's still weird to me that Petr Nedved obtained a Canadian citizenship and played for Canada at the Olympics.

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

Yes it bugs me. Only because Canadian hockey players have no choice but to leave home to ply their trade. Hockey for god sakes! It's a loss to our country, just as it is a loss to lose the best and brightest individuals in any field or endeavour. (The difference with hockey is that the offspring can come back and try and kick your ass every year).

I have no problem with any individual decision to play for the USA or any other country. If you legitimately feel that you are one or the other then that is your business and that decision should be honoured.

Canadian and American citizenship is of equal value. Someone born to Canadian parents in the USA has as much right and can have as much affinity to Canada and Canadian citizenship as someone born to American parents in Cambodia can have to the USA.

We focus on hockey, but the medical and scientific talent Canada has lost to America....those are huge losses. NASA and the Shuttle program (along with reaching the moon) has Canadian fingerprints all over it.

 

[jedisports]

Living in Minnesota, many from other countries come here for high school, college before turning pro. Shattuck-Saint Mary's has so many big names attend and develop. Minnesota hockey quite often helps them get there then they return to their countries internationally usually. That's how it works.

 

[SanderSen]

A big fat MEH. If you have been granted citizenship, you have the choice. I can't cheer for Canadian sprinters originally born in the Carribean and have a problem with USA hockey players.

End of the day, though we like it, it is just a sport.

 

[mazmin]

you do not find this line of thinking even to be a tad bit narcissistic?

Not at all. At the highest level of hockey there is a lot of parody in terms of skill. The difference maker at that point is team grit and sacrifice which I feel comes from the passion to win at all costs. If a dual citizen feels they want to play for another team, for whatever reason, then they're probably not the player you want on the ice with the game on the line.

A past example: I'd rather have Brett Hull on Team USA then sulking on the 3rd line of Team Canada.

 

[Cawz]

Like Bobby Hull and Gordie Howe?

Yeah, but they were before my time. Well, Hull playing for the US wasnt...