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

[covfefe]

Considering Deadmarsh didn't score a point at the WJC until his 3rd appearance, it seems he wasn't quite good enough for Team USA either.

Not good enough for the WJC but good enough for a ~600 game NHL career? And a productive one at that? I'd take it

 

[Uncle Rotter]

Not good enough for the WJC but good enough for a ~600 game NHL career? And a productive one at that? I'd take it

He was put on the team as a 17 year old to tie down his status

 

[Proust*]

Makes me irate. Wake up in bed thinking about it. Can't sleep.

 

[Riptide]

Look at Sidney Crosby. He's been in Pittsburgh since 2005. Sure he grew up in Canada but eventually that's just where he's from and he's not really a Canadian anymore.

He will always be a Canadian - regardless of where he lives. That applies to most people. However I think it especially applies to those living in 1st world countries like Canada and the US. Now I can't say I've been to too many different places in the States, but I think I've been to enough of them to say that while there's differences between Canada and the US, I don't think it's all that different compared to say Europe.

 

[garbageteam]

It's perfectly fine and is pervasive in all sports. Even the most globalized of them (soccer) has some top nations taking in imported players. Diego Costa plays for Spain and was Brazilian.

Canada's in a position to have some players leave. I actually wish we took fewer players that could play for other countries to let those countries develop into competitors (can't recall OTOH but I think some Brits, Ouelette from France, & Sprong all play/want to play for Canada but can play for their own nations too) especially since our depth and talent pool is so big and it's not like there are any serious impact players joining us from other countries. We have enough great players to field multiple teams. We can afford to let a few go.

 

[LeveilleFan19]

I'm not trying to ruffle feathers. I have many friends in Canada and have traveled to play their, from the States, many times.

However, comments like "well, if they want to play for USA that just means they aren't good enough for Canada" are just ignorant and childish.

It's 2016. I don't understand why there is this assumption that Canada continues rules anything and everything when it comes to hockey.

There is equally impressive talent from all parts of the world. I think people forget that in Canada, hockey is the #1 sport...hence, more kids play for many years...more kids move on, etc.. It's not that the talent coming out of Canada is any better or worse than other parts of the world....in short, it's sheer numbers.

Hockey is an international sport...it's not all about Canada anymore. As some have said in this thread, it's not about where they come from or who they play for...it's about the good of the sport!

 

[Tuoppi]

How do the Normans feel with so many players with Norman names?
Avery, Draper, Drury, Hackett, Hall, Talbot...

 

[tony d]

No big deal to me, if these kids find it easier to play hockey in a certain country then so be it.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Crosby has built a huge home on the water in NS. Somehow I think Sid returns to Canada when he retires.
Though that can all change with a wife and children.
[MOD]

Ah ok. I don't know the details of most players personal lives so he was not the best example. But take a player who gets drafted to a US based franchise, marries an American woman, buys a house in the USA, raises kids in the USA and then maintains no permanent residence in Canada or has like a lake house the family spends a couple of weekends a summer at most. At some point, maybe in his like 40s, that guy is just as American as me even if he grew up somewhere else. This may be leading too heavily down a discussion about immigration policies so I won't say anymore than that.

 

[Stoneburg]

Ah ok. I don't know the details of most players personal lives so he was not the best example. But take a player who gets drafted to a US based franchise, marries an American woman, buys a house in the USA, raises kids in the USA and then maintains no permanent residence in Canada or has like a lake house the family spends a couple of weekends a summer at most. At some point, maybe in his like 40s, that guy is just as American as me even if he grew up somewhere else. This may be leading too heavily down a discussion about immigration policies so I won't say anymore than that.

Your parents are obviously not immigrants, and most likely you are American, the "great melting pot". From my own personal experience, immigrants tend to stay within their own community, have friends who share their cultural identity. Having said that, I do think it a little different with hockey players, their cultural identity is hockey, and I do think most Canadian players who spent most of their career in the U.S., stay in the U.S., but they will always be Canadian at heart.

I can tell you that Crosby always spends his 24 hours with the Stanley Cup in Cole Harbour, and Andrew Shaw spent his in his hometown in Belleville, Ontario, and that there are numerous other such examples.

 

[YMCMBYOLO]

Your parents are obviously not immigrants, and most likely you are American, the "great melting pot". From my own personal experience, immigrants tend to stay within their own community, have friends who share their cultural identity. Having said that, I do think it a little different with hockey players, their cultural identity is hockey, and I do think most Canadian players who spent most of their career in the U.S., stay in the U.S., but they will always be Canadian at heart.

I can tell you that Crosby always spends his 24 hours with the Stanley Cup in Cole Harbour, and Andrew Shaw spent his in his hometown in Belleville, Ontario, and that there are numerous other such examples.

By his logic guess that means Auston Matthews will be Canadian in 20 years