“Canada’s team” is a term that gets hockey fans’ blood boiling rather quickly in this country.
While you’ll get some pushback outside of Toronto for giving that crown to the Blue Jays or Raptors, in general, those are teams with a national following. And while the Montreal Canadiens are the last team from Canada still playing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and certainly they have a large fanbase that extends beyond Quebec’s borders, calling them “Canada’s team” is bound to get a reaction.
And boy did the Canadian government get a reaction.
@Canada, the official Twitter account of the Canadian government, has riled up hockey fans ahead of the opening game of Montreal’s third-round playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights.
“Good luck to Canada’s team, [the Montreal Canadiens], as they enter the final 4 of the NHL playoffs tonight and proudly represent us in the hunt for the Stanley Cup,” @Canada tweeted. “All of Canada is behind you!”
Good luck to Canadaās team, the @CanadiensMTL as they enter the final 4 of the @NHL playoffs tonight and proudly represent us in the hunt for the #StanleyCup. All of Canada is behind you! š #GoHabsGo
šøjyclal/IG pic.twitter.com/gFWvy84yKS— Canada (@Canada) June 14, 2021
While I’m sure he wasn’t the person behind the tweet, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is a noted Canadiens fan. Prior to the playoffs starting, he even threw some shade at supporters of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
āIām just amazed at how hope continues to spring eternal in Leafs fans,” he said last month. “As a Habs fan Iām kind of in admiration of Toronto fans who continue to cling to hopes every year. Year-in, year-out, itās impressive to see.ā
While the Habs bandwagon is certainly filling up with fans that would like to see the Stanley Cup return to Canada, the support is far from universal. Unlike playoff runs by the Blue Jays or Raptors, the Canadiens have fierce rivals that make their home in other Canadian cities.
Despite Ontario landmarks like the CN Tower and Niagara Falls lending their support to the Canadiens in recent days, most Leafs fans don’t wish success for their rival. Neither do fans in many other corners of the country.
For their part, Habs fans appear to just be enjoying the chance to troll their Canadian rivals.
Here’s a sample of the reaction from fans:
Gross
ā Motel Six Flags #BLM (@TheKert) June 14, 2021
The hell we are!
ā Paul Sie1ski (@thebigpeezy) June 14, 2021
please refund me whatever taxes went to this tweet
ā ā³att (@matttomic) June 14, 2021
I’d rather walk on broken glass than see MontrĆ©al win the Stanley Cup. Government doesn’t speak for me. šš
ā Andrew šØš¦ š®šŖ (@AndrewCrowley89) June 14, 2021
Leafs fans are going to spend 3 days being mad at this tweet.
ā Edward (@Ark_Tor) June 14, 2021
last i checked this was canadaās team but okay pic.twitter.com/CCQc2ngJXq
ā natalie š (@willymarner) June 14, 2021
I can only imagine the hate this tweet is getting. #GoHabsGo
ā Rene Lessard (@ren_lessard) June 14, 2021
All of Canada is DEFINITELY NOT behind you. pic.twitter.com/k3UUUSONtt
ā Trade Marner (@TMLFan_80) June 14, 2021
Well I used to love Canada but this tweet has made me change my mind š¤£ Vegas in four š¤
ā Kevin Pope (@kevpope) June 14, 2021
I am no longer paying my taxes
ā š ±ļøick (@BirdBoy_Nick) June 14, 2021
I am not behind them!
Go Vegas go, with love from Toronto.ā PEPPINO DI FRANCO š¤ (@joeydifranco) June 14, 2021
Elite trolling. š
ā Ina (@ina_cgn) June 14, 2021
The only people who believe in the “Canada’s team” nonsense are the same people who make sure to buy a double double from Tim Hortons Corp on Canada Day.
ā Crab Navi š¦ (@ChickenPoutine) June 14, 2021
Where do I turn in my passport, this is a weird stance…
ā DD (@DukeyDimes09) June 14, 2021
ā Shayan Najafi (@RasslinLeafsFan) June 14, 2021
Speak for yourself! This isnāt Canadaās team.
ā Ronald A. Vincent (@ronald_vincent) June 14, 2021
Lots of saltiness going on here. š #GoHabsGo
ā Shea Gallie šØš¦ (@habs_fangirl) June 14, 2021
ā Skrunk (@SkrunkTV) June 14, 2021