Vancouver taking a 2-0 lead over the Boston Bruins didn’t surprise me – even though my knowledge of the NHL is almost negligible – because having witnessed the passion of hockey’s faithful at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver last year, it is understandable that post-Games the whole Canucks set up was inspired after all their barren years.
Canada beating arch-rivals USA in the final at the Rogers Arena was a highlight of the Games and I was grateful to be there for a couple of matches just to experience the intense passion, on par with any Chelsea-Arsenal, United-City or Real Madrid-Barcelona encounter.
And just like football’s diehards, hockey fans go to extreme lengths too to follow their own. Nuttiest Vancouver follower has to be Zahir Khoja — who works in Kabul, Afghanistan. He flew 27 hours to get to Canada for Saturday night’s game. Khoja flew back to Afghanistan right after the game to return to his job with a company that runs a cell phone-based banking system. That weekend jaunt cost him $4,000. Bet he was glad they won. He doesn’t miss a single Canucks game no matter where he is, whether on TV, online or, possibly satellite phone.
Presumably, Khoja will be flying out again this week in anticipation of a Canucks championship win. Now if they swing it, that’s worth four large out of any true fan’s pocket considering all the trophy-less seasons they’ve had.
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Go Canucks Go!
It’s our game and you’re right about the passion for it.
When I was a kid growing up, playing hockey was what you did. All summer long, even in the streets with rocks for goal posts because they were faster to move than a net, when a car wanted to go by, and besides only one kid on the block had a net anyway.
As for the Olympics last year, it was absolutely vital that the Canadian mens team won their gold medals too. The Canadian women had already won their gold medals, and if the men had lost, for the next 4 years every young Canadian hockey player would have to Play Hockey Like A Girl!