Falling in Love with Hockeyland
How Rooting for the Calgary Flames Brought Me Closer to My Spouse & My New Country
I was born and raised in Philly, a place where hockey is about as popular as our famous cheesesteaks. Support for the sport is high but still doesn’t match the love Canadians have for this game. Growing up, I’d always heard about how exciting the Stanley Cup playoffs were, but I never really tuned in the way I have for other sports.
Pretty much everyone worldwide knows that here in Canada, hockey is religiously a part of the culture. I decided long ago when I first chose to immigrate that I would embrace being a Calgary Flames fan. On one hand, I thought it was a good way to assimilate and connect in a new country. I also really enjoyed the idea of rooting for a team from this city. The amount of American teams in the NHL also makes my home country feel less far away.
Right now, the Calgary Flames prepare to for a game 7 at home against the Dallas Stars. When it comes to the NHL, playing Dallas means playing the entire State of Texas, a place I too call home. This does not make who I’m rooting for difficult. The choice for me is clear: YYC.
This series has been an absolute dog fight and a bloodbath. Dallas has played their game below the belt quite a bit, resulting in a seesaw back and forth series with brawls and questionable calls. Nonetheless, the Flames are hanging in there and will take home ice for game 7 against The Stars after a crumbling finale that was game 6.
In many ways, rooting for a hockey team is probably the most Canadian thing I’ve done, besides eating more than enough poutine and shawarma than I’d ever want to count. The Flames, and many hockey teams for that matter are somewhat representative of what it means to live in this country. The roster highlights a variety of nationalities including, Americans Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk, as well as Oliver Kylington an Afro-Swede, plus Canadians Milan Lucic and Andrew Mangiapane (to name a few).
Hockey may not be as racially diverse as other sports, but when it comes to nation of origin it certainly is. I don’t think this is something I would have noticed in the States, back where I am a citizen.
Another thing that has made cheering for the Flames special for me is the fact that my wife and I finally have a common team that we both chose. Other sports have split our allegiances (hers to the Raptors, mine to the Sixers for example). Although I have converted her to an Eagles fan successfully.
When it comes to hockey, however, she doesn’t have that same allegiance to Ontario. Cheering for the Flames, together, has given us a team to rally behind in the city where we launched our marriage.
Who knew hockey playoff series of all things could make a couple even closer. I know tonight will be one of the most exciting game 7’s I’ve ever seen. Winning tonight means playing provincial rival Edmonton next.
No matter what though, I think one thing’s for certain, my fanhood of the Flames will burn on next season.
If you enjoyed today’s piece, follow me on Twitter, and Instagram, and share this post with a friend!