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George Zoran
Top Prospect
Canada
55 Posts |
 Posted - 05/29/2006 : 11:07:06
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For the second straight playoff season, a Canadian team has reached the Stanley Cup final. Last season the Calgary Flames were a game away from winning it all, but ended up losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Before that, the 1994 Vancouver Canucks were the last team to make it to the big show. They too lost in game seven to the New York Rangers, in what was one of the most exciting series ever. The last Canadian team to hoist the cup was the 1993 Montreal Canadians, who are famous for winning ten overtime games on their way to becoming champions. Could this be the year that the cup finally comes home?
Has it really been that bad for us Canucks? If you look at the core of the ’04 Lightning, Brad Richards, Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis made their country proud, even from all the way down in Tampa. The Red Wings would never have won their cups without Stevie Y and Brendan Shanahan. Same goes for the Avalanche: Patrick Roy, Joe Sakic; the Devils: Scott Stevens, Scott Niedermayer, and Marty Brodeur.
In the 90’s, league expansion into the US along with the relocation of the Quebec Nordiques and the Winnipeg Jets, lessened the odds of a Canadian team winning the Cup. It was also difficult for the small market Oilers, Flames and Senators to build a contender in an unbalanced economic system that ruled the league for the past 10 years.
As we have witnessed during these 2006 Playoffs, the new CBA has restored parody throughout the league and has produced a Canadian Cup finalist. Although I have already stated my reasons why I can't cheer for the Oilers, win or lose they have made the country proud.
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Will Stanley come home? 
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