MONTREAL, QC.– The 2010-11 NHL season has been put to rest, and it ended with the Boston Bruins winning the sixth Stanley Cup in their history. It’s an awkward position for Canadiens fans who had to watch their most bitter rival parade with the most cherished prize in sports. My good friend, Kyle Roussel is a smart guy — he advised his Twitter followers of an old adage.
[blackbirdpie url=”http://twitter.com/#!/kyleroussel/status/81191638864642048″]
It sounds familiar — my Mom told me the same. But it’s not all that interesting for you, the readers, if I write nothing, is it? So, I’m sorry Mom and Kyle — but look carefully, you may even see a bouquet or two.
As the last few seconds were ticking off the scoreclock at Rogers Arena, I started hearing from Bruins fans, on Twitter, Facebook and via this website. They described the various ways that I could screw myself, with one imaginative little fellow telling me that he looked forward to drinking my tears. In a follow-up he recanted as he had been told that Habs fans drink their own urine — he missed the part about it being sweetened with a dash of maple syrup.
Yes, some fans of the Boston Bruins have a vile charm that’s in a class of its own. Add to that a delightful set of jingoistic stereotypes that is testament to an insular and isolationist view — sadly, characteristics that could apply equally to many in my own province. It boggles the mind that these geniuses find it so easy to trash the residents of an entire nation yet fail to recognize that 16 Canadians pulled on the Black and Gold sweaters to win the Cup for them.
I also found it odd that after a Championship drought of 39 years, the first thing some fans did to celebrate was to fire off a nasty comment in the direction of a Habs website. The Canadiens haven’t played a game since April 27. Yet, somehow more than winning a Stanley Cup itself was sticking it to Habs fans — something that has been cultivated by years of playoff dominance by the Canadiens over the Bruins.
And just for the record, I doubt that any Habs fan was in tears after the loss. Lest anyone forget, the Bruins were facing the Vancouver Canucks.
Well, I suppose that there might have been a few tears shed if any Habs fans were stationed along Georgia or Granville streets in downtown Vancouver. Pepper spray was in the air as rioting followed the Canucks loss. Describing the scene as planned destruction by a small band of organized anarchists is simplistic and gives far too much credit to the hooligans.
Indeed, there were some with violent intent who took advantage of the situation to create chaos. But there is no denying that some Vancouver ‘fans’ got swept up by the mob-mentality to join in to the mayhem. Yes every fanbase is sprinkled with idiots: Canucks fans who participated in the property damage an looting; Bruins fans who terrorized families dressed in opposition colours at TD Garden; and Habs fans who boo anthems and their own players.
The vast majority of hockey fans behaved peacefully and were appalled by the actions of the hooligans. When interviewed many expressed sadness at the Canucks loss but wondered why some would take to rioting. The simple answer is: because they can, with little or no consequences.
Vancouver’s Mayor, Gregor Robertson asked citizens to help identify the perpetrators by sending their photos and video to the police. Media on the scene described hundreds, if not thousands being involved in various degrees of criminal acts. Montreal police used the same tactic in 2008 and 2010 riots nabbing small numbers of people.
In the end, judges didn’t see fit to dole out any meaningful punishment and it is likely that a similar scenario will play out in Vancouver. The team in black and gold also escaped punishment for their transgressions throughout the season.
And what of those Bruins, who board the plane for Boston with Lord Stanley’s cup in tow?
Posted to Twitter by @habsromance “i’ve honestly never seen a team so undeserving win the cup”
I can’t blame Stephanie for her opinion, one shared by many Canadiens supporters. Montreal — Boston is one of the most bitter rivalries in sports which makes it hard for true Habs fans to be complimentary. Besides, there were a few incidents during the season that deepened feelings.
Habs fans on Twitter repeatedly mentioned that the Canadiens were only one goal away from moving past Boston and making their own run to the finals. Perhaps more accurately, they were one player away: Max Pacioretty. Watching the player who ended Pacioretty’s season (without consequences) being presented with the Cup by Gary Bettman was a bitter pill for fans to swallow.
I hear it all the time “we do hate the Bruins, but love the rivalry.”
I was very happy for my friends who find themselves on the other side of the hockey fence, namely Doug, CJ and Sarah. They are good, knowledgeable, passionate fans albeit misguided when it comes to the NHL team that they support. They have waited a very long time to see a Bruin lift the Cup — before tonight, Johnny Bucyk was the last man to do so.
It also feels good knowing that Bruins assistant coach Doug Jarvis will have his name added to the Cup again. The former Canadien has now won six Cups, four as a player with Montreal.
For Michael Ryder, another former Canadien, this was his first Stanley Cup. Ryder didn’t always get a fair shake from Montreal media — fans remember him as the player who scored two goals and an assist in the 6-5 comeback win against the Rangers in 2008. He has found a home in Boston and has contributed in timely ways in the playoffs.
The rationale for showering Bruins with compliments is getting thin already but let’s make room for one more on our list.
Nathan Horton is one of the very few Bruins that I could see wearing a Canadiens uniform. Throughout the playoffs he was a clutch performer. Unfortunately he was prone to some moments of idiocy particularly in the series with Tampa Bay.
Mark Recchi is a player who should have made the list but decided to trade in the respect he had earned for the opportunity to criticize an injured player and to trash the reputation of an esteemed medical practitioner. ‘Anything to win’ was Recchi’s excuse.
Some may even have a soft spot for Tim Thomas, who is one of the most over-rated players in the league. The rotund goalie competes hard to make up for his lack of technique. Thomas plays well when his team has a lead which was most often this season as the Bruins were the best 5-on-5 team in the league.
The rest are a collection of thugs and weasels including Zdeno Chara, Milan Lucic, Shawn Thornton, Brad Marchand, Adam McQuaid and Andrew Ference. It’s said that things even out over time but the the Bruins seemed to be on the favourable side of the ledger in every instance throughout the year and playoffs. In their wake opposition players were left with concussions, separated shoulders, and fractured necks.
If my words and the reaction of Habs fans is solely interpreted as bitterness, you have missed the point. My sincere congratulations is extended to the Stanley Cup champions for 2010-11. It’s not that I am against the ‘Can’t we just all get along’ philosophy, I just don’t believe in being disingenuous.
The CBC’s George Stroumboulopoulos was guilty of trying to conduct a chorus of Kumbaya at the end of the game. When Gary Bettman was loudly boo’ed (deservedly so) during the presentations of the Conn Smythe trophy and Stanley Cup, Stroumboulopoulos chastised Canucks fans.
[blackbirdpie url=”http://twitter.com/#!/strombo/status/81192448679886848″]
The truth is that Bettman has earned the treatment he receives. To send him hugs and kisses would be embarrassing and disingenuous as well (the same way it would be if we were now overzealous in our praise of the Bruins.) Perhaps George was just angling for another Bettman interview.
Canadiens fans experienced a wide range of emotions on Wednesday night: disappointment with the game’s result, empathy for the residents of Vancouver seeing their city in ruin and a renewed determination to see their team be the one to bring the Stanley Cup back to Canada.
The focus has already shifted to opening night in October. Expect the 2011-12 schedule to be released sometime next week. With the NHL Entry Draft happening next week, followed by free agency, and the second development camp, Habs fans will have plenty to discuss this off-season.
This Fall will bring the resumption of the Boston — Montreal rivalry with one additional unsavoury chapter.
Good article. I live in Boston, and trust me, Bruins fans are pretty nasty and quite ignorant about hockey. No one even wanted to talk hockey in this town two years ago. Most of the fans are bandwagon jumpers that know nothing about hockey outside of the Bruins.
Chara hoisting the cup is disgusting. If Rome got 4 games (in the finals, no less), Chara should have too. The Bruins got such preferential treatment this entire season, that you could make a case that things were fixed. If Pacioretty was playing, the Habs would have won the series, and the Bruins would be in disarray.
Funny that Bruins fans went right to Habs websites after the team won. Kind of pathetic actually. haha
Why is it disgusting to see Chara lift the cup? Even if he was suspended for the hit on Pacioretty, it wouldn’t have been for the rest of the season. Cry a bit more.
@Jen-
Remove your blinders. The Bruins beat the best team in the league. ‘Nuff said!
After all he did in his capacity as league disciplinarian (insert your own joke here) to contribute to the Bruins’ success this year, I think that Colin Campbell deserves to get his name engraved on the Stanley Cup next to his son, Greg.
Talk about your tough acts to follow: what kind of Father’s Day gift do you get the man who just gave you the Stanley Cup?
Added to the no suspension for broken neck, i would of included the broken back (never heard of broken back before in NHL) but just a couple “hockey plays”.
I actually am a fan of Chara, Thomas and Lucic, but the reat, from management on down seem pretty classless and easily “hatable”.
I dont even hold Chara’s hit against him per say (he is a clean player, pulls his punchs every game and does not attack smaller players), but more the league. Who seemed to quickly suspend for an fairly clean open ice hit on idiot Horton, when Rome was run head first into the boards from behind and no suspension?? I just dont get it?
Flip the goalies and Canucks would of swept the series easily.
I did offer congrats to the 2 life long Bruin fans i know, but i dearly hope i wont have to do it again, for another 39 years.
Comments are closed.