Stanley Cup Finals 2011: Bringing the Cup Back to Canada Where It Belongs

Let’s turn the clocks back a few months back to the middle of the NHL season when we all broke out of our hockey hibernation to enjoy a memorable sporting event. I believe it was called the Super Bowl (but the trophy design doesn’t suit the name—American sports are weird).

In this elaborate event of gridiron intensity, the Packers prevailed and declared that the Vince Lombardi trophy was coming home. In fact, they made that statement so many times that I was ready to strangle anyone who uttered it after that day.

However, there is something to the joy felt by the Cheeseheads across the state of Wisconsin, as they feel that championship belongs in their town.

I believe it is the same with the Stanley Cup, but not just in one town—in one country.

Let’s be honest, hockey is Canada’s game, even without our dominance on the world stage. Just because a Canadian NHL team hasn’t won since 1993 doesn’t make any difference at all—there’s only six of them.

The craziest thing is that even with only six teams currently and 13 in the NHL era, dating back to 1915, Canada has managed to win 44 of the 94 cups. That’s nuts. So when I think of a Vancouver victory tomorrow night meaning the cup’s return to Canada, I get pretty excited about that.

Especially because this is where it belongs.

Many may argue that the 2011 Canucks are not very deserving of a parade this week, but I think they owe it to their country to pull out the "W" tomorrow night. With the recent move of the Atlanta Thrashers to Winnipeg, Canada is slowly gaining more ground in a league hellbent on moving further south.

Who knows if we’ll ever have more than seven teams before Gary Bettman decides to open an arena in Panama.

Tomorrow night’s game comes down to a city looking for its first Cup as well as a country rooting for a piece of that moment. Think of Americans turned Mavs fans vs. LeBron James—yup, we care that much about our nation’s hockey status.

This is our chance to shine outside of the Olympics, World Cup and World Championships.

The cup must come back home—back to north of the border!

Let’s Go Canucks!!