Flags of Our Fans: Canada - Maple Leafs and Matchdays
When one usually thinks of Canadian sports fans, what image comes to your mind?
It’s mostly likely related to hockey, isn’t it?
Whether it’s the memories of the Golden Goal from the 2010 Winter Olympics or the annual watch parties that attract droves of fans during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, passion and loyalty to their team, their province, and their nation as a whole are at the core of every community in Canada.
That core is even more empowered when you meet with the fans of a much more niche sport in their country.
In any other part of the world, the interest fans would have in soccer would dwarf the interest those fans may have in ice hockey. Of course, in the nation that birthed ice hockey, that figure does not apply here.
Yet, as the national soccer teams for Canada have made significant strides on the international stage, the average hockey obsessed citizen is starting to take notice of the beautiful game.
This week, I asked fans of Canadian soccer one question:
“Has the rise of Canada’s men’s or women’s national teams changed how you think about Canadian soccer identity and national pride?”
Here’s what they had to say…