Music: {allcanada} Love thy neighbour?

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

{allcanada} Love thy neighbour?

The question of whether or not all of Canada is behind the Vancouver Canucks this spring was put to the polls, and 62 per cent of Canadians came back on board.

In an exclusive poll conducted by Ipsos Reid for Rogers Sportsnet, close to two thirds of Canadians (62 per cent) are hoping that the Vancouver Canucks will be the first Canadian team since Montreal in 1993 to bring the Stanley Cup home.

"It has been 18 long years since a Canadian based NHL team has won the Stanley Cup and it looks like the country is overwhelmingly saying, 'We want it back, now!'" said Steve Mossop, president with Ipsos Reid in Western Canada. "Just as it was during the 2010 Olympics, Rogers Arena is once again the focus of Canada's hockey obsession. With the Vancouver Canucks heading into a Stanley Cup showdown against the Boston Bruins, the team has the support of fans all across the country."

Where the numbers become interesting is when the data collected is broken down by province. To no surprise Canucks' support is strongest in British Columbia, where a solid 88 per cent of residents that have been following the 2011 NHL playoffs are cheering for the home team. However, in the province where playoff hockey was not part of the plan this season, the Leafs-loving and Senators-loving Ontario revealed that 85 per cent of hockey fans are cheering for the Canucks.

But what about the idea of "Love thy neighbour"? While most Albertans (60 per cent) are cheering for their neighbours to the west, just over a third (36 per cent) would rather the Cup be raised in Boston. Support for the Bruins is also strong in Atlantic Canada, a region that does not have an NHL team. For every three Atlantic Canadians cheering for Vancouver, there is one cheering for Boston (74 per cent vs. 23 per cent).

"The energy and excitement in B.C. is building with every moment," adds Mossop. "In fact, a recent survey that we conducted in the province showed that British Columbians feel more excitement going into the Stanley Cup final than they did a year ago going into to opening of the Olympics -- 82 per cent vs. 53 per cent, respectively. And knowing that the majority of the country is also supporting the team, the Canucks can face off against the Bruins with much more than just a great team of players on their side."

These are the findings of an online Ipsos Reid poll of adult Canadians conducted using Ipsos Reid's online household panel between May 30 and 31, 2011.