After more than three decades of heartbreak, the Edmonton Oilers are once again within reach of ending Canada’s Stanley Cup drought. As they prepare to face the Florida Panthers in Game 6 of the National Hockey League (NHL) finals on Tuesday in Miami, fans across Canada are holding their breath—hoping their team can turn the tide and bring hockey’s most prestigious trophy back to its spiritual homeland for the first time since 1993.
For many Canadians, the Stanley Cup is more than just a championship—it’s a matter of national pride. Despite the fact that Canadian players still comprise around 40% of the NHL’s roster, the Cup has remained south of the border for over 30 years. The frustration has only grown over time, particularly among fans who continue to show unwavering support by spending thousands of dollars and travelling great distances to back their teams.
Among them is Carson Duggan, an Alberta native who now lives in New Hampshire. Duggan, who travelled to Miami last year to watch Edmonton’s heartbreaking loss in the final game against the Panthers, described the experience as gut-wrenching. She wasn’t alone—thousands of Canadians joined her in the stands, their hopes dashed as the Panthers claimed victory in the seven-game series.
Now, history seems to be repeating itself. While the Oilers opened this year’s finals with a promising 4-3 win, they were routed 5-2 in Game 5, giving Florida a 3-2 lead in the series. Game 6 is now a do-or-die moment for the Oilers—one that could either end decades of disappointment or cement another painful chapter in Canadian hockey history.
This sense of national urgency has united Canadians behind the Oilers, regardless of their original team loyalties. In playoff season, it’s common for fans to rally behind the last remaining Canadian team. This year, by process of elimination, Edmonton has become “Canada’s team.”
“I think it’s just like, we need a Cup as Canada,” Duggan said. “A lot of Canada is cheering for Edmonton.”
The stakes are amplified by rising tensions between Canada and the United States, including a recent trade dispute and an icy diplomatic tone. The rivalry spilled into hockey earlier this year during the 4 Nations Face Off tournament, where former U.S. President Donald Trump took jabs at Canada, calling it the “51st state.” The hostility sparked emotional reactions from fans, who booed the U.S. anthem and saw tempers flare with three fights erupting within nine seconds of one game.
After Canada emerged victorious, comedian Mike Meyers coined the phrase “elbows up” as a rallying cry for national pride—one later embraced by Prime Minister Mark Carney, a devoted Oilers fan, during his campaign.
Meanwhile, Trump has offered personal support to the Panthers, who play near his Mar-A-Lago estate, keeping political undertones in play as the final unfolds.
Canadians continue to speculate on the reasons behind their Stanley Cup dry spell. Some cite structural factors—under NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, seven of the eight new franchises since 1993 have been awarded to U.S. states, many with warm climates and generous tax benefits. Today, only seven Canadian teams compete in a league dominated by 25 American franchises.
Others point to the nature of the game itself. Duggan believes the egalitarian structure of hockey, where players rotate in and out quickly, prevents even superstars like Oilers captain Connor McDavid from dominating. The 28-year-old has drawn comparisons to Wayne Gretzky and was seen as a generational talent from the moment he entered the league in 2015. Duggan believes if he had been drafted to a U.S. team, the sport’s popularity might have skyrocketed in America.
Despite living in the U.S., Duggan remains loyal to her hometown team. With deep Edmonton roots—her great-grandfather was once the city’s mayor—she still stays up into the early hours to watch every game, no matter how late the puck drops.
“They’ve probably taken years off my life,” she said with a laugh. But come Tuesday, Duggan and millions of other Canadians will be hoping the Oilers can give the country something it has craved for 31 years: the return of the Stanley Cup.
