Hockey fever has reached a fever pitch in Canada as the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs unfold. Fans across the country are expressing their excitement for the thrilling matches, with Halifax resident and hockey enthusiast Roger Reid confidently stating, “Toronto Maple Leafs are going all the way.”
The enthusiasm is not limited to Canadians, as visitors to the country are also caught up in the hockey frenzy. Jill Tucker, a tourist from England, remarked, “I have been here only a week and in the last week I have watched hockey every night.”
A recent survey conducted by Halifax-based Narrative Research delved into the depths of hockey passion, asking Canadians to reveal their favorite sports. The results were resounding: hockey reigns supreme. Twenty-two percent of Canadians selected hockey as their top choice, followed by soccer at 10%, basketball at 8%, and 12% stating they do not watch sports at all.
Former fan Giacomo Bruno admitted to losing interest in hockey years ago, but the current playoffs have reignited his passion. “Now, I don’t watch hockey at all,” he said. However, for those who remain dedicated to the sport, their enthusiasm extends beyond the NHL.
“The women’s hockey has taken off incredibly, which has been a long time coming,” observed Roger Reid. The Narrative Research survey also revealed that hockey resonates more strongly in regions without NHL teams. Twenty-eight percent of those living in the prairies named hockey as their favorite sport, while in Atlantic Canada, the number rose to 30%.
Former NHL Scout Paul Gallagher, a Nova Scotia native, is unsurprised by these findings. “I think here the fans are certainly passionate, and they are very knowledgeable,” he said.
While hockey remains the most popular sport in Canada overall, younger fans are gravitating towards soccer. According to Margaret Brigley of Narrative Research, “Those who are 18 to 24, their preferred sport is soccer.”
