Canucks not Canada’s team: poll

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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – It turns out the refs aren’t the only ones who don’t care for the Canucks. A new poll suggests more Canadians would rather cheer for an American team this post-season.

According to an Angus Reid survey done for Maclean’s, only 35 per cent of those asked are pulling for the Canucks in the playoffs, while 45 per cent would rather see a US team like Boston or Pittsburgh sip from Lord Stanley’s hallowed mug.

“It has something to do with the way the Canucks play. It [also] has something to do with how Canadians feel about Vancouver, and it has something to do with the way, you know, the story that media is telling in Boston and Chicago and Toronto. It’s getting a lot of play,” explains Maclean’s Associate Editor Nancy MacDonald.

The anti-Vancouver sentiment runs high in many places and in some interesting ways.

“We found a jersey store in Calgary and the sales associate there said they’ve never actually carried LA Kings jerseys. But in the last week, she said people have been coming in right and left asking for LA Kings gear,” explains MacDonald.

“She went on to say that basically, people in Calgary have this ‘anyone but Canucks’ movement brewing and they want to see, in her words, ‘the Canucks choke,'” she notes.

Yet, when an eighth-seed Montreal Canadiens squad made it to the semi-finals in 2010, 70 per cent of the country’s hockey fans were on the bandwagon.

Canucks fans take exception to tweet from LA Kings

The Canucks faithful weren’t impressed to see a tweet from the team’s official Twitter account shortly after Game 1 ended, which read: “To everyone in Canada outside of BC, you’re welcome.”

“It’s rude considering it is Game 1 of Round 1 but apparently Vancouver is hated it is almost part of our charm now!!” tweeted one fan.

“Juvenile and classless. Surprising coming from an official source. Thought they’d be a little better than that,” tweeted another.

Others are brushing it off as harmless trash talk.

“Take it easy, it’s Twitter and quite a few people do not enjoy the Canucks. Win 4 straights and it means nothing,” wrote one user.

The LA Kings later apologized for the comment.

“We encourage our digital team to be creative, interactive and to apply a sense of humour whenever possible. To anyone who found it offensive, we sincerely apologize.” – Mike Altieri, LA Kings VP of Communications and Content.

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