Post by Jazz on May 29, 2004 13:40:47 GMT -5
Far from home, Canadian ex-pats get their fill of playoff hockey in Tokyo[/u][/color]
JIM ARMSTRONG
Canadian Press
Friday, May 28, 2004
source: www.canada.com/sports/hockey/nhlplayoffs2004/story.html?id=C3847519-AE8C-44F4-A75C-7BCF7B367691
TOKYO (AP) - A group of hockey-starved Canadian ex-pats have found a home away from in the unlikely environs of Tokyo's bustling Shibuya district.
As hoards of Tokyo commuters fought the morning rush hour, a vocal gathering of homesick Canadian businessmen, English teachers and tourists crammed into the Maple Leaf Sports Bar and Grill at 9 a.m. Friday morning to watch a live telecast of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup final between Calgary and Tampa Bay. The Lightning defeated the Flames 4-1 to even the best-of-seven series, but there were few Tampa Bay fans in the room.
"It makes me feel like I'm a part of what's going on back home," said Vancouver native Neil Moody. "It's part of our culture and this is a great chance to meet fellow Canadians."
While coffee was the preferred drink of choice, owner Stephan Black from Summerside, P.E.I., said Moosehead and Labatt Blue would be flowing for the rebroadcast later Friday evening.
A Canadian breakfast of bacon and eggs sold for 999 yen ($12.25 Cdn). The only thing missing was a Don Cherry rant between periods.
Black, a long-suffering Toronto Maple Leafs fan, opened the bar a few months ago and made sure to give the place a distinctly Canadian atmosphere. A Beaver pelt hangs from the ceiling next to log panelling on the walls.
The Flames are the first Canadian team to play for the Stanley Cup in 10 years.
"We didn't want to miss this," said Calgary native Barb Rosko, who is travelling through Japan with her niece Kaitlyn. "As soon as Calgary advanced, we got on the internet and found this place. We'll be back for the next game and hopefully the result will be better."
Calgary may be the overwhelming favourite among Canadian expatriates in Tokyo but it's the Lightning who owe their existence to Japan.
Tampa Bay was awarded an NHL expansion franchise in 1990. Financial woes plagued the deal from the outset and the bid was almost scrapped until former vice-president and GM Phil Esposito got Japanese company Kokusai Green to come up with a fresh infusion of cash.
Hockey has only a small following in Japan.
Baseball, sumo and soccer dominate the headlines. The fast-paced, physical style of the game just doesn't seem to translate in Japan.
The NBA final, the Super Bowl and the World Series are all shown by national broadcaster NHK, but the Stanley Cup barely gets a mention.
"It's good to see some hockey," said freelance writer Rob Peterson. "All we get over here is Japanese baseball, sumo and soccer."
There is a Japan Ice Hockey League, but the number of teams is down to four from six with little hope for expansion.
Canadian players, like former Boston Bruins forward Joel Prpic, dominate the league. The six-foot-six, 225-pound native of Sudbury, Ont., had 10 goals and 19 assists in 24 games for the Kokudo Lions this season, while teammate Chris Bright led the league with 23 goals and 16 assists.
Bright, who lives in Calgary in the off-season, recently took Japanese citizenship in order to play for Japan at the world championships and other international competitions.
© Copyright 2004 The Canadian Press
JIM ARMSTRONG
Canadian Press
Friday, May 28, 2004
source: www.canada.com/sports/hockey/nhlplayoffs2004/story.html?id=C3847519-AE8C-44F4-A75C-7BCF7B367691
TOKYO (AP) - A group of hockey-starved Canadian ex-pats have found a home away from in the unlikely environs of Tokyo's bustling Shibuya district.
As hoards of Tokyo commuters fought the morning rush hour, a vocal gathering of homesick Canadian businessmen, English teachers and tourists crammed into the Maple Leaf Sports Bar and Grill at 9 a.m. Friday morning to watch a live telecast of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup final between Calgary and Tampa Bay. The Lightning defeated the Flames 4-1 to even the best-of-seven series, but there were few Tampa Bay fans in the room.
"It makes me feel like I'm a part of what's going on back home," said Vancouver native Neil Moody. "It's part of our culture and this is a great chance to meet fellow Canadians."
While coffee was the preferred drink of choice, owner Stephan Black from Summerside, P.E.I., said Moosehead and Labatt Blue would be flowing for the rebroadcast later Friday evening.
A Canadian breakfast of bacon and eggs sold for 999 yen ($12.25 Cdn). The only thing missing was a Don Cherry rant between periods.
Black, a long-suffering Toronto Maple Leafs fan, opened the bar a few months ago and made sure to give the place a distinctly Canadian atmosphere. A Beaver pelt hangs from the ceiling next to log panelling on the walls.
The Flames are the first Canadian team to play for the Stanley Cup in 10 years.
"We didn't want to miss this," said Calgary native Barb Rosko, who is travelling through Japan with her niece Kaitlyn. "As soon as Calgary advanced, we got on the internet and found this place. We'll be back for the next game and hopefully the result will be better."
Calgary may be the overwhelming favourite among Canadian expatriates in Tokyo but it's the Lightning who owe their existence to Japan.
Tampa Bay was awarded an NHL expansion franchise in 1990. Financial woes plagued the deal from the outset and the bid was almost scrapped until former vice-president and GM Phil Esposito got Japanese company Kokusai Green to come up with a fresh infusion of cash.
Hockey has only a small following in Japan.
Baseball, sumo and soccer dominate the headlines. The fast-paced, physical style of the game just doesn't seem to translate in Japan.
The NBA final, the Super Bowl and the World Series are all shown by national broadcaster NHK, but the Stanley Cup barely gets a mention.
"It's good to see some hockey," said freelance writer Rob Peterson. "All we get over here is Japanese baseball, sumo and soccer."
There is a Japan Ice Hockey League, but the number of teams is down to four from six with little hope for expansion.
Canadian players, like former Boston Bruins forward Joel Prpic, dominate the league. The six-foot-six, 225-pound native of Sudbury, Ont., had 10 goals and 19 assists in 24 games for the Kokudo Lions this season, while teammate Chris Bright led the league with 23 goals and 16 assists.
Bright, who lives in Calgary in the off-season, recently took Japanese citizenship in order to play for Japan at the world championships and other international competitions.
© Copyright 2004 The Canadian Press
