Stanley Cup fever grips Windsor

Who does Windsor think will win the Stanley Cup? CTV Windsor’s Bob Bellacicco finds out.

The Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers will have a rematch for the Stanley Cup. Many fans are hoping Edmonton can bring the Stanley Cup back to Canada for the first time in three decades.

“I would love it to come back home. It’s been too long,” said one hockey fan in downtown Windsor.

Some fans are ready, while others have tuned out.

“I stopped watching hockey after the (Toronto Maple) Leafs lost (to Florida in round two),” the hockey fan said.

“Now, I am kind of hoping that the Edmonton Oilers make it all the way, but my favourite team is gone.”

Marc Crevier thinks the finals will be entertaining and is watching Game 1 from home. He is rooting for Edmonton because he is close to Oilers forward Adam Henrique, whom he billeted while with the Windsor Spitfires.

“He’s happy. He’s enjoying it. He loves his role and hopefully it’s their time.” Crevier told CTV News.

The Oilers made last year’s final interesting. They were down three games to none and stormed back to force a Game 7 before losing 2-1 in Florida.

Crevier watched Henrique win two Memorial Cups in Windsor and would love to travel to see a Stanley Cup clinching game with Henrique hoisting the cup.

“We want that for him and the Edmonton Oilers,” Crevier said.

“Obviously the Edmonton Oilers are a Canadian team. Let’s have the best team win it and hopefully that we can bring back the cup to Canada.”

Dave Ekblad’s son, Aaron, brought the cup back to Canada and Lakeshore last summer. He and his family are enjoying the opportunity of a lifetime as Aaron plays in his third straight final.

“You see teams and guys that don’t make it to the playoffs even in their career, let alone make it to the finals and three years in a row,” said Ekblad, who plans to watch the first two games from home with his wife, Lisa, before heading to Florida for games 3 and 4.

“I’m sure it’ll sink in even more over time because we’re kind of in it, But yeah, there’s no doubt about it, it’s an incredible feat.”

He hopes he can be at another Stanley Cup clinching game and relive last year’s magic.

“Happy to be there (Stanley Cup Finals) but certainly be happier to win it,” Ekblad said.

“I think you get there, and you take your chance to see what happens.”

Cucina 360 is hosting the first of many viewing parties planned for downtown Windsor during the Stanley Cup finals.

Ward 3 city councillor Renaldo Agostino said Game 2 can be seen near the Loose Goose on Ouellette Avenue on Friday night.

Viewing of Monday’s Game 3 in Florida will be shared between the Manchester and Joywave. Panache, On A Roll, and La Guardia will host Game 4. The remaining three games will be confirmed if the finals go beyond four games.

Agostino said the watch parties may include the NBA as well.

“With four Canadians involved in the NBA Finals, if the heat picks up there, we now have the tools to do this on the fly,” Agostino said.

“It’s one of the fun parts of the job.”