More Canadian hockey fans than at any point in the last 10 years say they’ll back any team from Canada in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, as national hopes rise for an end to the country’s 32-year championship drought.
A new poll from the Angus Reid Institute shows 71% of fans are rooting for whichever Canadian team can bring home the Cup, a seven-point jump from last year and a 14-point climb since 2016.
The growing willingness to put rivalries aside comes as five Canadian teams — the Maple Leafs, Oilers, Jets, Canadiens, and Senators — vie for the trophy.
Despite the general unity, fans still show strong personal preferences. The Maple Leafs and Canadiens lead the way in support, each named as the top pick by about 30% of respondents. The Oilers follow at 18%, while 15% are backing the Jets and 6% the Senators.
Asked which team is most likely to end the losing streak, Canadians are split: 22% say the Leafs offer the best shot, 19% name the Jets, and 16% pick the Oilers. Just 2% of respondents believe a Canadian team will never win again, a notable drop from the 5% who held that view in 2021.
The last Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup was the Montreal Canadiens in 1993. Since then, playoff runs have sparked hope — and heartbreak — but the 2025 post-season finds fans more united than ever in the dream of finally bringing the Cup back north.