There's an annual tradition in the Stanley Cup Playoffs where the last remaining Canadian franchise, attempting to bring the chalice north-of-da-border for the first time since 1993, is anointed "Canada's team" by the barometer of public sentiment, the newspaper editorial page. "The Winnipeg Jets are the perfect team for all Canadians to root for, and we should do so with abandon!" wrote the Globe & Mail. (The exclamation point was mine.)
Then there's another annual tradition in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, where legions of Canadians declare that the concept of "Canada's team" is absurd, because the country is split up into warring factions of die-hard fans who view anyone else winning the chalice as "not us.