Northern Ontario boy (North Bay) stuck in Victoria BC till... guess it depends how long I stay in the Navy.

Part of a French family, I was raised as a Montreal fan, though I wasn't much of a fan of hockey till my teens. I watched many Habs games in French because my father was in control of the TV. Even when he was sound asleep in his chair, if I switched the channel to anything else he'd instantly wake up and comment that he was watching and was just resting his eyes. He'd then change the channel back to the damn Canadiens game.

I did my schooling in French, at least till I went to college. I was rebellious in high school, speaking English in the halls and classes. I started cheering for the Nordiques and ruffled quite a few feathers in school, although my close friends cheered for the Oilers or Flames, which was even worse. At least the Nordiques were a French team.

My neighbors Mike and Darrel moved from T dot to my neck of the woods in '91. I'd watch Leafs games and play Blades of Steel to pass the time. We'd also watch Nordiques game when they were on (which wasn't too often). Darrel and I were both really impressed by a certain rookie who later became a member of the Blue and White. I stopped cheering for the Nordiques when they were sold and moved to Colorado.

I was exposed to many a Leafs game, and by the 92/93 season (what an amazing season that was [damn you Gretzky... damn you Fraser]), I became a proud Toronto Maple Leafs fan, and have been ever since.

I've got a older sister who's a Sens fan. Can't you tell there's no love lost between us. I've got one cousin who's a Flyers fan, but we get along nonetheless. I've got many more cousins who are Montreal fans; they've mostly moved from Quebec to Ontario in their teens, so its kind of hopeless for them to change their ways. At least they're no longer pro-separatist (just knowing that they used to be gets me fuming, but they've seen just how crazy that idea is now that they no longer live in "la Belle Provence").

My father became a Leafs fan eventually. My dad was no fan of Mario Tremblay; hated him as a commentator, and more so as coach of the Canadiens. By the time of the shellacking of Roy by Detroit, the Canadiens organization as an whole turned him off. He also hated Roy because of the way Roy demanded a trade. He started watching Leafs games with me on Global after that.

My wife's from Malaysia and never heard if hockey till she met me. She and my two young boys are Leafs fans (by default). I can see them rebelling later on in life, cheering for the Canucks. That would be a sad day indeed. Who knows, maybe I'll move back to Ontario with the family before they switch. But then, will they become Senators fans? On second thought, better just stay here in BC. I'd have to disown my kids if they became Sens fans. No parent should have to suffer through such a travesty.

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