Adedokun Waliyu 
In the 31st year since a Canadian team has lifted the Stanley Cup, the Maple Leafs carry the Great White North’s best hopes to break the cycle.
A nationwide poll conducted by the Angus Reid Institute released Monday showed 42% of 1,138 fans questioned wanted to see Auston Matthews and Toronto win, which would break the club’s own NHL-record 57-year drought.
The Vancouver Canucks, led by Quinn Hughes, were second at 23%, just ahead of Connor McDavid and the Oilers, with the Winnipeg Jets coming in at 13%.
Not surprisingly, the Jets fared the best when the poll was dissected by province, with 86% of respondents in Manitoba backing their team, ahead of Albertans who put 83% faith in the Oilers.
In the two previous years the Leafs topped the poll, 2019 and ‘21, they failed to win a round.
Of interest, more than 25% of Ontarians backed the three other teams, while Atlantic Canada went 52% in favour of the Leafs.
In Quebec, with the Canadiens out of the equation again, fans went 37% Leafs, 27% Oilers and 24% Canucks.
That reflects a rise of 7% since a similar 2016 poll in those who want to see any Canadian team win, now up to 64%.
Other elements of the Angus Reid study said seven in 10 Canadians pay at least some kind of attention to the NHL, two in five listing themselves as active fans.
Perhaps due to more availability of games through streaming and liberal rules regarding sports wagering, that’s the highest engagement since ARI began the poll 10 years ago.
