{"id":858136,"date":"2025-06-26T01:13:26","date_gmt":"2025-06-26T06:13:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/26\/oh-god-that-hurt-toronto-maple-leafs-insider-cant-bring-himself-to-celebrate-oilers-ot-win\/"},"modified":"2025-06-26T01:13:26","modified_gmt":"2025-06-26T06:13:26","slug":"oh-god-that-hurt-toronto-maple-leafs-insider-cant-bring-himself-to-celebrate-oilers-ot-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/26\/oh-god-that-hurt-toronto-maple-leafs-insider-cant-bring-himself-to-celebrate-oilers-ot-win\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;Oh God, that hurt&#8217;: Toronto Maple Leafs insider can&#8217;t bring himself to celebrate Oilers OT win"},"content":{"rendered":"<article aria-labelledby=\"articleTitle\" data-wcm-id=\"9842e0de-d9c1-4c5e-aa57-55712c9f4eb7\">\n<header aria-label=\"Beginning of Article\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<p><span>Published Jun 13, 2025<\/span> \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 <span>Last updated Jun 14, 2025<\/span> \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 <span>4 minute read<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure data-aqa=\"featured-image\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/cn.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=564&#038;h=423&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=xBhUtdweuQv-R4LWcNKsDw, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/cn.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=1128&#038;h=846&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=5jnU5cI86deZrrX614VXbw 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/cn.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=564&#038;h=423&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=fk8Bk8aaOYasmEoSOqBJ7w, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/cn.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=1128&#038;h=846&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=htaWjKFWqcH6HZVfcAMSEg 2x\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/cn.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=472&#038;h=354&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=crOdpaIpUvo8sXBGhbXdDw, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/cn.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=944&#038;h=708&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=xt1tPQuMcyMM4fo0D-buPg 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/cn.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=472&#038;h=354&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=B-A-89O4TJ33uu0dFkl73Q, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/cn.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=944&#038;h=708&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=GrJezWRQCZmg27Mij_c2kg 2x\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/cn.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;h=216&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=WPunBTQMdBTfFBXegf-nHQ, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/cn.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=576&#038;h=432&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=G7JLLwoQcvbQX8HukyhgCQ 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"CN Tower\" src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/cn.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;h=216&#038;sig=BAHWt-OFzc2vogUB0ptERQ\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/cn.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;h=216&#038;sig=BAHWt-OFzc2vogUB0ptERQ,\n                    https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/cn.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=576&#038;h=432&#038;sig=AMOlRfO-hRjxy-t1yZYpfw 2x\" height=\"1134\" width=\"1512\"><\/picture><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<section>\n<p>You don\u2019t get much more deep into the Toronto Maple Leafs sports scene than Sam McKee, a prominent Toronto sports producer and media personality, who co-hosts \u2018Leafs Talk\u2019 on YouTube and is a producer and part-time host on \u2018The Real Kyper &#038; Bourne Show\u2019 on Sportsnet 590.<\/p>\n<p data-async>McKee is an engaging and interesting hockey commentator, but he\u2019s having a hard time right now getting on the Edmonton Oiler bandwagon. I suspect he\u2019s not alone in this when it comes to Leafs, Flames, Jets, Habs, Sens and, especially, Canucks fans. There\u2019s been a massive push from everyone from politicians to <a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"TV advertisers\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/shorts\/3vakLeDZU0o\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/shorts\/3vakLeDZU0o\" target=\"_blank\">TV advertisers<\/a> to frame the Oilers as Canada\u2019s Team. It\u2019s good for ratings, good for business.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-aqa=\"identity-sign-in\" data-async id=\"article-block\">\n<header>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Edmonton Journal\" height=\"37\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/18.9.5\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-ej-new.svg\" width=\"280\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n<p>Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters.<\/li>\n<li>Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account.<\/li>\n<li>Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.<\/li>\n<li>Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.<\/li>\n<li>Support local journalism.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n<p>Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters.<\/li>\n<li>Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account.<\/li>\n<li>Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.<\/li>\n<li>Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.<\/li>\n<li>Support local journalism.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n<p>Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Access articles from across Canada with one account.<\/li>\n<li>Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy additional articles per month.<\/li>\n<li>Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n<p>Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Access articles from across Canada with one account<\/li>\n<li>Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy additional articles per month<\/li>\n<li>Get email updates from your favourite authors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div data-auth-component id=\"auth-screen-form\" aria-live=\"assertive\">\n<h2>Sign In or Create an Account<\/h2>\n<p><span><\/span><span>or<\/span><span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s also part of the so-called \u2018Elbows Up\u2019 approach to Trump\u2019s USA, but with added impetus when it comes to hockey because a Canadian team hasn\u2019t won the Stanley Cup since Montreal did it in 1993.<\/p>\n<p>On Friday\u2019s Real Kyper and Bourne show, McKee told a heart-felt story of his own muddled half-hate, half-love response to Edmonton\u2019s historic 5-4 comeback win over Florida \u2014 the first time since 1919 that an NHL team has come back from three goals down to win a game in the Final.<\/p>\n<p>Edmonton\u2019s push for the Cup comes after Florida beat the Leafs in seven in Round 2, an embittering loss that now sees the Leafs franchise in disarray, with star forward Mitch Marner reported to be wanting out of Toronto now.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat a hockey game,\u201d McKee said of Edmonton\u2019s Game 4 win. \u201cI just, I can\u2019t\u2026 I\u2019m having a hard time with this. Because I think a lot of Leaf fans listen to the show. And it is such an electric final. And these are two unbelievable teams. But there are like two, it\u2019s very like directly connected to Leaf fandom and like, just because I want to root for the Oilers, okay? I really do.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div aria-labelledby=\"EdmontonJournalHeadlineNews3309996218130109879128642551808000\" data-account-id=\"b9d3df2fccd108b5eff3c44f573b2cd6\" data-aqa=\"widget-newsletter\" data-newsletter=\"single\" data-newsletter-component data-target-list=\"EJ_HeadlineNews\" data-widget=\"newsletter\">\n<p>By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>He said he watched the game on his phone at rapper Kendrick Lamar\u2019s show in Toronto, then watched over-time a packed bar, where most people were cheering for the Oilers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s an electric atmosphere in there\u2026 People are fired up. The drinks are flowing, whatever. And Leon Draisaitl scores. And I got to tell you, man, the bar erupted. And I was wearing my Leaf bucket. And, you know, I was disgusted. Yeah, I was a little bit upset\u2026 A roar at a Toronto bar, it was like it was a big pop. I was like, \u2018Oh, God, that hurt.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Show host Justin Bourne said, \u201cFans love hearing that. Oilers fans love that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Said McKee: \u201cIf you\u2019re an Oilers fan, and if the Oilers go on to win this series, that game will be talked about for generations.<\/p>\n<h2>My take<\/h2>\n<p>1. Bourne is correct \u2014 I loved McKee\u2019s take. I also think it\u2019s high time that a Canadian team won the Cup. I would know in my head it might well make sense for the Leafs to win or Montreal or Winnipeg to win if the Oilers did not, but I doubt I could bring myself to root for another Canadian team over the Oilers.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>Why? Because part of the fun of having our own Canadian team win is to have bragging rights over other Canadian hockey fans.<\/p>\n<p>For example, if the Panthers beat the Oilers in five games, Leafs fans and media would be crowing that the Leafs are better than the Oilers, that they are the second best team in the NHL after Florida. That is the indisputable fact of the matter.<\/p>\n<p>2. That said, I think the hatred of the Panthers is so fierce in Toronto that many Leafs fans are on board with Edmonton winning. They hate Trumpy Matt Tkachuk. They hate Sam Bennett, who took out Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz in a borderline collision. They hate Aaron Ekblad and Brad Marchand and all the Panthers bully boys.<\/p>\n<p>In this unique case, for many Leafs fans, the enemy of your enemy is your friend, which makes it easier to root for the Oilers.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s also why there\u2019s been so much more criticism of any borderline rough stuff from Florida Panthers in the Final. Leafs media wants to keep getting their digs in on the dirty Panthers.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p data-async>3. It\u2019s also the case that so many Oilers are from Ontario, including star <a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"Connor McDavid\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/edmontonjournal.com\/tag\/connor-mcdavid\/\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" data-link-type=\"backlink\" href=\"https:\/\/edmontonjournal.com\/tag\/connor-mcdavid\/\">Connor McDavid<\/a>. That makes it\u2019s easy for Leafs and Sens fans to see the Oilers as Ontario\u2019s team as much as it is Alberta\u2019s team or Edmonton\u2019s team.<\/p>\n<p>And there is also the Stanley Cup drought for Canada, which is depressing and it starting to become a thing, a cloud of doom hanging over all Canadian teams.<\/p>\n<p>I suspect the majority of Toronto fans and sports enthusiasts are like those who exploded in cheers when Draisaitl scored.<\/p>\n<p>But I relate to the ones like McKee who simply can\u2019t do it.<\/p>\n<p>4. Legend now has it that 40-year-old Corey Perry made an epic speech to his team in the dressing room after the first period of Game 4. I\u2019m glad that the Oilers were one of the teams willing to take on Perry after his troubles in Chicago.<\/p>\n<p>Were the Leafs willing to do that?<\/p>\n<p>Of course, it could be Perry didn\u2019t want to go to Toronto. I don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n<p>But maybe Perry was out of second-chances with some NHL management groups.<\/p>\n<p>Too pure of a team and a fanbase to take him on?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJust win, baby,\u201d the legendary Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis used to say about bringing in players that not everyone loved, that had fallen out of favour in other cities.<\/p>\n<p>Might be something to that way of thinking when it comes to pro sports, no?<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/GrA.StanleyCupFinal.4gp.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"4\" height=\"668\" src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/GrA.StanleyCupFinal.4gp.jpg\" width=\"640\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>At the Cult of Hockey<\/h2>\n<p data-async><strong><a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"Staples: u2018Not the refu2019s faultu2019: Florida Panthers country reacts to historic Stanley Cup Final collapse in Game 4\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/edmontonjournal.com\/sports\/hockey\/nhl\/cult-of-hockey\/edmonton-oilers-panthers-stanley-cup-final-pickard-bobrovsky-barkov\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/edmontonjournal.com\/sports\/hockey\/nhl\/cult-of-hockey\/edmonton-oilers-panthers-stanley-cup-final-pickard-bobrovsky-barkov\" target=\"_blank\">Staples: \u2018Not the ref\u2019s fault\u2019: Florida Panthers country reacts to historic Stanley Cup Final collapse in Game 4<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-async><strong><a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"LEAVINS: Game grades in historic Oilers win\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/edmontonjournal.com\/sports\/hockey\/nhl\/cult-of-hockey\/calvin-pickard-to-the-rescue-leon-draisaitl-the-ot-hero-as-oilers-tie-scf-at-2-2-cult-of-hockey-player-grades\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/edmontonjournal.com\/sports\/hockey\/nhl\/cult-of-hockey\/calvin-pickard-to-the-rescue-leon-draisaitl-the-ot-hero-as-oilers-tie-scf-at-2-2-cult-of-hockey-player-grades\" target=\"_blank\">LEAVINS: Game grades in historic Oilers win<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/edmontonjournal.com\/sports\/hockey\/nhl\/cult-of-hockey\/oilers-panthers-nhl-playoffs-leafs-fans-team-canada-sam-mckee-sportsnet\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Published Jun 13, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated Jun 14, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 4 minute read You don\u2019t get much more deep into the Toronto Maple Leafs sports scene than Sam McKee, a prominent Toronto sports producer and media personality, who co-hosts \u2018Leafs Talk\u2019 on YouTube and is a producer and part-time host on \u2018The Real Kyper [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":858137,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3789,1117,104640],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-858136","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-hurt","8":"category-toronto","9":"category-youtube-videos"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/858136","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=858136"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/858136\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/858137"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=858136"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=858136"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=858136"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}