News Article: Jacques Demers: Tough, ‘Blue Collar’ Maple Leafs have become Canada’s Team

[CanadasTeam]

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This season the Toronto Maple Leafs led the NHL in hits, blocked shots and fights.

http://sports.nationalpost.com/2013...-collar-maple-leafs-have-become-canadas-team/

The gospel according to coach Jacques about the 2012-13 Toronto Maple Leafs, tribal rivals to his beloved Canadiens and yet a team, he said, without pause, that, with the NHL playoffs poised to begin, was best positioned to become “Canada’s†team.

Oui. The Toronto Maple Leafs: Canada’s team.

Nice to see these kind words come out of good 'ol ex-habs coach Jacques Demers...

Click to read more...

 

[kilgro]

you're god damn right. gotta love "blue collar hockey"

 

[MoeMoney]

This article makes me feel all tingly

 

[FrozenJagrt]

There had better not be a single unbruised body from either team after each and every playoff game.

 

[keonsbitterness]

Obviously we always beat the Sens in the playoffs because Demers was secretly a Leafs fan.

 

[Mess]

The change from last year to this year's Leafs is remarkable.

No longer are they soft, small, easily intimidated and pushed around, filled with self-entitled vets, and worst of all weak defensively. Leafs had become a laughing stock and mock regularly from all sides.

Now Leaf Nation can be proud again, as we are now big, physical, intimidating, hard hitting, shot blocking blue collar that backs down from no one, with attention to detail when it comes to defense.

They always were Canada's team only in the past Leaf fans were forced to wear brown paper bags on their their heads to cover their own identities in support.. Now the bags are off again and playoff hockey has returned.

 

[Pyrophorus]

Obviously we always beat the Sens in the playoffs because Demers was secretly a Leafs fan.

What does this have to do with Jacques Martin?

 

[keonsbitterness]

What does this have to do with Jacques Martin?

Good point, I effed up!

 

[Lilou]

Yup. Toronto is the CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE!

I know we got hab, sen, and canuck fans reading this thread right now. Hope they popped a vein reading that. Nothing better then agitating the rest of Canada. Bring on the hate.

 

[rojac]

They always were Canada's team only in the past Leaf fans were forced to wear brown paper bags on their their heads to cover their own identities in support.. Now the bags are off again and playoff hockey has returned.

Leaf fans were not forced to do anything. Any Leaf fan who was embarrassed to admit it when the team was doing poorly is nothing more than a fairweather fan in my opinion.

 

[Duffman955]

I love the identity of this team.

Tough, structured, dynamic and a one for all and all for one attitude.

 

[FlareKnight]

Leaf fans were not forced to do anything. Any Leaf fan who was embarrassed to admit it when the team was doing poorly is nothing more than a fairweather fan in my opinion.

I've never felt that argument to work. A fairweather fan would have dumped this team over the last decade when it couldn't get its act together. Long as at the end of the day you still consider yourself a fan that's good enough. There isn't some class system to being a fan.

 

[1stoverall]

They always have been Canada's team....nothing new here

 

[Mess]

Leaf fans were not forced to do anything. Any Leaf fan who was embarrassed to admit it when the team was doing poorly is nothing more than a fairweather fan in my opinion.

Last year there were countless Leaf fans showing up at the ACC wearing bags on their heads with Leaf jersey's below.

This year you will not see that anymore, as Leaf Nation fans show up in support of their team which they're once again proud of, for the on ice product being presented and the hard work and effort.

Blue collar hockey has returned, with a new identity behind Orr, Fraser, McLaren, Komarov etc. making Canada's team one that no one pushes around anymore.

 

[Brown Dog]

Should never feel embarrassed to be a fan of the franchise when times are bad. You can be angry at the people running the operation (Wilson, Burke, MLSE, individual players, whatever), but being a fan is all about love and there's no shame in that.

 

[Kessely Snipes]

Yup. Toronto is the CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE!

I know we got hab, sen, and canuck fans reading this thread right now. Hope they popped a vein reading that. Nothing better then agitating the rest of Canada. Bring on the hate.

Well said!

 

[LeafOfBread]

Wow, this is a guy who coached the Habs to a Cup victory too. Cue the butthurt Hab fans who get outraged over his comments

 

[Warden of the North]

Thats going to make some Habs fans angry, lol

 

[GoodNHLTroll*]

You can't help but admire this team...even rivals have to applaud. They are the complete opposite of the Vancouver Canucks in every respect.

 

[Morbo]

...blue collar?

we're the 6th highest scoring team.

 

[GordieHoweHatTrick]

Tonnes of respect for Demers so I'm glad to hear his approval of the Leafs

 

[GoodNHLTroll*]

A lot of Jets fans are pulling for the Leafs this post-season as well...not a lot, but still...quite impressive considering the Leafs are hated by every other fanbase with a passion.

 

[GoodNHLTroll*]

Check out the comments from the butt hurt Casucks fans

 

[EDDIE20*]

Wow, this is a guy who coached the Habs to a Cup victory too. Cue the butthurt Hab fans who get outraged over his comments

Got that right. Habs supporters will surely have their panties in a knot over this one.

 

[RealisticLeaf55]

This is almost as awesome as the time Glenn Healy had to choke out a compliment for the Leafs.