The Toronto Maple Leafs are off to an incredible start to the new season.
The first major sports title in 2021 has been awarded as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers handily beat the former champs, Kansas City Chiefs, in Superbowl 55. A historically unsuccessful team overcoming the odds to win? You can see how this might draw some parallels to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
I have been a fan of the Bucs for over 20 years and the successful seasons have been few and far in between. Since they last won the Superbowl in 2002 they have only made the playoffs twice, and missed 12 straight seasons up until this season. Needless to say, the fan base, including myself, have been craving this championship win.
I have to admit though, the Buccaneers victory did feel a little bittersweet. Had this been a regular year, no covid/travel restrictions, I would have tried to get tickets to the game or a flight to Tampa Bay to feel that buzz in the city. At the very least I would have been at a bar or big Superbowl party if there were no restrictions in Ontario for large gatherings and restaurants/bars being open. Instead, I watched the game at home, and while it makes the actual game easier to follow it fails to add that experience of a Championship victory.
Toronto Maple Leafs Bittersweet
When the Toronto Raptors won the NBA championship in 2019, I watched every game at a nearby pub. When that final buzzer marked the Raptors official NBA champions there was jumping and yelling, high fiving and hugging, and champagne flying around the room. Those kinds of actions these days would be nightmare inducing unfortunately. So, when the Bucs won there was no jumping, no yelling, no champagne spraying through the air.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are off to a torrid start this season. The Maple Leafs have clearly set themselves apart in the Canadian division as a top tier team that are primed to snap their playoff woes and possibly go on a long postseason run. No one knows what state the world will be in by the time the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs begin, but we could be in the same place we are now. No fans in Scotiabank Arena, no patrons filling the local Toronto pubs/bars/restaurants, no large Leafs Nation gatherings.
If Toronto Maple Leafs fans are not able to celebrate together, will any playoff success then be bittersweet? How far will the Toronto Maple Leafs have to advance through the playoffs to negate those feelings if they do exist? Obviously if the Leafs win the Stanley Cup Leafs Nation would go absolutely crazy. I know even if I’m alone I’ll be hopping up and down with joy and I’m sure the same can be said for all Leafs fans.
However, if they win one round, will it mean as much if we can’t celebrate together? If they win two rounds, will we react the same way if Scotiabank Arena is empty, and the streets are not flooded with fans gatherings in Maple Leafs Square? This may just be a case of the winter blues kicking in, or pandemic fatigue, but without a return to some normalcy, a successful Maple Leafs season may feel just a little bittersweet.