Montreal Canadiens most popular NHL team in Nova Scotia, but not by much
Posted Jan 6, 2017 08:36:38 AM.
Last Updated Jan 6, 2017 10:18:20 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
HALIFAX – A new poll is adding some more wood to the fire ahead of Saturday’s tilt between the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs.
A survey released Thursday by Corporate Research Associates found the Habs to be the most popular NHL team in Nova Scotia at 20 per cent support, barely beating out the Maple Leafs at 19 per cent.
There was a steep drop off after those two original six rivals, with the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins tied at 6 per cent support.
Those teams see higher support in Nova Scotia, likely due to Hammond’s Plain’s Brad Marchand playing for Boston, and Cole Harbour’s Sidney Crosby lacing up the skates for Pittsburgh.
“That local player associations does have some impact on supporting a team,” said CRA’s Don Mills.
The picture is a little more in favour of the Habs when looking at Atlantic Canada as a whole. Montreal enjoys 26 per cent support overall in the region to 20 per cent for the Leafs. That, though, is mainly thanks to a bevy of support in New Brunswick – 36 per cent of respondents picked the Canadiens.
“It’s more than two to one Canadiens fans over the Leafs fans,” Mills said. “I think a lot of it has to do with the Francophone population which traditionally tends to support Montreal.”
Newfoundland and Labrador saw another tight race between the Leafs and Habs, with Montreal again coming out on top.
Prince Edward Island is the only province in Atlantic Canada that is more in favour of Toronto. On the Island the Leafs have the support of 24 per cent of respondents to 21 per cent for the Canadiens.
Not everyone is a hockey fan though: 17 per cent of people asked said they do not follow the NHL, and another 17 per cent do not have a favourite team.
