‘A lot of emotions’: This Canadian city is full of fans supporting an American team

Canadian hockey fans say U.S. trade tensions and politics won’t stop them from rooting for their favourite American hockey teams. Kamil Karamali reports.

All eyes are glued to the screen Sunday afternoon at Kully’s Original Sports Bar as patrons watch the Buffalo Sabres dominate the Boston Bruins in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series.

Suddenly, and without notice, the crowd erupts into a frenzy. Fans decked out in the Sabres’ blue and gold high five and hug each other as the Buffalo hockey team scores another goal in what eventually became a 6-1 rout of the Bruins.

But this bar isn’t in Buffalo or the United States; it’s a Buffalo-themed sports bar in St. Catharines, Ont., one that caters to thousands of Canadian supporters of the American team.

For where they live, they’re also in the minority.

According to a recent poll by the Angus Reid Institute, 72 per cent of Canadians are rooting for a Canadian team to lift the Stanley Cup if their own team gets eliminated.

Those numbers have been much higher in the past two years compared to previous polls, coinciding with the trade war and tariffs imposed by the U.S., creating increasing cross-border tensions.

But for the fans packed into the southern Ontario bar, they see Buffalo as part of their home and their community, geographically closer than the nearby Toronto Maple Leafs — and they’ve waited far too long for a playoff run to let politics dampen their celebrations, with the team having undergone a 14-year post-season drought before this current playoff run.

Here are some of their stories from a day spent at the bar watching Sabres playoff hockey:

Vania and Jesse Barraza

Eleven-year-old Vania Barraza, from St. Catharines, wasn’t even alive when the Sabres last made the playoffs — she’s been waiting her whole life for this moment.

“It’s been like ups and downs,” said Vania in an interview with CTV News. “Hoping and praying that they finally make it.”

Now, she is experiencing the emotional roller-coaster ride of seeing a team play elimination-style hockey for the first time.

“Happiness, nervous and just a little fear for them,” she said.

Her father, Jesse Barraza, is giving her whatever advice he can as she watches.

“It’s a lot of emotions, and all I can say is take it all in, because we never know when we’re going to get back into it. But we’re in it now,” said Jesse Barraza. “I am really excited to share this moment with her and proud to be here with her.”

The father-daughter duo have adopted their love for the Sabres by attending games together that has brought them closer as a family.

“This is the only team that we follow as a whole family. That means that mom, dad and sisters follow the Sabres,” said Jesse.

Walter and Chester Siegmund

Brothers Walter and Chester Siegmund strayed from the flock by becoming Sabres fans while living in Ontario.

“Our parents are Leafs fans, so in our household, it’s a divided house — it all adds a little bit of fun,” said the younger brother, Walter.

Their formative years were spent watching their parents and friends, who are Toronto Maple Leafs supporters, gloat about making the playoffs year after year, while the Siegmund brothers watched the Sabres stumble each season.

“For years you had to keep the (being ) Buffalo (fan) a little bit of a secret, because you’re kind of the laughing stock of the league,” added Walter.

This run is an opportunity for them to return the favour — watching the team in the playoffs for the first time as adults.

“It just feels good to have your support be consistent,” said Chester. “The good times and bad — to now come back to that cycle and see them winning — it just makes you happy for the city and for the fan base.”

“It’s the first time I’m able to have a beer and watch the Sabres in the playoffs, so that’s new and it’s a lot of fun. It’s good to be back,” said Chester.

Kerry Howe

Kerry Howe is a 39-year-old lifelong season ticket holder, after he inherited the season tickets from his father, making the trek across the border throughout the season to watch the Sabres.

“I would say there’s a lot of Leafs fans here, like more then Sabres fans -- but I think there’s a huge draw to Buffalo in their earlier times because of the price point of their tickets -- and going to Toronto was a little tougher,” said Howe to CTV News. “So people would kind of migrate to the Sabres in that sense -- but I’d say there’s more at heart with the Sabres.”

“My dad was a Leafs’ fan but he also had Sabres season tickets -- but then, I would say, there’s us kind of this generation born into the Sabers culture and that goes along with the Buffalo Bills since they’re right across the border.”

Although trade tensions have heightened animosity between Canadians and Americans, he said he hasn’t seen it between those who live in the Niagara region and upstate New York.

“I try to turn my brain off to all the political side of things, so I’m just focused on the sport itself — because it’s so fun. There are so many Canadians there. I grew up with Canadians going there, seeing buddies cheering them on — it’s just the way we grew up,” added Howe.

Kevin Townsend

Kevin Townsend, a St. Catharines city councillor, was found on his day off cheering on the Buffalo Sabres — but it’s the connection between the team and southern Ontario from decades ago that makes him a die-hard fan.

“Growing up as a kid, I think people forget the Buffalo Sabres used to do their training camp here in St. Catharines at the old Jack Gatecliff Arena,” said Townsend. “My dad would take me down to watch them train and get ready for the season — and as a young kid, getting to meet players like Rob Ray, Alexander Mogilny and Dominik Hasek."

Townsend estimates that more than 50 per cent of fans who attend Sabres games in Buffalo are from the Niagara region.

“I would say even up to Oakville, but most of the players on the team are Canadian. I would argue that because they’re in such close proximity to us, and being a childhood fan, it keeps the excitement going,” he added.

For him, he sees the city across the U.S. border as allies, not enemies.

“I think we have such a close relationship with our friends in Buffalo and upstate New York -- those friendships should never come between politics. Let’s keep the friendship going and continue supporting our friends in upstate New York as they support us when they come to visit us in the Niagara region.”

Adrian Kulakowsky

Adrian Kulakowsky, the owner of Kully’s, opened the sports bar in 2014 with the hope it would be home to plenty of Sabres playoff runs — but this is the first time it’s hosted Buffalo playoff hockey.

“We opened with a lot of excitement as a Buffalo-style sports bar, with wings being a staple,” said Kulakowsky. “But it’s been a long wait to have the Sabres in the playoffs, so it’s pretty exciting.”

Now, it is finally bringing in the revenue he hoped for.

“During Sabres games, we’re probably doing double the business we would on a regular day, so it’s been really positive.”