TORONTO, Feb 21 (Reuters) – It will be beers before breakfast in Canada on Sunday when some bars will open their taps hours earlier than usual as the nation rallies behind its men’s ice hockey team in the gold medal showdown against the United States at the Winter Olympics.
In Canada’s most populous province, Ontario, Premier Doug Ford has allowed eligible licensed establishments to begin selling alcohol at 6 a.m. ET (1100 GMT), just over two hours before the puck drops at Milan’s Santagiulia arena for the hotly anticipated match between two teams packed with National Hockey League players.
“The entire country will be watching on Sunday morning as our men’s hockey team plays for Olympic gold,” Ford wrote on X while announcing the decision for early-morning alcohol sales. “Let’s all come together, support local businesses and cheer on Team Canada!”
In the western province of British Columbia, Premier David Eby has also given the green light for bars there to open their taps to bleary-eyed hockey fans ahead of traditional breakfast hours.
This game marks the first time since the 2010 Vancouver Games that the neighboring nations will compete in the men’s Olympic ice hockey final.
Canada won the 2010 final on Sidney Crosby’s overtime goal and successfully defended at the 2014 Sochi Games, which was the last Olympics to feature NHL players.
For Canada, Sunday’s final represents a chance to underline their legacy and bring home a 10th men’s ice hockey gold to a country where the sport’s place in Canadian culture is closer to religion than a simple sporting pastime.
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Alison Williams)
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