Maple Leafs, Jets, Oilers and Canucks carry Canada’s Stanley Cup hopes with drought now at 30 years

Josh Morrissey remembers the city coming to life before his eyes.

A nine-year-old Flames fan in the spring of 2004, he was captivated by every Jarome Iginla chance and Miikka Kiprusoff save during Calgary’s run to the Stanley Cup Final.

“It was just an awesome experience,” said Morrissey, now a star defenseman for the Winnipeg Jets. “Living and dying on every win and loss.”

Hockey fans across Canada are once again preparing for the annual thrill and torment that arrives with the playoffs. The Jets, Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs are in the 16-team field that will open play on Saturday.

Morrisey remembers the energy in his hometown as the Flames advanced through three grueling rounds to the final.

“That’s the best part about Canadian teams doing well in the playoffs … it means so much,” he told The Canadian Press. “A special time of the year. The longer you go, the more that excitement ramps up. It can really mean a lot to the cities. I know as a kid, it meant a ton to me.”