Not just a crappy Americanized hockey movie anymore!

Yes, they're back... the Anahiem Ducks (née Mighty Ducks) are now off to their SECOND Stanley Cup final this decade.

And while that little fact might scare the shit out of most Canadian hockey fans, the fact that they're meeting comfortably the youngest Canadian franchise is likely ruffling a few feathers (har-har), too.

Having my parents up in the Ottawa Valley has opened my eyes. My dad, a lifelong Leaf hater, and likely the second biggest reason I'm a Habs fan (#1 is Patrick Roy) moved there fully expecting to cheer his heart out for the Sens in the battle of Ontario - something we had both been doing anyway, tho admittedly slightly muted, for fear of getting our tires slashed in Toronto.

Then he met other Senator fans.... and he just couldn't align himself with these mouth-breathing morons.

The vibe he was getting was that really, it had nothing to do with hockey. People from Ottawa just hate Toronto and everything it stands for. Hockey is just a politically correct (and very Canadian) way to voice this blinding hatred.

Now, like any stereotype, this doesn't apply to all Sens fans. No more than my blue Kool-Aid drinking characterization of Leaf fans ("No, really... THIS will be our year!") applies to all Leaf fans...... but it is based firmly enough in truth that is does apply to many.

And this, dear friends, is why I'm cheering for the Ducks.

You know, that and they have several of my favourite players (Selanne, Pronger, Niedermayer - the good one - and homie to my homies Greg and Nate, Andy McDonald... not to mention the guy that gives Stuart Scott a reason to "get jiggy" for hockey, J-S Giguerre). But, yes, mostly to cheer against Ottawa.

The only thing worse, in my mind, than Sens fans after a Cup win might be Leaf fans after a Cup win (think how unbearable anyone from Boston has been in the last 3 years!)... but I'd rather not deal with either one, thank you very much....