Business is tough right now, but then again when has it ever been easy? As an antidote to this more and more people are looking to their sources of entertainment for feelgood stories that can blow away the gloom of a tough day at the office.
Luckily, Canadian sports fans have plenty of feelgood stories to warm their cockles. Here are just some of them which, if you read to the end, will be sure to leave you grinning from ear to ear.
Raptors Come from Nowhere to Sink Teeth into NBA Title
Whether you love them or hate them, the story of the Toronto Raptors going all the way to NBA glory in 2019 was one of those tales that just brings a tear to your eye.
Some of the turns of luck along the way, such as Kawhi Leonard’s physics defying last gasp basket in the playoff series against Phillie, just made it seem like the stars were aligning for Nick Nurse’s misfits, but then they went and made sure of it by upsetting Golden State.
It was one of those moments that no matter where you are from in Canada, you cast your franchise loyalties aside and scream for the underdog.
Much of Canada erupted when Leonard got the playoff ball rolling against Phillie Source
Caption: Much of Canada erupted when Leonard got the playoff ball rolling against Phillie
Kendall Coyne Schofield Showed the Men How It Should Be Done
2019 may have been the year that Toronto fans finally got their day in the sun, but in the world of hockey there were even more seismic changes afoot as women players rejuvenated their fight for pro leagues that valued them.
That struggle was fuelled by Kendall Coyne Schofield, who was given the opportunity to skate against her male NHL peers in the Bridgestone NHL Fastest Skater competition.
Far from just making up the numbers and being a crowd favourite, the US national team player ousted Clayton Keller and had onlooking male stars worried as she tore around the rink. It probably won’t be long before women’s pro Canadian teams begin appearing on the odds lines of sites such as 888 sports, and it would be foolish to bet against them when they do.
Women players all across Canada and the world are pushing for their own pro leagues Source
Paralympians Shine A Light for Others to Follow
It is one thing achieving your sporting dreams when you are an able bodied athlete, but doing so when you are sight impaired or physically disabled is something else.
Canadian Paralympians have done their country proud over the last decade or so, and none more so than skier Lauren Woolstencroft.
Operating with an incredible three prosthetic limbs, she claimed a record breaking five gold medals in her home Olympic games in 2010, sending the Vancouver crowd into fits of joy. Reliving her final fifth gold medal run is worth every second of your time.
Calgary Keeps on Recruiting New Basketball Talent
One of the best feelgood sports stories to have come out of Calgary of late is the brainchild of two brothers, Johnny and Michael Brown, who started their own organization designed to help young basketball players realise their full potential.
Noah Juulsen Makes His Long-Awaited Return
Back in December of 2018 Noah Juulsen was struck in the face not just once but twice by a puck. It has taken him till this summer to finally make a full recovery and return to play for the Canadiens.
One thing is for sure, every time Juulsen steps on the ice this NHL season it will be a feelgood moment for everyone who knows him or has followed his fledgling career.
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