Winnipeggers woke up extra early to watch Canada’s men’s hockey team take gold in Sochi Sunday morning. The game started at 6:00 a.m. Central time, and for the first time hockey fans in the province were able to enjoy a beer with their breakfast at the bar.
The action on the ice kept fans on the edge of their seats and theykept bar staff hopping during Sunday morning's gold medal hockey game.
“We've had a lineup around the building since before 5:00 a.m.,” said Adam Deck, bartender at Confusion Corner Bar & Grill, before the crowd’s chants of “Back to work” called him back to the bar.“Better wrap this up. I better get back to work pretty soon."
When the province decided bars could open at 5:00 a.m. for the game nobody knew at first if people would actually show up or choose to stay home and watch in their pajamas. But by the time Winnipeg's own Jonathan Toews scored in the first, it was standing room only at the bar in Osborne Village.
"It's one of the few opportunities to really experience the community that is brought together by the Olympics, and this is what it's all about," Ilan Schwartz.
Because of the early start, many fans couldn't decide if they should wake up early or simply not go to bed at all.
The Metropolitan Entertainment Centre oohed and awed through most of the second period, until a breakaway goal by Sidney Crosby brought fans out of their seats.
"It's electric,” said general manager Andy Fosty.“The chants for ‘Go Canada go’ and ‘Let's go Canada’ are giving me goose bumps. It's just a great feeling."
At Tapp's Pub in St. Vital, most of the staff during the game also worked late Saturday night and had to report back at 5:00 a.m.
"I thought it was going to be pretty brutal, but it wasn't too bad,” said server Amy Hopman.“It's a good attitude. Everyone's excited for today, so it wasn't a big deal."
Winnipeg police say they haven't received any reports of incidents due to bars opening early for the game.
- With a report by Ben Miljure
