Hockey can be such a great game, loved by so many in so many parts of our very large country. Happily, females are now so very involved, both as amateurs and professionals

As a kid, I was a huge fan of the Canadiens and the Leafs. In Kirkland Lake, Winnipeg, Toronto and St. Catharines. Later, as an adult, before the stratospheric salaries and legalized gambling began to dominate the NHL, I eventually lost interest.

Nevertheless, I was caught totally off guard last week in Butler’s Sports Bar, during game five of the finals between Edmonton and Florida. The stranger in a Penn State hat sitting next to me at the bar asked, “What quarter are they in?”

I hesitated before responding, “Actually, in hockey we call them periods.” Food for thought. Maybe we should call them thirds. With a stretch of my imagination, let me explain my roundabout (I know, a polarizing word here in NOTL) reasoning for this choice of word.

In basketball, they have four quarters, and in football, they play two halves. So, perhaps in hockey we should play three thirds. A bit awkward in Quebec, though.

Are we in agreement?

Back to game five of the finals last week, and another stranger at Butler’s cheering loudly for the Oilers. He was about 35, with his wife and their 11-month-old son. My new pal Vijay Nirmal from Mississauga was actively wearing his Oilers sweater, #99 GRETZY. In large and proud letters and numbers. His wee son was wearing a wee sweater reading #97 McDAVID. Orange and blue.

Mom was more subdued sartorially, but still very much an Oilers fan. Spending a lot of her time taking care of the young one, as Dad got progressively louder and louder about helping his team score. And hopefully win. The game went to overtime. Again. What a series.

Oilers fan Vijay told me how last year he had flown out to Edmonton for game seven of the finals, to cheer with some friends in “the Moss Pit.” Like a music concert and the mosh pit, but for Edmonton hockey, the Moss Pit. How clever.

Known formally as the Ice District Ford Tailgate Park, but lovingly named after Joey Moss. Located just outside of Rogers Place, where the Oilers play, at 103 Avenue and 102 Street, and with a legal standing room capacity of 5,500.

This is a wonderful Canadian and human story, which I really want to share.

For over 30 years, Joey Moss was a beloved and important member of the Edmonton Oilers and Edmonton Eskimos teams. A locker room attendant with a sunny disposition and a tireless work ethic, totally dedicated to both teams. Born with Down syndrome, Joey Moss worked hard and professionally and passionately.

He was treated with great respect and love and was recognized with championship rings and lots of love. And regular paycheques.

He was a cherished member of the Edmonton sports community, and was eventually immortalized with the fan venue sobriquet the Moss Pit.

Gretzy and his teammates all respected and loved Joey, and he totally loved them back. Sitting next to the players bench, belting out “O Canada,” cheering every victory and saddened by every loss.

So my new pal and Edmonton Oilers fan Vijay Nirmal and his family had come to wonderful Niagara-on-the-Lake for a fun, totally Canadian weekend. They travel a lot and are heading to Ubud in Bali next month for a family wedding.

A feature of their Niagara getaway weekend was going to be watching the Oilers/Panthers playoff game at Gretzky’s Winery on Niagara Stone Road. On a big screen with a bunch of boisterous Niagara hockey fans. Vijay the Dad had his Gretzky sweater (not jersey) dry-cleaned and ready for the game.

Traffic on the Q.E.W. wasn’t too bad, and they stopped by Reif Estate Winery on the Parkway for a tour and Chardonnay tasting. A Greek snack at Gyro’s on the Lake on Queen Street, and then they arrived at Gretzky’s in time for the opening face-off (not puck drop).

The Nirmal family were having a wonderful and unique family getaway in Niagara. But, as they parked their car in an almost empty parking lot at Gretzy’s, only a couple of staff members were getting into their cars and driving away.

Confused. Flummoxed. Bewildered. Perplexed. They asked one of the staff members what was going on.

Nothing was going on at the eponymous Gretzky’s Winery for the hockey game.

The Nirmal family deftly shifted to Butler’s Sports Bar and did their best to be true Canadian hockey fans.

Great pizza and cold beer. A fair number of hockey fans. But boo, the Oilers lost.

Here in Ontario, are we really hockey fans? Or just Leaf fans?

Just asking.