Oh Canada!

Most celebrating ended as the fans filed out of Honda Center.

Few Americans probably noticed that the Anaheim Ducks won the Stanley Cup last night. Anaheim's victory was historic, as the franchise became the first NHL team to win the Cup from the Pacific Time Zone and the first West coast city to lay claim the trophy since Victoria of the Western Hockey League defeated Montreal in 1925.

More significant, the Ducks win marks the third Stanley Cup in a row that a Canadian team has lost. The Canadians are not just losing to anyone, they are losing to southern U.S. expansion teams.

In 2004, Tampa Bay defeated Calgary in seven games. Two years later, it was Edmonton's turn as they also lost in seven to Carolina. Finally yesterday, Anaheim embarrassed Ottawa, home of Lord Stanley's Cup, to win in five games.

The teams were all first-time winners, all from places that the average January temperature is at or above 50 degrees.

It is hard to say what's worse for hockey, the fact that Americans largely ignored this year's title bout or the fact that the Canadian Cup drought has now reached 14 years. The Canadiens of Montreal were the last team to hoist the Cup North of the border in 1993.

Hockey is distinctly Canadian. Along with Mounties, moose's and maple leaves, hockey defines Canada. The NHL would benefit if a team from the North won the Cup.

That prospect does not look good in the near future. Ottawa made it to the finals, but three of the six canuck teams missed the playoffs and the Calgary Flames nearly missed.

Buffalo, Minnesota, Pittsburgh and San Jose are loaded with young talent and promising postseason futures. These teams along with the youth movement taking place in Colorado should cause Canadian teams hoping for Cup success headaches.

Lord Stanley's Cup will reside in southern California for the next year. A strange thought indeed, but a thought all-hockey fans must come to grips with.