Beer, breakfast, both? Canadians to rise early to cheer for hockey gold against U.S.

From bar stools to church pews, Sunday best to pyjamas, hockey fans across the country will be rising bright and early to watch their team play for gold Sunday morning at the Milan Cortina Olympics. 

The Canadian men’s team is set to face archrivals the United States starting at 8:10 a.m. ET.

Provincial governments across the country have allowed pubs to open and start serving alcohol in the morning. Beer taps in Ontario and Alberta can begin pouring as early as 6 a.m., while bars in Manitoba can serve as early as 5 a.m., all local times.

Ali Gangji, an Edmonton resident, says he and his wife are planning to wake up with their two hockey-obsessed boys, ages 9 and 11, around 4:30 a.m., put on their jerseys supporting players Macklin Celebrini, Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid, and head to a bar in the city’s west end.

“The kids are excited about it. It’s very special for our family,” he said in a Saturday phone interview.

Gangji, a transit worker, said it’s not hard for him to wake up early, but he’ll see whether his kids can do it.

He said finding a reservation at the bar wasn’t easy.

“I called three places and they were all booked before I eventually found a reservation. It’s gonna be packed.”

Gangji said his brother-in-law is also planning to watch the game at his home in Vancouver.

“He’ll be in his living room,” he said.

Gene Pawlik, a Canadian originally from Edmonton, will also be watching the game from home — but his home is in Big Island, Hawaii. For him, the game begins at the crack of dawn, around 3 a.m. local time. 

‘”A man’s got to do what a man’s got to do!” he said. ”I’ll have to have the earbuds in though, so not to wake the rest of the household. I’m not sure how I’ll do when it comes to the cheering.”

Back in Canada, Bedford United Church in Bedford, N.S., said over the weekend it will be showing the big game as well. 

“Trying to decide between the gold medal hockey game and church tomorrow morning? Good news — you don’t have to!” the church posted on Facebook, adding that coffee and treats will be provided. 

In St. John’s, N.L., not only will it be early, but a winter storm will also be bearing down. But that won’t stop Newfoundland Embassy, a mainstay pub for local hockey fans, from opening. 

“It’s just huge,” co-owner Niall Hickey said in an interview. “It’s huge for business, it’s huge for the country and we wouldn’t want to miss it.”

An Environment Canada storm warning called for between 20 and 30 centimetres of snow by Sunday afternoon and winds gusting to 100 kilometres an hour.

Fans in Toronto can catch the game at Scotiabank Arena, with doors opening at 7 a.m. ET. Tickets are $15, with proceeds going to the MLSE Foundation. 

In some other locations across the country, pubs can apply for licence exemptions to open early. 

In British Columbia, some pubs that have been granted exemptions will be opening as early as 4:30 a.m. local time. 

The Port Coquitlam Community Centre in the B.C. city will be opening its doors at 5:10 a.m. local time for a watch party. 

Prime Minister Mark Carney will also be up in hopes of watching Team Canada strike gold. The Prime Minister’s Office says Carney will be cheering on the Canadian men Sunday in Chelsea, Que., which is just northwest of the Ottawa-Gatineau area.

Canada earned its spot in the gold medal game with a late go-ahead goal against Finland, winning 3-2 after trailing 2-0 in the semifinal Friday. 

The U.S. cruised into the gold medal game, handily beating Slovakia 6-2 on Friday. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 21, 2026.