Bleary-eyed fans rejoice over coffee and beer after Olympic semifinal win

Hockey fans exploded in celebration after Canada’s come-from-behind Olympic semifinal victory over Finland, proving that whether you’re watching hockey over wings and beer or coffee and eggs, some things don’t change.

Supporters who were undeterred by the 7:40 a.m. puck drop were on their feet for the breakfast show at the Shark Club Sports Bar and Grill in Vancouver, where about 100 fans had gathered.

There was even a round of Stompin’ Tom Connors’s “The Hockey Song” after Canada’s 3-2 win that sends them into the gold-medal game.

Ken Carlstrom, wearing a Team Canada jersey, said his group would be back for the pre-dawn start of the final on Sunday.

“We’re booked, Sunday, 5 a.m. Same table, hopefully the same result,” he said.

The crowd had erupted with cheers and palpable relief as Canada pulled ahead with about 30 seconds left in the game, only to wait for a few tense moments as Finland unsuccessfully challenged the play.

Michael Nowik flew in from Calgary to join Carlstrom and other Vancouver-based friends to take in a weekend of Olympic hockey together. 

“We’re Canadian. That’s all it is. We’re here to support the team and yeah, it’s awesome.”

Coffee and beer alike were both flowing as bleary-eyed fans in Western Canada tuned in to the breakfast semifinal.

At Kelly’s Pub in downtown Edmonton, Amelia Carruthers said watching a game at home “doesn’t have the same camaraderie.”

“You have these fans here cheering and groaning and it’s fun,” she said, after ordering breakfast with her daughter Chloe Paré.

“The tater tots are amazing,” she added, saying she was a little taken aback that others were ordering beer.

At a nearby table, Schyla Courtorielle sat with a friend and her dad, who was working on a laptop.

“We can plug in and have the game on in the background while still working,” said Courtorielle, adding she had taken in a lot of early morning Olympic hockey so far.

“We start with breakfast and tea, and once we have some food in our system, then we’ll move to the booze,” she said.

At the Shark Club Sports Bar and Grill in Vancouver, there were servings of breakfast tacos, home fries, eggs and bacon, alongside coffee, Guinness and mimosas.

Australian Simon Marshall only arrived in Canada the night before but managed to pick up a Team Canada jersey before watching the match.

He was jet-lagged and admitted he was still learning the finer points of the game.

“I watched ‘Mighty Ducks,’ 1, 2 and 3 for the second time recently, just to educate myself,” said Marshall, who noted he typically just follows the Summer Games.

“I’m just a sport lover, so I’m trying to embrace the Winter Olympics.” 

Malik Dhami and John Cookson, who were sipping coffee, not beer, at the Vancouver bar said despite the early hour, it was important to share the fan experience.

“Sure, we could watch it in the four walls of our own homes,” explained Dhami. “As a Canadian, you’ve got to come out.”

“We were just looking for a place that would have the game on and would have it loud,” Cookson said.

General manager Murray Saunders said the city extended the bar’s liquor licence for the Olympics and it could be serving beer as early as 5:30 a.m. for Sunday’s pre-dawn men’s final.

“It’s cheering on Canada,” Saunders said about why people came to his bar so early on Friday.

He said the Vancouver Goldeneyes hockey team was in the packed bar on Thursday to watch the “amazing” Canada-U.S. women’s final, and the bar is already fully booked for the men’s final.

— By Brenna Owen in Vancouver and Rob Drinkwater in Edmonton

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 20, 2026.