The Calgary Flames are now officially Canada's team.

Who would have thought?

A year ago it would have seemed impossible for the then-lowly Flames to make such an inspiring charge through the Stanley Cup playoffs, but that's exactly what's happening. And now even Yukoners are jumping on the ever-growing Flames bandwagon, a territory which is usually reserved for Canucks and Oilers fans with a bunch of Leafs and Habs fans thrown in.

'I hate the Flames,' stated Jay Glass, a well-known local hockey figure. 'I'm a Vancouver fan so I hate Calgary. But yes, I am sort of cheering for them. I'm cheering for the Flames and Tampa.

'But I would like to say I do think they (the Flames) got lucky.'

It's a common theme among local residents the Flames have become the Yukon's team by default.

'Those damn Flames,' said Whitehorse Mayor Ernie Bourassa. 'They beat my Canucks. But I guess I'm cheering for them. You've got to hope for the Canadian team.'

'It's nice to see the smaller payrolls beat the bigger payrolls,' said Liberal leader Pat Duncan, who's seven-year-old son Craig recently had a flaming C shaved in the back of his hair.

Craig may be one of the only legitimate Flames fans in the territory, as he's been cheering for the boys from Cowtown for a few years. He already has a backpack and cap emblazoned with the C.

'He didn't sprain his ankle jumping on the bandwagon like the rest of us,' laughed Duncan.

Chief Supt. Darrell Madill, commanding officer of Yukon RCMP and a Saskatchewan native, said Calgary always seemed the natural choice for him while growing up.

'That's as close to a Saskatchewan team as there is I think, that's why I cheer for the Flames. Either them or Edmonton.'

Ah yes, Edmonton. In an unprecedented move even Oilers fans, bred for years to hate the Flames, find themselves painfully hopping on the wagon.

'I caught myself the other night, when they beat Detroit, cheering and then thinking, What am I doing?'' said Niels Brouwer, owner of Game 7 Sports.

Glass recently returned from a trip to Edmonton, where he spotted something rather strange.

'I saw a few (Calgary) car flags in Edmonton while driving around,' he said in disbelief. 'When would you ever see that?'

Perhaps it's because the Flames, with their speed and determination, are a lot like the young Oilers, or at least they play the brand of hockey many Canadians can't resist.

'It's been great hockey,' said Duncan. 'It's not the clutch and grab we saw so much of before and it's been great for the country.

'Jarome Iginla has such class in his answers to the media it's about the team, it's about the team.''

'I absolutely love the way they've played this year, with their heart,' added NDP leader Todd Hardy. 'They remind me of a bunch of construction workers who really show up for work.

'They have hardworking, very dedicated players, a great coach and the best captain in the NHL without a doubt. Iginla, with his freshness and love of the game ... he leads totally by example.'

Premier Dennis Fentie, normally an Oilers fan, has also enjoyed watching the Flames in this year's playoffs, adding they kind of represent what the Yukon is about a small group that's very hardworking.

Many believe that work ethic is what will take Calgary all the way to the Stanley Cup.

'They're working really hard and that's why I respect them,' said Glass, who predicted Calgary over San Jose in seven games 'only because they're lucky' and Tampa Bay over Philadelphia in six.

'I'd like to see a Calgary-Tampa Bay final. Tampa will beat Calgary in six though and (Martin) St. Louis will be the Conn Smythe winner.'

Hardy also believes the Flames will overcome the Sharks in six games and that the Lightning will burn Philly.

'I'm hoping for Tampa Bay and I'm hoping that Calgary gets to face them because I think they can beat them,' he said. 'The best goalie left standing right now is (Miikka) Kipprusoff.'

'If the Flames make it to the final, they have an excellent chance of winning it all considering their work ethic and determination,' added Fentie. 'And they have an outstanding netminder.'

In fact, Bourassa may be the only one who's being somewhat cautious about the Western Conference final, at least he had been before last night's 4-1 Flames victory.

'I actually think the Sharks are going to win,' he said. 'I like the way they came out against the Flames in Game 1.

'I think they work as hard as the Flames and are more talented. I think they'll win the Stanley Cup.'

Bourassa may be a bit influenced in his decision though. Sharks play-by-play announcer Randy Hahn attended high school in Whitehorse with the mayor, and actually got his first broadcasting experience at local station CKRW.

Even so, it's unlikely many residents will be persuaded. There are already a few Calgary car flags and stickers travelling around Whitehorse and anyone wishing to purchase new merchandise now is out of luck.

'We're sold out of all Flames memorabilia,' said Brouwer. 'We've sold all of our red jerseys with the black C. We only have one white jersey left.

'And CCM, the company which makes them, is out of stock (in Western Canada). Everything is on back order. I don't think I'll be getting any more in until the fall. I do have one Atlanta Flames cap left. I'm surprised nobody's scooped that up yet.'