Ice hockey is hugely popular in Canada, but it`s been a while since a Canadian team won the Stanley Cup.
It`s been over 30 years since a Canadian team won the NHL championship. Back in 1992-93, the Montreal Canadiens, with stars like Brian Bellows and Patrick Roy, dominated the playoffs and won their 24th Stanley Cup.
Since then, only seven Canadian teams have reached the finals, but none have won. In the 2025 playoffs, the Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets, and Toronto Maple Leafs are all hoping to break this long dry spell.
The world was very different the last time a Canadian team won. Let`s look back at what was happening in 1993.
`Jurassic Park` Was a Movie Sensation
Now, it seems like there`s a `Jurassic Park` movie every few years. But in 1993, the first movie, directed by Steven Spielberg, was groundbreaking. It had a fantastic cast including Sam Neill and Laura Dern. The dinosaurs, especially the velociraptors and T-Rex, were incredible thanks to amazing special effects. The movie made almost a billion dollars and won several Academy Awards.
The PDF File Was Introduced
We all use PDF files today. Adobe launched the first version of this file format on June 15, 1993, shortly after the Canadiens` Stanley Cup victory.
`I Will Always Love You` Topped Music Charts
Dolly Parton originally wrote `I Will Always Love You,` but Whitney Houston`s powerful version for `The Bodyguard` movie soundtrack became a massive hit. Released in late 1992, it reached the top of the Billboard charts in 1993.
The Term `Spam` Was Coined
Unwanted mass messages existed before, but 1993 is when they first got called `spam.` After a user accidentally sent many messages to a newsgroup, someone called it `spam,` and the name stuck.
Michael Jackson`s Super Bowl Performance Stunned Audiences
At Super Bowl XXVII in 1993, Michael Jackson gave an iconic halftime show. He captivated the audience with a long pause before starting his performance, which included hits like `Jam,` `Billie Jean,` and `Black or White.` His show was so good that TV ratings actually went up during halftime for the first time in Super Bowl history.
`Doom` Changed Video Games
1993 was a huge year for video games with releases like Myst and Star Fox. But `Doom,` a first-person shooter game, was especially influential. Its 3D graphics and intense multiplayer mode were revolutionary, becoming so popular that some universities banned it from their networks.
Rupert Hartwell