Manitoba bars and restaurants were given the green light to open their doors early Sunday morning as Canadians tuned in to watch the Olympic men’s hockey team chase gold.
The provincial government announced the temporary change ahead of the gold medal matchup, allowing licensed establishments to begin serving as early as 5 a.m. for the nationally televised game.
“When Team Canada plays for gold, the whole country leans in,” Premier Wab Kinew said in a news release. “From Elkhorn to Winnipeg, Manitobans will be waking up early to cheer together. That’s why we’re allowing bars and restaurants to open early, so friends, families and neighbours can gather, share that energy and celebrate what unites us.”
Under Section 11(5) of Manitoba’s Liquor Regulation, the executive director of the Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba may authorize extended liquor service hours for events of community, provincial or national significance.
Licensed establishments that applied for early opening were required to serve liquor no earlier than 5 a.m. and no earlier than one hour before the televised event began, ensure the premises were closed and vacated for at least one hour the previous night, and open specifically for the purpose of televising the Olympic event.
Across the province, early risers gathered in licensed venues to watch Team Canada face the United States in the gold medal game.
The tightly contested game remained scoreless through regulation before heading to overtime tied 1-1.
The United States sealed a 2-1 victory in overtime.
While the outcome did not go Canada’s way, the early morning gatherings reflected the national pride and camaraderie that accompany Olympic hockey — even in defeat.
