1993: Czechoslovakia splits into two parts. Monica Seles is stabbed in the back. Jurassic Park breaks box office records. Kenny G and Billy Ray Cyrus have top ten albums.

1993: The last time a Canadian team wins the Stanley Cup.

It's almost hard to believe it's been that long since a club from the mecca of ice hockey has lifted Lord Stanley's Cup. With a fervor for the sport similar to Aussie Rules devotees in Melbourne, Canadian fans have been denied bragging rights in the world's best professional hockey league for eighteen years.

Now you understand why that recent Olympic gold medal meant so much to the country.

As we get closer to the 2011 Stanley Cup finals, there is only one Canadian team left: the Vancouver Canucks.

Now I'd be wrong to suggest that all Canadians are hoping Vancouver wins the Cup. There are plenty of Maple Leafs, Canadiens, Senators, Flames and Oilers fans who could give two Loonies (memo ed: a Canadian coin joke) about the Canucks.

But given the fact that the NHL's final four is likely to include Vancouver, the San Jose Sharks, Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins, most hardcore hockey fans would probably lean towards the old school Bruins or the Canucks.

Although not as desperate as those in Toronto - the Leafs' last Stanley Cup was 1967 - Canucks' fans still fall into the frustrated category. This is the club's 40th season and in that time, Vancouver has made it to the Stanley Cup finals twice, losing on both occasions.

The most recent was 1994, and it was one of the most passionate series in NHL history. It went to seven games, and when it was all over, the New York Rangers had won the franchise's first Stanley Cup in 54 years.

While New York celebrated, the normally placid folk of Vancouver could take no more. They hit the streets, overturning cars and breaking windows. Police fired tear gas in what was an ugly scene in the normally beautiful city.

In recent years, the frustration levels have increased because the team has had such promise. In the past seven seasons, Vancouver has won the division title five times. But three of the last four years, they've lost in the conference semi-finals.

With Canadian Olympic hero Roberto Luongo in goal, the Sedin Twins - Henrik and Daniel - and other talented players like Ryan Kesler and Alex Burrows , the Canucks are built to win now. Many thought 2010 was the year, but they were eliminated by the Blackhawks.

Now, a year later, the Canucks finished with the NHL's best regular season record, and they have home ice advantage all the way through the playoffs. The fans, of course, are on edge. Nothing short of a Stanley Cup will do and if they fail, the disappointment factor will be as high as the nearby Whistler ski resort.

And, in a twist of irony, the pressure is on from south of the border too. Seattle, just a three-hour drive from Vancouver, lost its basketball team to Oklahoma City a few year ago, and while that cowtown goes nuts over its Thunder in the NBA playoffs, the jilted fans of Seattle want nothing to do with their former team.

Instead, many former Sonics' fans have jumped on the Canucks bandwagon. "It's wrong to say the Canucks have in any way replaced the Sonics," says KJR Sportsradio talk host Mike Gastineau. "But there's certainly a heightened sense of awareness about them and that's due in part to the Sonics departure."

So that's turned up the heat even more. The Canucks are carrying the weight of the city of Vancouver, the province of British Columbia, much of Canada, and some of Seattle too. And that's not taking into account the Canuck diaspora, which includes plenty of passionate fans here in Australia.

With another win at home, Vancouver moves into the Western Conference finals for the first time since that magical 1994 season. Let's hope they get through and win the Cup. For the sake of the fans and for the Vancouver Police Department.