Winnipeg fans make long journey to Boston to see Team Canada win — and support a friend

Lifelong friends of Winnipeg-born forward Seth Jarvis say driving all the way to Boston was worth it to see their home boy lace up his skates for Canada as the team defeated the United States in the thrilling 4 Nations Face-Off overtime final.

Brian Hanna said Canada's scrappy victory capped what had been an already "electric" Thursday night at TD Garden, in a game that saw Jarvis, 23, in the lineup for Team Canada.

Hanna and four others — Sloan Tremblay, Matt McLeod, Lucas Fry and Lucas Humble — made the roughly 30-hour trek to support their friend, someone some of them have known since he was 10 years old.

"Having it end that way … made the whole trip worth it," Hanna told Information Radio host Marcy Markusa. "It was pretty cool to be part of history and just to be able to say I was there … [and] one day tell my kids that I was there."

The group had planned to fly to the city, but the trip got rescheduled a couple of times. It was only two days before the game that they made the rush decision to cram themselves into an SUV and drive to Boston.

Fry told CBC's As It Happens they knew they had to find a way to get to the arena.

Listen | Childhood friends cheer on Winnipeg's Seth Jarvis at 4 Nations

Information Radio - MB7:26Cheering for a Friend: Winnipeg Fans in Boston for Team Canada’s Big Win

A group of friends from Winnipeg made the trip to Boston to cheer on their buddy, Seth Jarvis, as he hit the ice for Team Canada in the 4 Nations face-off. After a thrilling 3-2 victory over the U.S., they’re heading home with unforgettable memories—plus a moment on national TV. Bryan Hanna shares the experience of supporting a friend on hockey’s big stage.

Their Canadian jerseys drew a lot of banter as they walked Boston's streets on the way to the arena, Fry said, but the friends said all the trash talk with the American fans was in good fun despite some booing in the arena during the Canadian anthem.

"We got a couple of other Canadians in the section singing," Humble said. "I kind of lost my voice, but yeah, the boys were going hard."

"I think we were all pretty nervous going into that overtime," Fry added. "We're all Jets fans and we weren't sure how many goals we were going to get past Connor Hellebuyck."

The friends got a chance to meet Jarvis and some of his teammates after the game.

WATCH | Winnipeggers make trek to Boston to see friend Seth Jarvis play in 4 Nations Face-Off:

Friends of Team Canada's Jarvis drive over 30 hours for 4 Nations final

12 hours ago

Duration 6:18

After his flight was cancelled, Bryan Hanna made the long drive from Winnipeg to Boston with four others to support their childhood friend and Team Canada forward Seth Jarvis. Jarvis and the rest of the team pulled off a dramatic overtime win against the U.S. at the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game on Thursday.

"Shows how crazy Canadians are," Jarvis said about the lengths his friends went to to be there. "It means a lot to everybody. That's just a really good example."

"We made sure to let him know," Fry said.