Joe Biden takes shot at Maple Leafs during Parliament speech

The Toronto Maple Leafs are certainly hated across Canada, as their fans are constantly reminded of their playoff failures and not winning a Stanley Cup since 1967, but a shot from the current President of the United States is another matter altogether.

During a speech in the nation’s capital on Friday, Joe Biden took a moment to let everyone know that he does enjoy hockey and Canada’s many sports teams — except for one.

“Our labour unions cross borders. So do our sports leagues — baseball, basketball, and hockey. Listen to this, hockey. I have to say, I like your teams, except the Leafs,” Biden quipped, leading to, you guessed, a standing ovation and raucous cheers.

“I’ll tell you why. They beat the [Philadelphia] Flyers back in January, that’s why. If I didn’t say that, I married a Philly girl; if I didn’t say that, I’d be sleeping alone, fellas. I like you. I don’t like you that much.”

The Maple Leafs did, in fact, beat the Flyers 6-2 on January 8 in Philadelphia — hardly an impressive feat these days, as the Flyers are one of the worst teams in the NHL.

Toronto is 3-0 against the Flyers this season, winning their other two games in December and November.

Biden may not realize that the Flyers are responsible for eliminating the Maple Leafs in the second round of the NHL playoffs in May 2004 when winger Jeremy Roenick scored the Game 6 overtime winner to send the buds packing. Toronto has failed to advance to the second round of the playoffs ever since.

With 95 points entering Saturday, the Maple Leafs are Canada’s best team at the moment, ahead of the Edmonton Oilers (90 points), Winnipeg Jets (85 points), Calgary Flames (79 points), Ottawa Senators (75 points), Vancouver Canucks (69 points), and Montreal Canadiens (62 points).

It’s Biden’s first trip to Canada as President of the United States. Biden, in brief comments at the start of the Friday meeting, said he often tells other world leaders the United States is lucky to have Canada as a neighbour.

Trudeau, for his part, noted that he’s been able to work closely with Biden on economic, climate and security issues. “We have no greater friend and ally than the United States,” he said.