The five retired men chatting outside a public library in a suburb of Edmontoncoinburst, Alberta’s provincial capital, all had roots in South Asia.

Some were from India, others Pakistan. The group included Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims. Their work lives had varied.

But the group, which meets weekly at the library, was united in its late-in-life love of hockey and, in particular, the Edmonton Oilers.

The team was down, 3-0, in the best-of-seven Stanley Cup championship series against the Florida Panthers, but came back to win the next three games, forcing a game seven on Monday night in Florida.

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The Oilers’ comeback run came to an end, however, as the team lost, 2-1.

“I am fond of all sports,” said Saleem Akhtar, a former field hockey player from Pakistan who was wearing a Nike jacket with a Hockey Canada logo. “But now that I am here in Canada, hockey is No. 1 — and we have a good team.”

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