Just like fans across Canada, NHL players are getting caught up in Blue Jays fever. Couture watches every game, even when in San Jose, because after so many games without much of a payoff, he doesn't want to miss anything now.
"Even before some of our games I'm following," Couture said. "I'm a pretty die-hard fan, so to finally see them putting a streak like this together and to give themselves a chance to make the post-season has been pretty incredible as a fan."
Along with Couture, you can count Sharks teammate Joel Ward, Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings and Teddy Purcell of the Edmonton Oilers among the hockey players who are also Blue Jays fans.
The past few weeks have been something special, since the Blue Jays acquired shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and ace pitcher David Price at the end of July and won 15 of 18 games. Couture left his phone at home on July 30 to play golf and returned to 27 text messages about Toronto getting Price.
"I definitely did not see that coming," Couture said.
Wilson, 21, got to his third game of the season a few days later using tickets from relief pitcher and Capitals fan Brett Cecil and sat in the row behind Price's parents for the lefty's debut.
"He obviously really earned the hometown respect right out of the gate," said Wilson, who lives a short walk from Rogers Centre. "He had bases loaded, zero out and he dialed in and got out of that jam. He's been nothing but great so far. I think everyone's just really excited to have something to cheer about and have the Jays doing so well."
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