If old residents of the Junction could only see us now. In an unusual move, Toronto city council has voted in favour of allowing bars to serve alcohol at 7am so that hockey fans can watch the Canadian men's hockey team battle for gold with a bit of a buzz. Exciting news for "Toronto the Good," but it should be noted that we need to get through the Americans first. Perhaps some will want a stiff drink if the men fall to the U.S. tomorrow, but I suspect that few will plan to wake up and start all over again for a Canada-free finals.

The vote, which passed 37-4, actually allows restaurants and bars (nightclubs are excluded) to serve early on both Saturday and Sunday, though one imagines that it will only make sense for establishments to open at dawn for the gold medal game, which starts at 7am. As if there wasn't enough riding on the men's team getting through tomorrow's semi-final, now the hopes of rabid beer drinkers across the city will also rest upon Sidney Crosby & Co.'s shoulders. Should Team Canada make the finals and take home gold, you can bet one prominent Torontonian will do a victory dance to end victory dances.

Photo by Duncan Rawlinson