During Game 1 of the Maple Leafs first-round series against the Lightning, the Sportsnet broadcast showed two fans wearing Lightning gear cheering on Tampa Bay.
It wasn't anything out of the ordinary. Fans travel for games, especially in the postseason, all the time. Apparel of the visiting clubs is always apparent at these games.
However, two weeks later, when the Sportsnet broadcast showed two Panthers fans during Game 1 of the Leafs' second-round series, it caused a lot of viewers to do a double-take.
It was the same two people, this time donning Florida jerseys.
Ummmm pic.twitter.com/xULVLwLkDD
— Rufus (@rufus_mcdaniel) May 3, 2023
Turns out, the pair aren't just displaced Florida residents rooting on both teams from the Sunshine State.
They are the biggest Leafs haters you'll find.
THERE'S MORE 😭
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 3, 2023
If you know who this guy is, DM us 🤣 https://t.co/UpHV9LdE1N pic.twitter.com/GkPkE1pB0n
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So who are these anti-Leafs fans? The Sporting News details the pair and why they are rooting against Toronto.
Who are the viral anti-Leafs fans?
The two Leafs trollers are Erv and Dani Di Giusto, a father-daughter pair from Toronto.
Erv has had season tickets for Leafs games for over two decades, dating back to when the club played at Maple Leafs Gardens. He attends every home game for the Maple Leafs, donning a jersey for whoever their opponents are that night.
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"We've been season ticket holders for a long time and my dad has always cheered for the opponent," Dani said in an interview with NHL.com on Wednesday. "Growing up I learned it's everything but Leafs. It really started this year with me because I started buying more of the jerseys; my dad always had them so this year we've been consistently wearing the opposing team's jerseys and coming to games cheering for the opposing team."
The daughter explained how the pair are Canadiens fans first, and then they root for whoever is playing against the Leafs.
"My dad always liked watching Jean Beliveau and Guy Lafleur and the Habs are the rivals of the Leafs so when Montreal wasn't playing Toronto, it was just kind of 'okay we will cheer for the Habs and then whoever is playing the Leafs,'" Dani said. "For me I was taught to dislike the Leafs and cheer for the Habs instead. I used to play goalie so I really admired Carey Price and the way he played and me and my dad would always watch his games together."
While they've been trolling the Leafs for years, it wasn't until the 2023 playoffs that the duo was noticed.
It was easy to spot Dani and Erv at the Leafs-Panthers game. There weren't many Panthers fans and the two stuck out, sitting in a lower bowl with their bright-blue Florida sweaters.
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Little did they know that getting captured by the camera would catapult them into viral fame. The duo has gained the respect of many fellow anti-Leafs fans online for their commitment to trolling.
They’re too powerful. The amount of hater energy it takes to own 31 other teams jerseys just to hate on the Leafs could power a small shopping center. https://t.co/bMfY4r8gln
— LochSens Monster (Off-Season Mode) (@SensMonster) May 3, 2023
Nothing but respect for full-time Leafs haters https://t.co/dLRx6wRGY4
— Sickos On Ice (@SickosOnIce) May 3, 2023
how much money has this man spent on jerseys for other teams... never mind how much he has spent on tickets to leafs games... never seen someone so dedicated to being a hater.... this is truly inspirational https://t.co/cFX6LkSRuj
— morgan⚡️ (@morganbolts) May 3, 2023
This man is a certified, first ballot, Hall of Fame Leafs hater.
— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) May 3, 2023
Let him cook I say 😤 pic.twitter.com/4pvo2W7b3X
The two plan on continuing their tradition as long as Toronto remains alive in the playoffs. This means that if the Leafs get past the Panthers in the second round, you can bet that the Di Giustos will be wearing either Hurricanes or Devils gear at Scotiabank Arena.
"It's a cool bonding experience because at the end of the day, we are all in the stadium cheering just to watch a good hockey game but there's something special because it's usually just us two cheering together on our own and there's something special about that, doing it together with my dad," Dani said.
