Ottawa Fan 'Banished' to Taiwan After Playoff Jinx

Chris Kunitz's goal in 2017 made him Ottawa's villain, but nearly a decade later, superfan Kyle Ivan embraced that role in a unique way. Following the Senators' return to the playoffs, Ivan released a parody song of Eminem's 'Without Me,' which quickly drew widespread criticism online and was deemed a 'cringe' jinx.

Ivan, a musician, had previously created playoff-themed parody songs, but this latest endeavor backfired dramatically. The internet united to call his song 'cringe,' and the Hurricanes took a 2-0 series lead, fueling belief in the jinx. The Senators organization played along with the superstition.

Ahead of Game 3, the team posted a video of Ivan in Taiwan, jokingly stating they wanted him as far from the arena as possible. Though the team did not actually send him there, they embraced the narrative. This elaborate 'banishment' to the other side of the world was seen as an over-the-top attempt to undo the perceived curse.

Despite the banishment, Ottawa lost Game 3, prompting a humorous post from the Hurricanes suggesting he should have been sent to the moon. Both Ivan and the Senators expressed willingness to go to extreme lengths for a Stanley Cup win, with Ivan even joking about a trip to the moon. Ivan's good-natured response to the viral moment highlights the absurdity and passion of sports fandom.