The sparks have settled — and Borderview Electric is moving on to the PV Cup Final.
With the Florida Panthers punching their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final after a win over the Carolina Hurricanes, that means Borderview Electric has officially outlasted D.A. Loewen Electric in the PV Cup — and the friendly rivalry between Winkler’s two electrical powerhouses just added another charge.
“We compete on jobs, and yeah, we want to beat them,” said Eric Unrau, co-owner of Borderview. “But when we get it, we’re happy. When they get it, we’re happy for them. It’s a healthy competition.”
During a chat following the big win, we asked Eric if the relationship between Winkler’s two major electrical companies is a bit like what you see in hockey — fierce competition on the ice, but mutual respect once the buzzer sounds.
“Yeah, yeah,” Unrau said. “You shake hands and you have respect for the other guys. You win some, you lose some. Usually if one of us is doing good, it benefits both, right?”
The PV Cup — a local playoff-style contest where 16 Winkler and Morden businesses were randomly assigned an NHL team — has been all about community connection, sports-style fun, and a dash of light-hearted trash talk. But what’s emerged along the way is something even better: a deeper appreciation for local businesses and the people behind them.
With D.A. Loewen out and Borderview still standing, the Panthers (and their Winkler backers) await the winner of the Western Conference Final — likely to be the Edmonton Oilers. When asked if he’d support the Canadian team out of national loyalty, Unrau had a quick response: “At least it’s not the Leafs.”
The PV Cup Final is nearly here, and while the hockey drama continues to unfold, one thing’s for sure — Winkler’s business community is full of heart, humour, and high-voltage camaraderie.
Stay tuned to see if Borderview Electric can bring the cup home as we wait to see if Morris Bigway Foods(Edmonton Oilers) or Janzen Chev (Dallas Stars) advance to play for the cup!