Midway through practice and the ice was full with about 26 players. So many players in fact the coach ran a drill with 4 hockey nets on the ice! It was busy but the players never lost a beat.
And so it begins, practice. Players getting instructions from Coach.
Unlike Friday when I popped by the rinks at UBC and I was running late. Today I was running early. I again had a busy morning but managed to make it out to UBC before a player even hit the ice. I walked into the arena and saw Ryan Kesler and Alex Edler skating on a rink across the hall from the one the Canucks usually practice on. Then I walked and looked at the rink the Canucks normally practice on. Nothing. The only thing that gave away something might be happening was that there were water bottles and clean towels draped over the boards.
I decided to go pop some more money in my meter and as I was walking out I saw a reporter from the Province newspaper and then a camera crew and reporter from Global TV. Once I plugged my meter and made it back into the rink practice was getting underway.
To say the least it was a very very busy practice. I tried to count and made it to 26 players before they started moving around. There were some Canucks: both Sedins, Higgins, Malhotra, Hamhuis, Bieksa and Schneider, but there were also a handful of other players from other NHL teams! I got very excited to see Tanner Glass skating. I really like Glass. The gritty 4th liner was fantastic to watch when the Canucks went on a wild run to the Stanley Cup Final a few years back. Never one to back away from getting physical Glass drops his gloves and does his job as a 4th line grinder to perfection. Tanner Glass also seems like one of the nicest guys in hockey. I have been lucky enough to see Tanner at 2 practices. One a few years back when he was playing with the Canucks and he was super chatty with all the children at practice. Then I saw him practice again when the Winnipeg Jets were in town last season. Again he was all smiles and super chatty with one huge Tanner Glass fan who was at practice. I bet Tanner made that little boy's day signing a puck for him and chatting about hockey.
Among other players on the ice there was James Reimer, netminder for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Another player was wearing Anahiem Ducks gear. His helmet said #14 and I figured out it was center Rod Pelley. Plus there was a very tall player who was wearing San Jose Sharks gear. His helmet said #2 and after some research I believe it to be defenceman Jim Vandermeer. It was quiet the montage of players. Pepper in a dozen UBC players and you got yourself a full sheet of ice!
It was a great practice to watch. It lasted about 90 minutes. Hopefully this lockout ends soon so these players can return to their teams and us fans get to start watching NHL hockey again!
I decided to go pop some more money in my meter and as I was walking out I saw a reporter from the Province newspaper and then a camera crew and reporter from Global TV. Once I plugged my meter and made it back into the rink practice was getting underway.
To say the least it was a very very busy practice. I tried to count and made it to 26 players before they started moving around. There were some Canucks: both Sedins, Higgins, Malhotra, Hamhuis, Bieksa and Schneider, but there were also a handful of other players from other NHL teams! I got very excited to see Tanner Glass skating. I really like Glass. The gritty 4th liner was fantastic to watch when the Canucks went on a wild run to the Stanley Cup Final a few years back. Never one to back away from getting physical Glass drops his gloves and does his job as a 4th line grinder to perfection. Tanner Glass also seems like one of the nicest guys in hockey. I have been lucky enough to see Tanner at 2 practices. One a few years back when he was playing with the Canucks and he was super chatty with all the children at practice. Then I saw him practice again when the Winnipeg Jets were in town last season. Again he was all smiles and super chatty with one huge Tanner Glass fan who was at practice. I bet Tanner made that little boy's day signing a puck for him and chatting about hockey.
Among other players on the ice there was James Reimer, netminder for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Another player was wearing Anahiem Ducks gear. His helmet said #14 and I figured out it was center Rod Pelley. Plus there was a very tall player who was wearing San Jose Sharks gear. His helmet said #2 and after some research I believe it to be defenceman Jim Vandermeer. It was quiet the montage of players. Pepper in a dozen UBC players and you got yourself a full sheet of ice!
It was a great practice to watch. It lasted about 90 minutes. Hopefully this lockout ends soon so these players can return to their teams and us fans get to start watching NHL hockey again!
UBC reminds everyone NO SKATES on the cement stairs. Reminds me of when I was young and couldn't wear my tap shoes outside.
Chris Higgins (2nd from left), Kevin Bieksa (2nd from right) and Dan Hamhuis (far right) waiting their turn at practice. On the left is Rod Pelley wearing the Anaheim Duck gear.
As a surprise, the mystery man turned out to be James Reimer of the Toronto Maple Leafs! Total there was Cory Schneider, Reimer,and two UBC goalies. They were busy running drills with roughly 22 skaters.
Bieksa was asked a lot of questions about his charity hockey game Wednesday night at UBC.
If there is one thing I love more then anything, it is back stage. I grew up dancing and acting and my favourite part of special features on DVDs is the behind the scenes. I loved last year when I got a press pass in Anaheim and got to see how the press box ran, the locker rooms and what the Honda Center looks like in the back. Today I happened to be standing at the end of the rink where the players get off the ice to go in the locker room. Usually at practice last year at Rogers Arena all of the press would talk to the players in the locker room so I never got to see it. Out at UBC the press stop the players before they get to the locker room. Again loving back stage and how things are created I could resist taking a few photos of the players post practice continuing to answer questions even though they aren't being paid a penny right now. The hot topics today from reporters were the frustration with the lockout and a lot of questions about Bieksa's Buddies Charity Hockey Game this Wednesday out at UBC. They were such hot topics Global News asked if they could ask me a few questions! It was really interesting just listening to the rhythm of the reporters and the players post practice questions. The reporters all began to stand together and chat when they could tell that practice was drawing to an end. They all seemed to know each other and were laughing and joking. The players began stepping off the ice and the buzz began. The reporters jumped into asked their questions while a few camera men video taped. Then I listened to the players answer questions which they have already been answering for the past few weeks.
Well that is what I saw at practice today. 26 hockey players and about 10 media personal. Can't wait to see what I see next time. Below you can also watch Henrik Sedin run his last drill of the day. It was the 2nd time he ran the drill. Henrik did it once, collected all the pucks put them in a pile and ran the drill again. It is a very simple drill but like I have said before one of the best parts about watching players at practice is them and the bare bones of hockey. Enjoy X
Well that is what I saw at practice today. 26 hockey players and about 10 media personal. Can't wait to see what I see next time. Below you can also watch Henrik Sedin run his last drill of the day. It was the 2nd time he ran the drill. Henrik did it once, collected all the pucks put them in a pile and ran the drill again. It is a very simple drill but like I have said before one of the best parts about watching players at practice is them and the bare bones of hockey. Enjoy X
Dan Hamhuis was the next Canuck stopped by press. It was a production line of questions, answers, microphones, and bright lights.
Last but not least #1 goalie Cory Schneider stopped to talk to the press and was frustrated with the #lockout plus Henrik Sedin was stopped after his last drill on the ice. It was a hot spot for players and reporters.
Cory Schneider followed the rules. No skates on the stairs! And that's a wrap on practice. See you next time! X
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