Hello Everyone! How are you all? Wow it was a big weekend for me, reading about the lockout and everyone's opinions. Players and fans seem to have a lot to say. Most of it at the end of the day seems to come down to pure passion for the game. Every fan I have spoken to lately just really wants to see their team play again and in a city like Vancouver I hear not only Canuck fans but Buffalo fans, Montreal fans, Toronto fans, Detroit fans, Boston fans, Calgary fans, Edmonton fans, Chicago fans and even Los Angeles fans and they all have the same thing to say. They all love their teams and they just want hockey. They don't talk about the business of hockey they just want to watch the game.
I am still a fairly new hockey fan. Turning on a game for my first time 4 years ago. I have really done my research about what the lockout means. This lockout seems to be a lot different then the last lockout, that wiped out the 2004-05 season. And even though the business of hockey has been taking different forms, after listening to fans talk and watching players practice I believe the passion for the game has stayed the same.
Case and point, yesterday's practice. Even though he is on the injured list and therefore still being paid by the Canucks, the newest Canuck, Jason Garrison was at UBC yesterday on a different rink, running drills with a Canucks trainer. I have to say I was more then happy when I spotted him. Garrison was someone who I was trying to get a glimpse of. He skated with his new teammates prior to the lockout and during the lockout I read he was skating out in Richmond. Then I heard he was at UBC few times but never on the days I was there.
Garrison was one of about 6 people who manned the coaching position during the "Bieksa's Buddies" charity game October 17th but he wasn't in his hockey gear and I couldn't watch him skate.
Yesterday was the day though. I walked into the building, heard some classic hockey noises to my left and walked over to see. I was expecting to see Kesler or Edler or maybe some kids during their lessons but nope, it was Garrison! Flying solo, Jason hard some slick moves. The drill was fun to watch. It was forward skating, backward skating, moving the puck all while having a good time. What can I say? It was great to see him skate!
I am still a fairly new hockey fan. Turning on a game for my first time 4 years ago. I have really done my research about what the lockout means. This lockout seems to be a lot different then the last lockout, that wiped out the 2004-05 season. And even though the business of hockey has been taking different forms, after listening to fans talk and watching players practice I believe the passion for the game has stayed the same.
Case and point, yesterday's practice. Even though he is on the injured list and therefore still being paid by the Canucks, the newest Canuck, Jason Garrison was at UBC yesterday on a different rink, running drills with a Canucks trainer. I have to say I was more then happy when I spotted him. Garrison was someone who I was trying to get a glimpse of. He skated with his new teammates prior to the lockout and during the lockout I read he was skating out in Richmond. Then I heard he was at UBC few times but never on the days I was there.
Garrison was one of about 6 people who manned the coaching position during the "Bieksa's Buddies" charity game October 17th but he wasn't in his hockey gear and I couldn't watch him skate.
Yesterday was the day though. I walked into the building, heard some classic hockey noises to my left and walked over to see. I was expecting to see Kesler or Edler or maybe some kids during their lessons but nope, it was Garrison! Flying solo, Jason hard some slick moves. The drill was fun to watch. It was forward skating, backward skating, moving the puck all while having a good time. What can I say? It was great to see him skate!
Newest Canuck Jason Garrison skating at UBC!
Willie Mitchell talking to press Monday post practice. I did hear him tell the story of his weekend which I saw on Twitter!
This is a good one! Yes I am on twitter. My account is @hockeytalkcourt. Yes I mainly follow hockey related things including team's official accounts, players, and a bunch of fantastic hockey fans! Recently I started following BC boy and current Stanley Cup winner Willie Mitchell. On Saturday I was scrolling through Twitter and found a few pics of Mitchell with his grandparents. Then I saw another tweet by Mitchell with red wine, a fire, and talking about how Tofino is #paradise.
Well I am not going to argue that. I am a Vancouver Island girl as much as Mitchell is a Vancouver Island boy. You can take the kid off the island but you can't take the island out of the kid. I grew up in Sidney, Mitchell grew up in Port McNeill I haven't actually been to Tofino but literally I have been to every other place on the island. My friends often head off to Tofino for surfing weekends and family of mine who live in Port Alberni just (south of Tofino) head up there often. So I knew when Mitchell posted that photo he was clearly having a great time in one of the most beautiful parts of Vancouver Island.
I kept scrolling through Twitter and saw another tweet by Mitchell not long after the lovely red wine and fire photo, but this photo involved beer, terrible lightning and people in the background? Weird I thought? Then I saw a tweet saying there was a 7.1 earthquake off the coast of British Columbia. Quickly I did some research to see if anything terrible happened. Nobody was reported hurt and no huge damage. So Mitchell had gone from grandparents smiling and laughing, to romantic fire with red wine to flourescent lighting and cheap beer. All with a smile on his face. What can I say, it really made me like the guy even more then I already do. Talented and a sense of humour?! Below I have included the tweets I saw Saturday night!
Well I am not going to argue that. I am a Vancouver Island girl as much as Mitchell is a Vancouver Island boy. You can take the kid off the island but you can't take the island out of the kid. I grew up in Sidney, Mitchell grew up in Port McNeill I haven't actually been to Tofino but literally I have been to every other place on the island. My friends often head off to Tofino for surfing weekends and family of mine who live in Port Alberni just (south of Tofino) head up there often. So I knew when Mitchell posted that photo he was clearly having a great time in one of the most beautiful parts of Vancouver Island.
I kept scrolling through Twitter and saw another tweet by Mitchell not long after the lovely red wine and fire photo, but this photo involved beer, terrible lightning and people in the background? Weird I thought? Then I saw a tweet saying there was a 7.1 earthquake off the coast of British Columbia. Quickly I did some research to see if anything terrible happened. Nobody was reported hurt and no huge damage. So Mitchell had gone from grandparents smiling and laughing, to romantic fire with red wine to flourescent lighting and cheap beer. All with a smile on his face. What can I say, it really made me like the guy even more then I already do. Talented and a sense of humour?! Below I have included the tweets I saw Saturday night!
The 1st tweet I saw from Willie Mitchell Saturday
The 2nd tweet I saw shortly after. Looks romantic and oh so relaxing. Tofino really does look like paradise.
Then this tweet which made me laugh out loud. Way to roll with the punches Mitchell. When red wine and a fire are no longer an option have a good time drinking beer in bad lighting. Being an island girl I totally get it. Us island folk can have a great time anywhere!
Henrik and Daniel Sedin talking to coach post practice.
Then to wrap up practice Monday at UBC I saw this. I wasn't anywhere near the Sedins or the UBC coach but the moment I saw this I ran over and grabbed a photo. I had no idea what they were talking about but whatever it was all 3 were communicating. It really was simply put two of the most talented hockey players in the world discussing something with the University of British Columbia's head coach Milan Dragicevic. I took a few pictures, went back to my seat and watched the last few players step off the ice. I looked over and saw the twins and Coach Dragicevic were still talking. I watched the last two players step off the ice and yes the twins were still there. I looked up at the scoreboard to see the time. They had been talking to Coach Dragicevic for nearly 10 minutes. I thought to myself "wow". While all the press is on the other side of the rink probably asking Schneider and Malhotra about the lockout and Mitchell about his weekend the pure passion for the game is unfolding on the ice and nobody is noticing.
Who are these two? Daniel and Henrik Sedin, 2nd and 3rd overall draft picks in 1999. Captain and Associate Captain to the Vancouver Canucks, Stanley Cup finalists, All-Stars, they both played on the Gold Medal winning Swedish Olympic Team in Turin in 2006. Here they are discussing something on the ice for nearly 10 minutes with the coach well after practice had ended. If that doesn't scream passion for the game and dedication to the game I don't know what does. I was so intrigued by what they were talking about I waited 'till they stepped of the ice to ask them. Daniel was leading the way with Henrik not far behind. They were stopped for autographs and I waited till they were done. As Daniel walked by me I said "Excuse me, can you please tell me what you were talking about over there? Was it drills?" Daniel took a second and said to me "We were talking about power play stuff." I smiled and said "Thank you." I couldn't help but laugh. Of course two of the most talented guys in the league, who have an understanding of the game much better then most, can spend 10 minutes talking about "Power play stuff"
Can't wait to see what I see next time at practice! Enjoy X
Who are these two? Daniel and Henrik Sedin, 2nd and 3rd overall draft picks in 1999. Captain and Associate Captain to the Vancouver Canucks, Stanley Cup finalists, All-Stars, they both played on the Gold Medal winning Swedish Olympic Team in Turin in 2006. Here they are discussing something on the ice for nearly 10 minutes with the coach well after practice had ended. If that doesn't scream passion for the game and dedication to the game I don't know what does. I was so intrigued by what they were talking about I waited 'till they stepped of the ice to ask them. Daniel was leading the way with Henrik not far behind. They were stopped for autographs and I waited till they were done. As Daniel walked by me I said "Excuse me, can you please tell me what you were talking about over there? Was it drills?" Daniel took a second and said to me "We were talking about power play stuff." I smiled and said "Thank you." I couldn't help but laugh. Of course two of the most talented guys in the league, who have an understanding of the game much better then most, can spend 10 minutes talking about "Power play stuff"
Can't wait to see what I see next time at practice! Enjoy X
The twins talking to coach about the PP. This is why they have gotten so far. They are two of the hardest working hockey players I have ever seen on the ice. If they can spend 10 minutes talking about the power play at their level the rest of us have no excuses.
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