My 1st official Torts sighting of the year!
The players skated at UBC Thursday Hello Everyone! My my my what an exciting week in hockey. Every NHL team is getting ready for preseason. Tests, tests and more tests. Being based here in Vancouver I only really get a chance to watch the Canucks up close and personal during this time.
Thursday I popped out to the rink in the morning to see what I would see. Just driving into the parking lot I knew it was busy. There were a lot of cars. Inside on the rinks I saw evidence of drills. The ice was marked with black dots and it looked like a Zamboni was needed.
I continued on my way to the main rink and on the way I passed a sweaty Jason Garrison with a bottle of water in street clothes. Looked like he was done for a bit.
In the main rink nothing yet but you could tell everything was going to start soon. Within a couple of minute I saw John Tortorella step onto the ice. It was exciting. I did love Coach AV, Rick Bowness and Newell Brown. Great great great coaches but at the end of last season they were let go. Coach AV and Torts simply traded places because AV is now head coach of the New York Rangers. Bowness signed on to coach the Tampa Bay Lightning and Newell Brown has signed on with the Phoenix Coyotes. With Torts skating I did get goose bumps. What will this era of Canucks look like?
Soon Torts was joined by both Sedins, Alex Edler, Dan Hamhuis, Chris Tanev, Zach Kassian and a slew of guys vying for a spot on the team but most will likely be sent the AHL's Utica Comets. All in all it was a really fun testing session to watch. The guys warmed up a bit and then it was show time. Weaving into and out and all around. Countless laps around the rink.
Now the Canucks have on ice scrimmages for the next 3 days. Starting at 9am you can head to Rogers Arena and watch for FREE! Doors are at 8:30am. All you have to do it go to the Canuck website, click on the open scrimmages link and enter how many people you are bringing and what day. Print off the confirmation and you are done.
Below I have uploaded photos from yesterday plus an episode of "Hockey Talk with Courtney" where Arpad and I discuss all of the people it takes to build a winning NHL hockey team. Most of these guys were at testing yesterday. Enjoy
Thursday I popped out to the rink in the morning to see what I would see. Just driving into the parking lot I knew it was busy. There were a lot of cars. Inside on the rinks I saw evidence of drills. The ice was marked with black dots and it looked like a Zamboni was needed.
I continued on my way to the main rink and on the way I passed a sweaty Jason Garrison with a bottle of water in street clothes. Looked like he was done for a bit.
In the main rink nothing yet but you could tell everything was going to start soon. Within a couple of minute I saw John Tortorella step onto the ice. It was exciting. I did love Coach AV, Rick Bowness and Newell Brown. Great great great coaches but at the end of last season they were let go. Coach AV and Torts simply traded places because AV is now head coach of the New York Rangers. Bowness signed on to coach the Tampa Bay Lightning and Newell Brown has signed on with the Phoenix Coyotes. With Torts skating I did get goose bumps. What will this era of Canucks look like?
Soon Torts was joined by both Sedins, Alex Edler, Dan Hamhuis, Chris Tanev, Zach Kassian and a slew of guys vying for a spot on the team but most will likely be sent the AHL's Utica Comets. All in all it was a really fun testing session to watch. The guys warmed up a bit and then it was show time. Weaving into and out and all around. Countless laps around the rink.
Now the Canucks have on ice scrimmages for the next 3 days. Starting at 9am you can head to Rogers Arena and watch for FREE! Doors are at 8:30am. All you have to do it go to the Canuck website, click on the open scrimmages link and enter how many people you are bringing and what day. Print off the confirmation and you are done.
Below I have uploaded photos from yesterday plus an episode of "Hockey Talk with Courtney" where Arpad and I discuss all of the people it takes to build a winning NHL hockey team. Most of these guys were at testing yesterday. Enjoy
Before testing the boys warmed up with some laps around the ice and different exercises!
Another lap, another exercise! While Coach Torts looked at his guys........ Thoughts Torts?
See that player in the middle? The one with the stick stretching over his head? That is Jordan Subban who was drafted in the 4th round this year 115th overall. The young buck has quiet the family hockey tree forming. Jordan's eldest brother is P.K. star defenceman for the Montreal Canadiens and middle brother Malcolm is a goalie with the Boston Bruins organization.
The rink next door was filled with goalies. Five to be exact and yes Roberto Luongo was skating. I have to admit it was odd with no Cory Schneider there. Whoever the back up ends up being I am sure they will be great.
Canuck fans can thank this guy for all of the videos you get to watch. Rory here is the #1 camera man for the team. Just another day at the ice rink in September with 30 degree weather outside. Apparently it warranted flip flops.........
In Season 2 of Hockey Talk with Courtney I talked about the people involved in building a NHL team. GMs, assistant GMs, scouts and a slew of others. The men in this picture represent that part of the organization.
The person I noticed the most running drills with the players this week was the guy smack dab in the middle of this photo, Glenn Carnegie. His official title is skills coach and he works with NHL and minors hockey players continuing to develop fundamental hockey skills. Hear that kids? Even the Sedins go back to the basics at practice!
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