Second game of the preseason the whole Sharks team felt good, I was still a nervous wreck, but everyone else seemed relax. And rightfully so, last game we mud stomped the Killer Ice Bunnies 7-1. With talks of moving up a tier, the mood in the locker room was one of confidence.
- Enter Banzai Bullets -
When I saw them on the ice, I knew that this wasn't another team that we would run over. The players were all bigger then me, obviously faster, and they were all wearing the same team uniforms.
Sitting on the bench with my old Canucks jersey with a taped on '94' on my back, I waited for the zamboni to get off the ice before going out for some warm-up. I was playing defense again, what used to be a natural position for me in street hockey, I now had guys blowing by me like I was a pylon.
The game started off pretty competitive, with both teams showing off their firepower the score jumped to 2-2 early in the first. Then the Banzai Bullets kicked it to another gear, tallying a few unanswered goals causing us to call a time out. Team Captain Eric made it abundantly clear that we were worthless. "We need to skate harder, and grow a pair of eyes" (he put it a little nicer, but this was the gist of it).
During the second period, it was Superstar Chen time. Mid way through the second, off the draw, I wristed the puck from just after the centre ice line (perfectly avoiding the icing call) down towards the boards, in an arc that made rainbows jealous. The sound in which the puck rebounded off the boards was nothing short of audio euphoria. Mesmorized by such an unorthadox move, the entire Banzai Bullets team looked in awe as #11 from the Sharks grabbed the puck as it came off the boards and tucked it in the net. "That dump in / pass showed shades of Gretzky and Orr in its elegance." quoted one passerby. An unbelievably clutch play by Steven C (C for clutch), bringing the Sharks back to contention by making the score 6-3.
The Banzai Bullets went on to win 8-3.
The Sharks were done pretty much in the second: bad line changes, off sides, useless defensemen like #94. What a drastic change of mood compared to Saturday's huge win. Hopefully our next game we play the Killer Ice Bunnies again, or maybe a bag of pucks.
As feeble as I make the Killer Ice Bunnies look, I do have to give them credit: where they laughed while expecting to lose, (cue cheesy one liner) we lost expecting to laugh. I just ruined this whole post with that last line, go back and read about that precision pass I made.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
For The Non-Believers
With Linden's retirement coming up fast (December 17th for those under a rock), there's been talks of whether Naslund will have his jersey retired. He leads the Canucks in practically all offensive categories and is the longest serving captain we've ever had. So will his jersey be retired? My answer is: not before Bure's. That's right I said it, Pavel Bure deserves to have his jersey retired before Naslund.
Bure's blinding speed was only matched with his amazing stick handling abilities. If you gave him a hole he'd punch through it before you were able to turn around, if you blocked him he'd undress you silly with his deke's. Although he only played 428 games as part of the Vancouver Canucks, he tallied 478 points. Before Ovechkin scored 60+ goals in a single season, the last player to do it was Pavel Bure (keep in mind Bure played during a time when clutching and grabbing were legal). There have been players that have been as fast as Bure (I recall him losing to Sergei Federov in a race around the rink), but Bure was able to stick handle while skating full speed. Take a look at quick skaters like Gaborik or Ovechkin, they're pushing the puck forward, not stick handling.
Regardless of the fact that he has been this city's only superstar (Bobby Lou's pretty close though), Bure will be resented for leaving the team. The story goes that he was being treated unfairly by the entire Vancouver organization, and so he wanted out, but no one aside from those involved know the true story.
Bure wanting out shouldn't be the defining point in determining whether his jersey is retired or not, everyone forgets that at one point in time, not only the entire city of Vancouver, but even fans from around the world was in love with the Russian Rocket. Proof can be found here with 40,000 screaming fans packed into BC Place in appreciation of the '94 team, but the deafening roar when Bure came on goes beyond imagination:
Want further proof? Here is a video that shows what he did for this city, pay attention to
0:39 Stick to skate to stick and in, what a beauty.
1:26 What a stud.
1:40 Stan Smyl #12 the man with his jersey RETIRED, says that he CANNOT do the things Bure does full speed even if he was walking.
2:47 Goal to complete comback by the Canucks against the Flames in the '94 playoffs.
3:15 His FIRST shift ever as a Canuck, and he embarrasses the whole Winnipeg team.
6:15 Jim Robson, voice of the Canucks, summarizes why he's the best.
Bure still holds the franchise record for most points in a single season with 110 points, two back to back 60 goal seasons, and is considered widely as the most electrifying player ever. If this man doesn't deserve to have his jersey retired, then no one does.
Bure's blinding speed was only matched with his amazing stick handling abilities. If you gave him a hole he'd punch through it before you were able to turn around, if you blocked him he'd undress you silly with his deke's. Although he only played 428 games as part of the Vancouver Canucks, he tallied 478 points. Before Ovechkin scored 60+ goals in a single season, the last player to do it was Pavel Bure (keep in mind Bure played during a time when clutching and grabbing were legal). There have been players that have been as fast as Bure (I recall him losing to Sergei Federov in a race around the rink), but Bure was able to stick handle while skating full speed. Take a look at quick skaters like Gaborik or Ovechkin, they're pushing the puck forward, not stick handling.
Regardless of the fact that he has been this city's only superstar (Bobby Lou's pretty close though), Bure will be resented for leaving the team. The story goes that he was being treated unfairly by the entire Vancouver organization, and so he wanted out, but no one aside from those involved know the true story.
Bure wanting out shouldn't be the defining point in determining whether his jersey is retired or not, everyone forgets that at one point in time, not only the entire city of Vancouver, but even fans from around the world was in love with the Russian Rocket. Proof can be found here with 40,000 screaming fans packed into BC Place in appreciation of the '94 team, but the deafening roar when Bure came on goes beyond imagination:
Want further proof? Here is a video that shows what he did for this city, pay attention to
0:39 Stick to skate to stick and in, what a beauty.
1:26 What a stud.
1:40 Stan Smyl #12 the man with his jersey RETIRED, says that he CANNOT do the things Bure does full speed even if he was walking.
2:47 Goal to complete comback by the Canucks against the Flames in the '94 playoffs.
3:15 His FIRST shift ever as a Canuck, and he embarrasses the whole Winnipeg team.
6:15 Jim Robson, voice of the Canucks, summarizes why he's the best.
Bure still holds the franchise record for most points in a single season with 110 points, two back to back 60 goal seasons, and is considered widely as the most electrifying player ever. If this man doesn't deserve to have his jersey retired, then no one does.
For The Captain I Would
Since the announcement of Linden's jersey retirement game on December 17th, I have been looking for tickets to the game to no avail. From checking online, it's clear that ticket holders are marking the prices up. Last checked tickets for the game in the lower bowl are going for $230ish per seat. I don't have this type of money and so I'll have to find some other ways to get tickets.
The memory of Linden standing centre ice as his jersey is raised to the rafters, ensuring that no one else will ever wear the famed 16, will forever stay with me. Watching it any other way other then live would be a travesty.
And so here are the top five things I would do for tickets to the December 17th Linden Jersey Retirement game against the Oilers, if you have tickets pay attention:
5) I will hold up a sign with whatever you choose to write on it (no vulgar/inappropriate language).
4) I would give you a hot oil massage (no happy ending).
3) I would walk around GM Place in only my underwear.
2) I would shave my eyebrows off.
1) I would dial to a number of your choosing on a street pay phone using only my tongue.
I'm begging for tickets here, someone answer my begging!
The memory of Linden standing centre ice as his jersey is raised to the rafters, ensuring that no one else will ever wear the famed 16, will forever stay with me. Watching it any other way other then live would be a travesty.
And so here are the top five things I would do for tickets to the December 17th Linden Jersey Retirement game against the Oilers, if you have tickets pay attention:
5) I will hold up a sign with whatever you choose to write on it (no vulgar/inappropriate language).
4) I would give you a hot oil massage (no happy ending).
3) I would walk around GM Place in only my underwear.
2) I would shave my eyebrows off.
1) I would dial to a number of your choosing on a street pay phone using only my tongue.
I'm begging for tickets here, someone answer my begging!
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