Bite Me

Alex Burrows. Where do I start? I have his jersey so I do like him, but sometimes I have a hard time justifying wearing it to. I actually haven't put it on since April when the Canucks were here. Not because I'm embarrassed, I just don't see the point of putting it on to sit in my house by myself and watch the game, since nobody else watches here and I'm not allowed to have people over. Anyway, there are some things he does that just make me shake my head. His diving/embellishment on hits drives me crazy, He's not as bad as he used to be but he still does it. Yes, I am aware the Sedins, Kesler and Hamhuis have also been pretty guilty of this in past games. Last night was a complete face palm moment.....biting someone's finger? COME ON!. He said he didn't, or he had no choice or whatever. My kids stick their fingers in my mouth all the time, doesn't mean I have to bite them, or close my jaw to get their fingers out. Do I think he should be suspended? I wouldn't complain if he got a game, but the way things go and it being the Stanley Cup Final I'm not sure I see it happening.

I enjoy trash talking/chirping fans of other teams, I usually keep it to my actual friends -people I know- so it isn't taken the wrong way. My friends know not to take things I say to seriously, even when most of them are Flames or Oilers fans. I don't go nearly as far as some people I know or have come across though, and never will.  I have to say living in this city (Edmonton) and following quite a few Oilers fans on twitter, some of them are complete arrogant morons. I've pretty much come to the conclusion after 3 rounds that they do not watch the games for entertainment, they watch the games purely to find things 'wrong' with the Canucks and the city of Vancouver to bitch about. I know not all fans are like this, I know a handful that I talk to regularly and our rivalries are good fun. I'm getting sick and tired of hearing constantly ' Edmonton is better at ____' , ' Oiler's players would never do this _____'.  A lot of them talk like they have the best team in the NHL, or the only team that is perfect at everything. I'm sorry, but grow up.

If the Canucks were not in the final, I would be watching for entertainment value, not to pick apart every single thing about the team in it. I think that separates real 'Hockey Fans' from fans who only watch if their team is around.  Quite frankly, I don't care who is or isn't cheering for the Canucks now that they are in the Stanley Cup Final. I wouldn't want these types of people cheering along with me. I'm already having a hard enough time dealing with all these 'Canucks fans', that I hadn't heard from all season but are suddenly in love with "Kessler" and "Erhoff".

So, to all you people who can't just sit and enjoy a game, purely for the fact we get to watch NHL hockey in June...............bite me, I dare ya.

Keep Calm

All morning on twitter I've seen people complaining about ticket prices for playoff games. Personally having been to a couple over the years I can honestly say I would not think twice about paying those prices, it's like nothing else you will ever experience, game wise. To add to that, this year is 10 times more exciting then past years, there is a lot more hope for this years team.

I, however, don't have this option because of mistakes and wrong turns I've taken in life I am stuck in Alberta with no chance of ever going 'home'. I think all these Canucks fans need to realize just how lucky they are to live in the city, you can feel the electricity in Vancouver come playoff time, the atmosphere is absolutely amazing. That should be enough, if you can't afford to go to a game so be it, grab some friends and sit in your living room with a couple cold beverages. Grab some friends and head to a bar and enjoy it with other fans, it's still super exciting. On that note I really need to find a babysitter and a couple Canucks fans in this city.



Anyway, I guess in this situation, this new motivational poster I found is perfect.

check out http://keepcalmcanucks.tumblr.com/ for others

 

In other important news, I am not keeping calm about the fact that Dan Hamhuis has another concussion, I got 5 bbm messages while I was eating dinner about it last night and couldn't even finish eating. I sat there in a state of shock for awhile, 2nd concussion this season and 4 in his career doesn't sound good at all. Also, Hamhuis being out means baby Tanev is back in paired with Ballard, this leads to Ballard's ice time going down AGAIN.

When Good Things Go Bad

 I saw this tweet yesterday morning from a friend and had a little chuckle

@taryneliza_beth  Thank the Lord twitter wasn't around for the Bertuzzi shenanigans.

I could not imagine the crap, I lost friends over it, the bickering was endless. It was discussed in every single class, everywhere you went everyone had an opinion about it. I worked at McDonalds at the time and saw hundreds of people a day, I wore a Canucks logo sticker on my name tag and had to take it off because people would see it and feel the need to share their  opinion.

As a Canucks fan I remember their game March 8th 2004, I think any Canuck fan would, and it will forever be in your memory whether you like it or not. I'm not here to debate what happened, Bertuzzi punched Moore from behind, Moore hit ice, players jumped on, Moore broken vertebrae and concussion, Bertuzzi suspended, The end. Ok, not really the end as stuff is STILL going on with it in court, but as far as the game goes, that was it. Everyone has their own opinions, and quite frankly I really don't care what they are anymore it's been played out too much. I understand it's serious, but there is nothing I haven't heard that could possibly sway me now from the opinion I had then, and still have now.


 When Dan Hamhuis was was hit by Ryan Getzlaf in a game last month and left with a concussion, the same thing but this time in the form of social media, you couldn't escape it, people wouldn't shut up about it. Everyone is entitled to their opinions on the players/hits but holy hell, you can only take so much. 

So, as you've probably guessed by now, enter the Montreal Canadiens vs Boston Bruins game last night and the Zdeno Chara hit on Max Pacioretty. Pacioretty has reportedly suffered Broken vertebrae and a severe concussion. Sound familiar? and so it begins again. I heard about the hit last night but was quite busy with my kids and even missed most of my beloved Canucks game and went to bed right  after. I watched the hit this morning and couldn't even eat my breakfast after. Seeing that hit, seeing him on the ice, seeing his saliva dripping out of his mouth and freezing to the ice. wow. I don't think I can properly describe exactly what I was feeling, and I'm sure most fans feel the same. Once again, not here to discuss if it was a clean or dirty or suspend-able hit, everyone is entitled to their opinions, but I've heard enough already.

I understand each play I've mentioned does come with the need for extremely important debate and talk about how to improve the game, the rink design, players attitudes, players equipment etc. I'm not the one to discuss that with because, well, I'm not smart enough to have input into any of that. I also understand their are far more debatble incidents that have caused injury, but those are the first 3 that came to mind. Anyway, I'm heading a different direction then probably most of the people writing about this today.

As a fan, someone who doesn't even know him,  I was absolutely sick to my stomach when I saw Max Pacioretty laying on the ice.  I can not  fathom  how it must of been for his team mates, his friends, his family and girlfriend. Can you imagine being at the game and seeing your son, boyfriend/husband, father like that on the ice? Can you imagine even sitting at home watching it on tv? I don't know the protocol as to how family can get down to the player after or find out information about him from home, but I imagine it takes awhile and must be pretty scary.

As a mother and girlfriend, I'm not sure I'd ever not have anxiety that something like that could happen with my children watching if my boyfriend were a hockey player. I'm sure the thought must cross these wives minds if they bring their children to the game or let them watch their daddy on TV.  If their father makes a living from playing hockey, obviously their children are going to be proud and want to watch, so it's not even like you can try to avoid it. When I saw Dan Hamhuis lying on the ice, and I could even clearly see that he was conscious and moving my thoughts were immediately to his wife and 2 young children that I had  read about before in a Fort Nucks post.  I don't believe she was at the game because it was reported after that she was called in to pick him up because they didn't want him driving. Was she watching the game? was their 2 year old daughter?  I'd love to know the thought process of wives during times like this, and what goes on.

From another angle, I know kids can be vicious, vicious beasts. If your father is a star hockey player, other kids are going to know, and other kids are probably going to comment when he has a good game or bad game. So, if a player makes one bad decision, one hit goes badly and he severely injures another player, does some of this fall back on their kids? If we all have our opinions, some of them are obviously going to be bad about the player, these thoughts may be passed along to their children, I imagine some of these thoughts are going to be passed around the school yard and eventually get back to the player's child. How is this explained at home? do their children really suffer because of this? I guess, this may be stuff that is talked about before their children is born. I'd hope so anyway.  So, another point I never really intended to make as I ramble on all over the place here, may be to parents. We all have our opinions, I see them beat to death everywhere. Be careful where, when,  and to who you are saying these things to. I know the large population of us will never have children who are school yard pals with players kids, but  you never know, and you never know when something you may say or feel about how a player plays may reach back to their children. They don't deserve it.

Once again, I know stuff needs to be debated, people need to share their opinions, and I'm quite guilty of it when it comes to Matt Cooke lately. However imagine his kids, proud of him for being an NHL player, who may one day google their dad, and see all the nasty stuff that is being said about him.  I'd love to know if this stuff is discussed before players decide to have children. Also, how does a  player like Matt Cooke discuss this kind of thing with his children? I'm not telling people not to do it, I'm simply wondering how the other side of all this deals with it.
 

Willie Mitchell

I noted a few of my favourite hockey players the other day and forgot the one with the biggest stick of all, Willie Mitchell!

Ok, that is a bit of an exageration on his stick, but thats just Willie Mitchell. Last year before a game Vancouver played against Calgary, then flames coach, Mike Keenan made a remark about Mitchell using an illegal stick (over the league max. length of 63inches). During pre game warm ups Mitchell came out on the ice with the stick in the above picture, 2 shafts taped together. This is only part of the reason this man floats my boat.

who wouldn't love this smile??

which is why I hated seeing him like this at end of the 2010 season

On January 16th, 2010 in a game versus Pittsburgh, Willie Mitchell was hit from behind by Evgeni Malkin. He suffered a concussion. He missed the rest of the season suffering from the effects of that and post concussion syndrome. He had to leave Vancouver during the Olympics as the hustle and bustle of the city was to much for him and in May was still unable to do much more then take trail walks with his dog, Pino. He also went through counselling to deal with the psychological effects of he injury. 

I remember the interview clearly, I was watching on Canucks.com as the Canucks had just been knocked out of the playoffs by the Blackhawks (again!) and it was locker clear out day. The camera was on Kevin Bieksa as reporters waited, there was some noise and suddenly everyone ran towards one man, Willie Mitchell. It was the first time he'd been available to the media since the incident. I remember it clearly because it wasn't the same smiling, joking, Willie Mitchell from months previous. He sounded on the verge of crying at times and spoke with a very angered tone. He called out Colin Campbell for his inconsistency in handling suspensions for bad hits. He was also asked if he would consider a life outside of hockey in the wake of such a serious injury. He said this:

Absolutely, I'd take it. Some things are more important than hockey. Life's about recreating yourself three or four times anyway. That's what's fun. That's the journey. But do I want to continue doing what I've done for a large part of my life? Absolutely. But right now, that's not in my control. It's been a long physical journey and emotional journey. I'm feeling much better than I was before and getting better every day. I've been trying to put myself in the best place possible to be in a healing environment. I'm just looking forward to the day, and it's going to happen real soon here. Where I feel 100 per cent

And going with my theme lately,  my main reason for him being a favourite player. His Charity Work.  Mitchell loves fishing, so its only natural  that he takes part in a fishing charity event. He takes part in the West Coast fishing Clubs Fishing for Kids Fund raising Tournament. Brian Grange, who is the brains behind the event, credits Mitchell for its rise to a high profile event and bringing much more awareness to it.  He was always a frequent visitor to Canuck Place and Children's Hospital, he was always happy to give back. I am sure he is doing the same down in LA.

What made me  think about him was something I heard the other day. After Canucks Defenceman Dan Hamhuis suffered a concussion in a game 2 weeks back, Mitchell contacted Hamhuis and said he was willing to help him with anything he was going through. So my hats off, again, this time to the Class Act that is Willie Mitchell. Aside from Trevor Linden, who the Canucks eventually did get back, he is the player I have been the saddest to see go.

Play Me That Ballard

This makes me extremely happy. Still a bit away from playing, but getting close!

Christmas is over...

and by that I really mean Hockey Day In Canada. Aside from Canada Day, I think HDIC is my favourite day fo the year. In fact, when I have my own place I think I will decorate my house for this day. What more can you ask for then a full day of  Canadian hockey teams? I watched the Edmonton vs Ottawa game. Missed  most of the Toronto at Montreal game and of course caught the Vancouver vs Calgary game. Love all the little stories and everything relating to hockey that is played on CBC on this day. I also realized today that Keith Ballard is my first none Canadian favourite player. (Trevor Linden, Mike Cammalleri, Alex Burrows and  Dan Hamhuis)

Big Thanks to Scotia Bank for the awesome contests through the week on twitter, and for allowing me to win that jersey. Pretty cool!. They also sent a toque, a backpack and a water bottle, which my soon to be 3 year old daughter has taken over.

Kevin Bieksa Wins After Hours 

Thats right folks, Kevin Bieksa wins After Hours. He has got to be the BEST interview I have ever seen on there. It can be found here. The way he reacted to Scott Oake's comments with cheekiness and  sarcasm was great, and he always gave good answers to the serious questions. Which is why I've always said if there is one player I could sit down and have a beer with, it would be him.  When I saw Bieksa would be a guest I had some thoughts go through my head.  He bugs Ryan Kesler about RK17, so why not when Scott Oake asks on Twitter for questions to ask "When  is the KB3 clothing line coming out". I didn't mean this as a serious question, I thought maybe a few of my followers might see it and have a little chuckle and that would be that. Then....it happened. Scott Oake had asked Bieksa about Kesler's line and then he said "well I guess you've answered my next question". I knew then that I was doomed. He asked my absolutely ridiculous  question. It led to this outburst


@Canuckgirl16 : JESUS I WASN'T SERIOUS!!!! hahah


@Taryneliza_beth : CHRISTINE!!!!!!!!!!! @Canuckgirl16

Then within seconds I had 10 new followers and people tweeting me saying they had a good laugh over it. Well thats good.

Anyway, thats my mumble jumble for today. All in all it was a great Hockey Day In Canada, and I wont forget it for a long time.

Giving Back

Charity work is huge for me, you have the money, you have the ability, you have the fame,  do it!.  As I've mentioned before, usually, a huge part of picking a  "favourite player" for me is looking at their involvement in giving back to the community. While its not a written rule, it really melts my butter and burns my cheese when these people have the ability to make a change, make things better in the community, and don't put much effort into it. I understand not everyone can be Trevor Linden like, but every little bit helps. From Paul Bissonnette and his t-shirt line after a slight mix up with words on his twitter account, to the likes of other players saying when they reach a certain amount of followers they will donate money. It all helps, no matter how they do it.


I love seeing pictures, and stories on tv of the players visiting kids at Children's hospital, Canuck Place and other places like that. While it can be very heartbreaking it makes me very thankful to have two reasonably healthy children and puts a giant smile on my face. I love seeing the children smiling, happy to meet them.

I give you Dan "The Community Man" Hamhuis (props to PITB for the name)

• When playing In Nashville, Hamhuis would visit patients at Nashville's Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital throughout the season, and would go reverse trick-or-treating dressed up as Winnie the Pooh in 2008 and 2009
• This past off season, Hamhuis was back in B.C. when he received an email from the NHLPA asking if any players would be interested in going to Haiti as part of the Hockey For Haiti program. He was hesitant at first, being the father of 2 young children and knowing there was still many dangers in a place like Haiti. His wife convinced him, telling him it was a once in a life time trip and he had the ability to help people in need. "It's not your everyday trip," said Hamhuis. "This is living in the dirt with a tarp pulled over your head. It takes you out of your comfort zone. But this is a beautiful country too, with the scenery and stuff. But the people are obviously not in the same economic state."
•  He and his wife,Sarah, were regular visitors at Ronald McDonald House and bought an air hockey table for the teen room.
• Sarah  organized a potluck style dinner , and with the other wives on the team, provided dinner for the Families at Ronald McDonald House.
•  He gave his name(and funds) to be the presenting sponsor of the Ronald McDonald House "Extraordinary Evening" fund raiser, which brought in more than $50,000.
•  In 2009 he donated $20,000 to The Teammates For Kids Foundation, which benefits the Nashville Rescue Mission. He and Sarah also volunteered time to the Nashville Rescue Mission.
• While in Nashville he purchased 25 gift cards of $100 each to give to families in need during the holidays.
•  He spent some time around halloween at Canuck Place, with his oldest daughter, carving pumpkins with the children and their families. 
• He recently spent time reading books and making crafts with young kids at Britannia School, Saying "I really enjoy this. Some of these kids don’t get the opportunity to read a lot of books so to be able to come here and spend some time with them and share some stories and have the chance to share a favourite from our house with these kids was special. It was great to see the smiles on their faces and they seemed very attentive and drawn to the books"

These are just a few of the stories I've been able to find on things that he has done, I know there is way more. If anyone reading this knows of more, please message me with a link to the story, I'd love to include it all.

My hats off to you Dan, you're a Small town boy, living the big dream, and doing larger then life things in your community. Like I said in my Trevor Linden post (found here), I wish there was more people around like you guys.