CrashingTheGoalie

by Ron Spence
According to numerous pundits, the Canucks are in a hole. They have 24 points to show for 23 games, and are in 11th place in the Western Conference.
Columbus holds 8th place with 27 points.

The experts tell us that the Canucks will need to win 60 to 65% of their remaining games – to [...]

[Read more →]

Baseball’s first head gear was introduced in the early 20th Century.
Inventor Frank Mogridge designed an inflatable boxing glove-looking thing in 1905. The A.J. Reach Company of Philadelphia sold it for $5.
Hall of Famer Roger Bresnahan experimented with “head harnesses” and developed a leather batting helmet in 1908.
Necessity was the mother of invention, as he had [...]

[Read more →]

Mike Gillis has his Jordan Schroeders and Michael Grabners in the system, but he also has some future 3rd and 4th liners.
One of them is former Giant Mario Bliznak.

“Bliz is Bliz and that’s a compliment — he gives you the same thing all the time,” said Scott Arniel. “We saw what he could do last [...]

[Read more →]

by Ron Spence
Ten years ago last summer, nucks fans watched the Sedins walk up on the Boston stage. They looked the same and had identical numbers on their jerseys – the year of their draft.
Then they went through their learning curve at the same pace – one being the goal scorer – Daniel – and [...]

[Read more →]

Rumours that Jordan Schroeder will be leaving Minnesota for Everett are greatly exaggerated – in fact, they’re not true, according to Vancouver’s Number One 2009 Draft Pick.
*****
“Minnesota forward Jordan Schroeder says all the speculation about his departure from the Golden Gophers is false.
In a rare response to Internet rumors that he was planning to leave [...]

[Read more →]

My buddy Stan is from Port Alberni and has been a Canucks fan for 40 years.
I was watching a game – on tv – with him a week ago when it was announced that Peter Forsberg might be coming to Vancouver.
Stan took a sip from his Molson’s and shook his head.

“First you had the Messier….”
“Then [...]

[Read more →]

Wendell Young was Vancouver’s 4th round pick – 73rd overall – in 1981.
He wore a nucks’ uniform for 22 games in 1985-86, and 8 games in 1986-87.

But mostly, Young played in Fredericton before joing the Philadelphia organization.
He was the Chicago Wolves’ goalie from 1994-95 until 2000-01, and is now the team’s GM.

“Wendell has been involved [...]

[Read more →]

by Ron Spence
There will be guys on Chicago’s roster who will want to chaulk up some brownie points.
I believe that some will target Vancouver’s finesse players – in particular Daniel Sedin.
courtesy of nimg.sulekha.com
They haven’t forgotten Willie Mitchel’s October 21st hit on their captain.
Nor, have they forgotten their 3-2 loss to Vancouver.

[Read more →]

The Chicago Blackhawks won their last Stanley Cup in 1961.
It was the year that: John F. Kennedy was inaugrated as the U.S president; and “Freedom Riders” started a bus trip through the U.S. south.
The NDP was founded in Canada and construction started on the Berlin Wall.

Russian Yuri Gagarin became the first man to fly in space.
The Mercury-Atlas [...]

[Read more →]

by Ron Spence
Which Hockey Hall of Famer was -56 during his three seasons with the Canucks?
Who finished their career with a higher +/-  Pavel or Markus?
Which often maligned Vancouver Dman retired with the 125th best NHL +/- of all-time?

Cam Neely finished his NHL career with +82 – ranked 218th all time. He would have been [...]

[Read more →]