Canucks - This is Our Home

So, the Vancouver Canucks are almost at their goal of winning the President's Trophy again this year with only 5 games left to play before the Playoffs are upon us.  Remember the feeling of it last year?  When the Canucks were so far ahead of every team in the league and playing like nothing was going to stop them from winning the cup?  Remember the warm fuzzy feelings we fans had after every win and heading down to Granville Street to celebrate after every game?  I don't think I've ever high-fived or hugged so many strangers before in my life but I didn't care because WE WERE ALL CANUCKS!!  It was great.  Then came game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.  The energy was electric all throughout the city and even I got ambushed by CHEKTV at the Lord Stanley statute for an interview.  Those were all great memories of the amazing run the Canucks had.

Now remember this?

And this?

 These are memories I'd like to forget.

The next morning hundreds of Vancouver fans wanted to erase the memory of what had happened that night and show the world that we actually care for our city.  The boarded up walls of The Bay became a shrine where fans gathered to express their feelings of anger and sadness of what transpired the night before. The graffiti was also cleaned up, the fire damage was cleaned up and people were giving out free hugs.  City workers also hung up signs thanking the hundreds of volunteers who showed up to help clean their city.

Now 13 days from the start of the Playoffs, the Canucks have begun a proactive campaign to curb thoughts of rioting and to teach the new generation and those slightly younger than mine to respect their city and celebrate responsibly.  Here is the video that some of the old and new Canucks have put together to get the message out.  Including Canuck fans who love their city.

They even included the Out takes of the video.  I remember hearing about a call going out to Canuck fans all over, especially in Surrey to be on the corner of 72nd and Scott Rd in their Canucks gear for a shoot of some sort.  I had no idea it was for this.  But good on them for doing this.  You need to check out the Out Take vid just cause Juice is pretty funny.

I hope they play these videos at the games and put up the posters everywhere.  It would be a good reminder to all of those who had to watch our city's name and reputation go up in flames last year.  I've been through the '94 riots and the '11 riots.  I don't want to go thru a third one.  So, please celebrate responsibly.

Learn more about the campaign and see some galleries of Canucks - This is Our Home campaign.

There will be no outdoor viewing but there will be viewing held in community centres and at Rogers Arena for away games.  Vancouver lost something really good last year.....its gonna be many more years before we can get it back.

Fan Atmosphere - Whitecaps Captain Jay Demerit Wants U to Learn the WAVE!

 This is a first that I've heard of a player actually coming up with fan gimmick to help them make BC Place a harder place for the opposition to win games.  I know Rogers Arena has been critized for the last few years of being too silent and it seems the players are noticing it.  Just a couple weeks ago, Canucks Defenceman, Kevin Bieksa called out the fans at Rogers Arena on Sportsnet during an interview and challenged them to make the atmosphere more intimidating for opposing teams when they come to play.

Here is the quote from the interview:

"But from our perspective, it’s a little sad. At times, we get that on the road when we’re in Phoenix or L.A., it seems we have a louder crowd than the home team, and I know it gets them down. When you’re at home and the road team has a louder crowd, it’s a little embarrassing. I don’t think we want that to happen to us."

He said it was "embarrassing" when fans from other teams come into their arena and drown out their own fans. The response to that was 50/50.  Most fans understood what he was talking about an took on that challenge, others criticized Bieksa's recent slump as nothing to cheer about.  However, at the next game, the fans at Rogers Arena responded and Bieksa took notice.

Here's a tweet from Bieksa after the game.

So now comes this idea that may of may not catch on from Jay Demerit.  He's thought of a way for the fans to be more interactive by choreographing "THE WAVE", which will be unique only to Vancouver and has even gotten his teammates on board demonstrating how "THE WAVE" should be done and when the appropriate times for it are.  Interesting enough.  It would be hard for some fans to do with a beer in their hands but I'm sure they will give it a shot tomorrow and see how it goes.  Watch the video and make up your own mind if this is something you want to do at the next game.  I say give it a go!!

I thought the Southsiders are doing a great job this year with their unwavering support.  They even printed out chants for the Club Ambassadors to hand out to fans when they walk thru the doors into BC Place so they can chant along.  So, with the addition of  "THE WAVE", it should make for an absolutely electric atmosphere!

Towel Power - Playoff Game 1 Vancouver Giants vs Spokane Chiefs

So one of my volunteer friends messages me on Facebook to see if I wanted to go with her to watch the Vancouver Giants in the first game of the playoffs against the Spokane Chiefs.  Of course I said yes.  She normally volunteers for 50/50 at the Giants game and that was her night off.  So I met her outside the Canucks Outlet Store on the corner of Hastings and Renfrew in Vancouver.  From there we headed on up to the Mooshead Pub for some food and drinks before the game.

At the pub, we ran into some familiar volunteers who were there to grab a bite to eat before the game as well.  The pub was packed with Giants fans and volunteers apparently.  Ian Thorpe from Breakfast Television was there on the microphone giving away drink tickets thru trivia quizzes.  As we enjoyed the trivia and the 80's hair band music, we also ate our full till it was time to walk on over to the Pacific Coliseum.  As we walked over to our section we ran into, you guessed it, more volunteers we knew who were running the 50/50 program.  Once we all got acquainted again, my friend, Leslie-Ann and I, headed over to our un-ushered section and took our seats.

The starting line-up.

 The place was packed and everyone who walked thru the door was handed a white Vancouver Giants playoff towel.  The lights dimmed and the refs came on the ice first followed by the players of both teams.  The first period wasn't very eventful.  Just a bunch of bad reffing that gave the Chiefs 3 straight powerplays which they couldn't convert on.  With 2.6 seconds left on the clock in the first, the Giants get on the board with their first goal of the night.

Here's a shot of the Spokane Chiefs bench looking on during play.

 The second period is where a lot of the goals were scored.  The Chiefs were down 3-1 at the end of the second only to come back swining in the third.  They were able to keep the game close as the Giants scored another pair.  The fans were really into the game as well.  Endless chants of "Engeeeeeel" were heard. Mac Engel, the Chiefs goalie played two periods on our end of the ice so it was very vocal where I sat. Unfortunatley, the Chiefs managed to get three quick ones as well to make it 5-4. The Giants managed to score a couple more and end the first game on a winning note 7-5.  It truly was a fun game.

We capped off the night with a walk up to Starbucks for some Chai tea and coffee to warm up with. Game 2 of the series is played tomorrow night at 7pm.  Go down and support your Vancouver Giants if you can.  Its totally worth it.

I won't be there as I have commitments with the Vancouver Whitecaps from 4pm-til end of game organizing and Team Leading my Club Ambassadors as the Whitecaps will be taking on DC United also with a 7pm start.  Our beloved Vancouver Canucks will also be playing the Colorado Avalanche also with a 7pm start.  Its going to be a busy night in sports for sure.  Good Luck to all the Vancouver sports teams!

Kevin "Boom Boom " Bieksa on the FOX 99.3

If you missed it, like I did, Kevin Bieksa was on the FOX 99.3 this morning.  He was obviously in a bad mood but he was still sweet as ever.  Although he hasn't been playing up to his capabilities in the last month, I can't be mad at him.  Its just too hard.  You're still my favorite, Bieksa. :)

Have a listen.

Kevin Bieksa's Interview on the Fox 99.3

 

Which Canuck Has the Best Abs? Kesler or Higgins?

Yes, ladies...the Canucks are at it again.  Its become an Ab showdown between Ryan Kesler and Chirs Higgins.  In the beginning of the season, Kesler came out with his Sports Illustrated nude spread showing the world he has perfect abs.  Then during December, Higgins decided he would show the world that Kesler wasn't the only one on the team with Abs.  Two nights ago, Higgins was at it again at the Columbus Blue Jackets game, showing off his perfect abs while he was having a an "equipment malfunction" at the bench.  He also called out Kesler's "photoshopped" abs during his HNIC After Hours interview.  Kesler obviously had enough of that and decided that he would have a "wardrobe malfunction" in the locker room while Jeff Vinnick, the Canucks photographer, took pictures for the "Behind the Lens" gallery on Canucks.com to show the world that his abs were certainly not "photoshopped".

I only wish that Kevin Bieksa would join this rivarly of the abs.  I'm sure he could blow them both away. :)

More Higgins' Abs

If you watched last nights' hockey game between the Vancouver Canucks and the Columbus Blue Jackets, you may have seen the camera pan to the Canucks bench where Chris Higgins had a wardrobe malfunction and his abs were exposed yet again..  So ladies, I know you've been searching the site for it, here it is.  Enjoy.

Here is Higgins' HNIC After Hours segment as well.  He definitely is a cutie.

More Bieksa...Just Because.

Bored...so you get more Bieksa highlights.

I'm finally able to load his Hockey Night in Canada interview After Hours from March 3, 2012.  So, if you haven't seen it, here it is.

He's also been tweeting lately on his days off.  This was on Monday.  This is why I rarely ever go to the States.  You can end up in the line-ups all morning long.

To which Kesler and Booth both responded:

 

Today he and his teammates sent out a reminder to get your One Voice video up.  The last day of the campaign is March 16th.  So if you haven't already loaded a video of  taking the oath yet, please do so at the link Bieksa so kindly provided.  Last checked 1507 oaths have been taken.

I saw this tweet on David Booth's twitter.  I like him...he's got that naivete to him that you don't see in guys nowadays.  But this kinda scares me.  I hope he'll be alright to play against the Coyotes tonight. lol.

 Here'a random vid of Mason Raymond during an interview gets his hair combed by Bieksa.

Bieksa at the NHL 2K11 Tour in Toronto.  Just cause he looks hot in these interviews. (sigh).

Whitecaps Win Home Opener 2012!

So far so good.  The Whitecaps won their season opener 2-0 yesterday afternoon against the Montreal Impact.  Everythng is going according to plan so far.  Last season was obviously one to forget with the Caps only winning a handful of games, if even.  So, this year, they brought in a new coach and stacked the team with some great players.  One of them is Sebastien Le Toux.  He scored a pretty goal to make it 1-0.  Camilo came up big with the second goal.  It was very pretty.  From what I could tell, it was a fun game for everyone, the staff, team and fans.

I came into the building at 12:30pm to get my radio and briefed with my Volunteer Manager before my crew of 16 showed up at 1:30pm for their shift.  Doors opened at 2pm and everyone was pumped and excited and just a little bit nervous.  I was Team Leading the Club Ambassadors.  The Ambassadors are the ones you see first at the gates.  They are the ones who welcome you to the game and hand you a free program and whatever else they may have on hand to distribute.  I knew it was going to crazy and it was.  For the opener, the Southsiders had asked Whitecaps to distribute their chants to the public along with the programs so that is just what my Ambassadors did.  They also ran out of programs by 2:30pm at each of the gates.  It was a sellout crowd of 21,000.  I was the one running around from gate to gate with a radio strapped onto a pair of track pants that threatened to moon everyone as the weight of the radio was too much!  Oh well...I managed.

Here are the Southsiders singing O'Canada to kick off the 2012 season.

Here is Sebastien Le Toux's first goal as a Vancouver Whitecap.

Here's his reaction after the match on Twitter:

Wanna see Camillo's goal? Its pretty.

The place was going nuts with chants and cheering and just like last year, everyone left happy.  The thing is that we all know that its just one game.  Last year, they won their home opener 4-2 against Toronto FC  but then it took them another three months to get their next win.  Lets hope this year the next win come on March 24th when they play DC United.

On a side note, if anyone remembers seeing a play where Martin Bonjour, defender for the Vancouver Whitecaps shot the soccer ball into the sidelines and it hit a camera before they both (soccer ball and camera) hit the photographer in the eye.  It was my good friend and former Whitecaps Volunteer, Hazel May.  She takes pictures from the sidelines for Prost Amerika. She posted a pic on Facebook of her black eye that her husband had taken of her yesterday evening.  So I thought i'd share it with you.  She says she's fine but her eye hurts.

This was her caption:

"For those of the 21,000 At the Vancouver Whitecaps game yesterday who saw me the photographer who got ball and camera in my right eye, here is the result, thanks for that player Bonjour...... it was an accident but my eye hurts!!!!" - Hazel May.

OUCH!!...you took one for the team.  Hope it starts to feel better soon Hazel. :)

Canuck Animal Names - Who Are They??

Another Canuck animal name that was revealed earlier this year was that of Keith Ballard.  At an open practice held at Rogers Arena on October 8, 2011, Kevin Bieksa lets the cat out of the bag.  During the last part of the practice Bieksa shouts out "Go Wolf!" as Ballard picks up speed on the shootout.  Thus revealing Ballard's animal nickname.  Wolf.  He also mentions Wolf several times in his tweets.

Here is Bieksa outing Ballard on the shootout.  You will hear him shout "Go Wolf!" at 1:20 of the video.

Keith Ballard = Wolf

You can learn more about the wolf and see why he was given the animal name of Wolf.  Playful and feisty.

Lets review the Canuck Animal Names revealed so far.

Cody Hodgson = Coho

Sami Salo = Owl

Kevin Bieksa = Wolverine

Alex Edler = Eagle

Jannik Hansen = Honey Badger

Check back soon for the next Canuck Animal Name to be revealed.

Whitecaps Win the Disney Pro Soccer Classic 2012 Trophy

Our Whitecaps boys were down in Florida for a little tournament called the Disney Pro Soccer Classic 2012.  It was the first real test for our boyz to see how they measured up to other teams in the MLS.  In this tournament, they played against the Montreal Impact, Houston Dynamo, Sporting Kasas City and finally Toronto to emerge the victors of the tournament.  It was a clean sweep of all things!! Amazing.  If this is what they boyz are looking like right now, I'm excited to see what they'll look like at BC Place on March 10th for opening day against the Montreal Impact!  Congrats Whitecaps! Wishing you many more trophies to come this year.

Whitecaps Volunteer Retreat at EA Sports

The Whitecaps season is 8 days from kickoff at BC Place.  On February 28, 2012, Whitecaps invited their volunteers to a "Volunteer Retreat" at the EA Sports company in Burnaby, BC.  This was actually a vounteer orientation.  EA Sports does not normally allow meetings of such to take place by the public in their own space, however, given that they are the Whitecaps sponsors, it made sense.  This year the Whitecaps went on a strong recruitment of volunteers.  It used to be 20-30 volunteers that could run the game day events when we were at Swangard and Empire Stadium.  However, BC Place another animal.  Its size was going to be some concern as there just simply weren't enough volunteers to cover it.  They also wanted to give the way things were operated with more structure.  To do all these things, more volunteers were recruited and more Team Leaders were created.  This year we went from 20-30 volunteers in the past to an army of over 100 volunteers!

I've spent 6 yrs with the club already as an Usher and Club Ambassador.  I also work with the CAT team for BC Lions games in BC Place.  This gives me more experience with the BC Place staff and to give some structure as to how some departments should run to make it a smooth transition to the new stadium.  This year I am the Team Leader for the Whitecaps Club Ambassadors.  These are the people you will see when you first walk through the doors wearing the Whitecaps uniforms and handing you a program with a smile.  They will also help you if you are lost or need to know where the bathrooms are.

At EA Sports we started off in the BIG PICTURE room.  This is a huge meeting room with a projection screen.  Bobby Lenarduzzi, the President of the WC gave a brief opening statement about how excited he is about the new year with the club and how wonderful it was to see so many returnees and new people join the club.  He went on to add that he's impressed with the work that volunteers do and the feedback that he's been getting back from other clubs and the fans about the voulnteers.  Once his time ended, the Event Staff started the orientation. The structure of the organization and volunteers were pointed out and the team leaders were introduced.  More information was thrown at the new and old volunteers and then we broke for dinner in the "Think Tank".  This is EA's cafeteria with pockets of seating areas, fooseball and arcade games.  This is where the "magic" happens.  Where all those creative juices get flowing, so to speak.  Once we were mingled a bit and ate our dinner, we headed back into the Big Picture room for more information.  We then headed back to the "Think Tank" into our respective teams and had a group meeting.  This allowed each team to meet their Team Leads and get more information about their role in particular. 

I'm lucky cause my team were mainly returnees I've worked with for many years along with a few newbies.  I introduced myself to them and got my team in order.  We are now waiting for the Dress Rehearsal on Wednesday night at BC Place so my team can get a tour of the venue and pick up their uniforms for the March 10th game vs Montreal Impact. 

In all the night was fun and the EA Sports venue is amazing.  Would love to work there someday.  It was very kind of them to share their facility with us.

Canuck Animal Names - Who Are They??

So, since the last Canuck identity was revealed, a lot has happened.  One of our Canuck animals got traded  to Buffalo and he's in town to face his former team tomorrow night.  Our next identity is the COHO.

Cody Hodgson = COHO

The name COHO was obviously taken from his own name.  The first two letters of his first and last name.  But I'm still gonna put up a video on COHO cause I just really liked the video.  Its cute.  Make whatever comparisons you want from it.