Kevin Bieksa and World Vision Canada

While many hockey players tweet about taking the summer off to head to Las Vegas and enjoy their summers with blonde babes on one arm and a beer in the other hand while tanning it up, Kevin Bieksa's summer is shaping up to be nothing of the sort.

I've noticed over the last year or so, his maturity level on the ice and off has been growing in leaps and bounds.  Since the death of his best friend and teammate, Rick Rypien, Bieksa has found other causes to stand up for.  His work with the Mindcheck.ca campaign has been incredible.  With helping to re-lauch the website earlier this year, he has helped numerous people get through their dark times just by being a voice for the cause. 

His work didn't stop there.  He just came back from an NHLPA's Goals and Dreams Camp a week ago held in Rick Rypien's hometown of Crow's Nest, Alberta.  This camp helps the younger generation of kids learn about hockey and be able to talk to an NHL player or two.  The funds raised from this event went to the Rick Rypien Foundation. 

Now, with the NHL lockout looming ahead, Bieksa has spoken out about another charity that has his heart.  He has joined forces with Chris Neil and Mike Fisher on the importance of lending our hand to the plight of West Africa on behalf of World Vision.  If the NHL lockout comes to fruition, his plans are to head to West Africa and see for himself the devastation the food crisis has brought and to help in any way he can to bring awareness to the problem. 

Here is the advertisement from World Vision staring all NHL players mentioned.

Here is a behind-the-scenes look at why Bieksa is touched by this.

I hope Bieksa continues to grow in leaps and bounds as he is already.  There's a reason I like him and his face can only take him so far.  You're a good man, Bieksa!

Vancouver Canucks Third Jersey - Millionaires Style

Remember these?  The 1915 Vancouver Millionaires wore these jersey's back in the day.  Apparently, from a close source and weeks of twitter chatter, these will be the new third jersey's unveiled for the 2012-2013 hockey season.  Well, maybe not exactly this one...but maybe redesigned a little bit.  Here is what I found.

Taken from Canucksarmy.com

"In two years, we'll mark the centennial anniversary of the city of Vancouver’s only Stanley Cup victory. In 1915 the Vancouver Millionaires - led by Cyclone Taylor, and James Norris - beat, you guessed it, the Ottawa Senators. "

Its kind of strange that I found Wayne Gretzky in a Vancouver Millionaires V jacket already.  It actually looks quite nice. I think I may even get the sweater the girl is modeling.  I always loved the colour, Maroon. Thanks for that Bree! ;)

Whitecaps Dane Richards Playing for BurnleyFC Next Season

Taken from cbc.ca

So, it was fun while we had him.  According to news from the Vancouver Whitecaps this morning, Dane Richards has signed for the European team Burnley FC and will start his new season with them in January of 2013.  Heading into his final year left with MLS, Europe was bound to come calling for him.  Coach Rennie had anticipated that and we are still in good shape for the future with allocation money received from the trade for him with Sebastien Le Toux.  We wish Dane a great future with the Burnley FC team.

Who Has a Crush on Bieksa? Well, I guess I do....

Kevin Bieksa had an answer and question session with the kids at Crow's Nest camp of the NHLPA's Goals and Dreams 2012.  Kevin had asked for questions only to be told by one the players that his mom had a crush on him.  Another one piped up to let him know that his cousin had a crush on him also.  Bieksa was quick to make a joke and brush that off.  You can tell that he was blushing though.  I have to admit though, I also have a crush on Bieksa.  Can you blame me? 

Here's how the question and answer session went.  Watch and enjoy.

Kevin Bieksa at NHLPA Goals & Dreams 2012

Kevin Bieksa, Darcy Hortichuk and Chris Versteeg headed to Crows Nest, Alberta last week to take part in the NHLPA's Goals and Dreams Camp in honour of their friend and teammate, Rick Rypien. The young kids when through a hockey camp and got to have an Answer and Question session with Bieksa.  What a treat for the kids of Crow's Nest.  Rick would have been impressed with this event.  Good on ya, Bieksa, for keeping Rick's memory alive! 

Here Bieksa interviews former Canucks, Darcy Hortichuck about why he's there.

Mei Yu Caricature Artist at the PNE

So, I went to the PNE on Friday and ended up looking around in the Market Place building.  I came across a little booth that had this lady drawing cartoon caricatures of people. As I came closer to the booth, the mother came over to me and asked if I was interested in getting one done.  I was, actually.  So, she showed me her book of her daughter's drawings.  The prices varied depending on what you had done and if it was in black or white or in color.  I decided if I was gonna have one done, I wanted it in done in colour.  So, I told her that I worked for the Vancouver Whitecaps and I wanted something to reflect that.  She showed me a drawing that Mei Yu had done of a person as a Whitecaps soccer player.  I really wanted something more to reflect the work that I do and I since I don't play for the team, that seemed a bit odd for me.  So then the father called me over.  We had the same disscusion.  Then he showed me a drawing of a girl in a cheerleaders outfit for the BC Lions.  He thought that since I worked in the background of everything that me cheering the team on that way would better reflect me than as a soccer player. I totally agreed with that. 

So, up came my turn.  I introduced myself to Mei Yu and told her what I wanted done.  She then asked me to look at a tv screen ahead of me which showed her drawing me as a caricature step-by-step.  I watched as she drew and in three minutes, she was done and I was in full color.  I was very impressed with the details and the taste of what she had drawn.  I paid $30 for this.  The father was so happy with it as well, he asked me if he could take a picture of it to put on the wall of the booth to show people.  I let him.  So, you may see this picture of me hanging up there somewhere until the end of PNE.

Here is the final result.

I have to say, she is truly talented and amazing to watch.  We talked briefly and she was very pleasant to deal with.  I would totally recommend her to anyone thinking of getting one done. She is very accomplished as an art instructor and has youtube videos showing how to draw cute animals in very easy step-by-step instructions.  Like this cute sea turtle.

Anyways, check her out.  Her website is www.meiyuart.com 

She's always looking for events such as weddings, parties and dry grad events to show her talent.

Womens Olympic Soccer Team 2012 Win BRONZE!

Photo by COC Mike Ridewood

Seriously, how sweet was this game!  After that heartbreaking loss to the United States by unbelievable calls made by FIFA ref, Christina Pedersen of Norway.  The girls really deserved to be playing in the gold medal game instead of the bronze.  Some people thought this match would be a tough one for our girls as they had to face France for the medal.  I woke up at 5am to watch our girls win although at times it looked like it wasn't a game going the Canadian teams way with France getting chance after chance at our net.  Their very best could not put the ball in the net.  They managed to kick it everywhere else around the net but never inside.  The Canadian team waited patiently and played defensively for most of it.  But once Diane Matheson found an opening, she made sure they nailed it in the last minute of play.  How dramatic was that! 

The wave of emotion I felt for these girls was overwhelming for me.  Fourteen of these girls once played for the Vancouver Whitecaps when I worked as an Usher at Swangard.  My connection to them goes as far back as 2006 when I first started volunteering for them.  Watching the women play were always a treat for all of us ushers.  I got to be around them again for the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament held earlier in this year in January at BC Place.  I can't tell you how awesome it was to see Christine Sinclair smile when she won the Bronze medal.   She's always been my favourite and she's a super nice person too.

The girls flew back after the closing ceremonies and were greeted at YVR wtih a throng of fans to welcome them back.  It was amazing to see that.  They truly were the shining light in the Olympics for Canada!  Way to go girls!

Being welcomed back at YVR

Diana Matheson scored the only goal and winner of the Bronze Medal game.

Kalyn Kyle, former Whitecaps player and Bronze medalist.

Christine Sinclair, Captain and Bronze medalist of the Canadian Women's National Soccer Team.

The Vancouver Whitecaps held a ceremony for the CWNT on August 15th.  I had the pleasure of running into Sophie Schmidt and Karina LeBlanc in the suites at Gate H while helping an another men's alumni player a the time.  The two had just come through the gates to go to suites after signing autographs in the Bell Box during the Kick Off festivities on the Plaza.  As they walked in, they saw my alumni, D'arcy Boulton, who played for the men's team in 2006.  They gave each other hugs and then I had the opportunity to see their medals and congratulate them.   I truly am very happy for these girls.  I hope to see them again in 2015 for the FIFA Women's World Cup which I will also be a part of. 

Here's  the game winning goal by Diana Matheson, incase you missed it.

Ryan Kesler Comes Back to Town for Popchips Event

So, Ryan Kesler had come back to town from his time off in Michigan with his family to honour the Popchips  event.  Apparently, even he was a little shocked to see the sun shining in Vancouver over the weekend while was here during the summer.

The public were asked to send in charity requests for Ryan Kesler to support and the winner was the BC Society of Transitional Houses.  Ryan filmed the advertisement and then met with fifteen lucky fans at the event.

Vancity Buzz was also there to interview Kesler and grilled him about all sorts of fun stuff.  Here is the video incase you missed it.

That's all I have on Ryan Kesler for now.  I'm sure I'll have more on him once he starts rolling back into town for maybe another season of hockey....cross fingers.