WCH 2014 Canada 4 - Slovakia 1!

After the crazy and shocking shootout loss to France on Friday morning, Team Canada has finally found their first win against Slovakia.  Joel Ward scored twice, Cody Hodgson scored once and Kevin Bieksa added another to the pot in the third period.  I was on Vancouver Island this morning so I wasn't really able to watch it but woke up to find that Canada had won.  So proud and happy for Bieksa.  He's taking charge of his team on a world stage now and proving to everyone why he deserves to wear the "C" on his jersey.

He also dished out a sweet hit on Slovakia.  His opponent never knew what hit him.  Go Bieksa!

TSN Highlights of the Game (Bieksa hit and interview included):

Canada vs Slovakia Highlights

Enjoy!

Next match is Canada vs Czech Republic on Monday, May 12th 1:45pm ET/ 10:45am PT.

Kevin Bieksa is Captain of Team Canada!

Kevin Bieksa has been named Captain of Team Canada representing at the World Championships.  Kyle Turris and Jason Chimera rounding out the Alternative Captains. 

His first leadership role was to lead the stretch at practice this morning.  So, what did Bieksa make his team do?  He had them making snow angels on the ice before they focused on the game ahead.  Nice.  Keeping them loose at practice and focused at game time. 

I am so happy and proud that Bieksa finally got the recognition he deserves by Captaining Team Canada.  Any Canucks fan can tell you that he has the Heart of a Canuck.  The heart and soul of the team.  His passion and leadership has been prevalent with the Canucks over the last few years and it's obvious that he's a natural born leader.

Jason Garrison and Alex Burrows are also on this amazing journey with him.  Garrison is blogging on the Canucks wesbite of their adventure over seas.  Make sure you read it.

First game is on Friday morning 6:30am on TSN vs France.  Go get'em Juice!

Kevin Bieksa is Heading to World Championships 2014!!

Kevin Bieksa confirmed after the Colorado game that he has been named to Team Canada's roster list in Belarus.  This will be the first time he has been able to participate in an event where he is able to represent Canada in a World Championship.

If you'd like to see him respond to the questions about the invite to play, you can watch it here. Bieksa's interview starts at the 23:16 mark.

Wishing Bieksa and his team success and he will bring home the gold!  He won't be able to resist rubbing it into Kesler's face too. That's what best friends are for!

Trevor Linden - Canucks Hero as President

Wow!!  What a week!  So, the Canucks have failed to make the playoffs for the first time in 6 years.  This year has been like no other.  With many injuries, new defensive systems and GM trades that have made no sense in the last three years and giving half this team "No Trade Clauses", it has finally come to a head.  The core players, the Sedins, Ryan Kesler, Kevin Bieksa and Alex Burrows need support from their team and they didn't get it.  Mike Gillis was finally fired a day after the Canucks failed to make playoffs.  The fans were chanting "Fire Gillis" inside Rogers Arena.  It was finally time for a change.  The fans wanted it and the Canucks ownership finally recognized it with the low season ticket renewal and had the courage to do the right thing and make that change.  They did the next best thing.  They hired "The Golden Boy" Trevor Linden.

Trevor was named the President of Hockey Operations yesterday morning.  With the reputation that comes along with Trevor, this hiring has given the fans hope again.  In hopes that he will do the right thing and finally bring balance to this team that has been lacking since the 2011 Stanley Cup final.  I thought it was just a media stunt but after hearing him at the conference yesterday, I'm convinced that he has a plan and feels the same as most of the core players and the fans do in this city.  I do sincerely wish Trevor Linden luck with this organization and truly hope that he can right this ship and make us a Stanley Cup contending team once again.

If you missed the conference yesterday of Aquilini naming Trevor the President, you can watch it here on Youtube.

There is a great interview with Trevor on the  CKNW Bill Good Show .  He shows a lot of insight of which direction he wants this team to go.  Worth a listen.  

Volunteer Opportunity - Prince George Canada Winter Games 2015

Here is another volunteer opportunity for you!  They are looking for many more volunteers to work the games next year held from February 13th - March 1st, 2015.  If you think you would be interested in participating for this event, please go to this link for more information and register yourself for an amazing time! Volunteer Info and Registration

The Volunteer Coordinator for this event is one that I've worked with in the past and trust me, she is amazing.  She has coordinated many of the events that have come through Vancity in the last 20 years, including Indy Vancouver. 

Games Mascot - Nanguz (Nan-guzz)

Here is the official video promo for the games.  Enjoy!

Volunteer Opportunity - 102nd Grey Cup Festival Vancouver 2014

I absolutely love this logo!  This was created by BC Lions, Keron Williams.  The man has talent.

So this will be the second Grey Cup that I'll be involved with hosted by Vancouver.  This event is run by really good friends of mine who I love working with.  I know they are working hard at the moment to get everything ready to process volunteers for this event.  If you think you might be interested and have always wanted to be part of something fun and special in this city, here is your chance.

My volunteer experience was being a Team Lead in Hospitality in 2011 and it was amazing.  I have it blogged in November 2011, if you're interested in seeing what kinds of events I was able to do.

You can register on the Volunteer Registration page.  Once you've done that, you will be contacted by the Volunteer Committee with further details leading up the event orientation.

Good Luck!

Vancouver Canucks vs. Ottawa Senators Heritage Classic 2014

Got your tickets??  Now that the Olympics are over, the city of Vancouver is ready to put on a very big event this weekend.  The NHL Heritage Classic featuring our very own Vancouver Canucks vs Ottawa Senators.  I've been watching the tweets coming out of BC Place as they assemble the rink.  It looks pretty good to me.  They even managed to shovel some snow into the building to make it look authentic. 

Tweeted from Sportsnet: Gary Valk, John Garret and Dan Murphy commentating in the snow.

Although it is touted as an outdoor game, the stadium will most likely be closed due to weather conditions such as snow and rain which are forecasted on the day of the event. But don't be fooled.  Just because it is indoor and the roof will be closed, BC Place will not be heated for this game.  I would advise you to bundle up and wear gloves because you will feel bone chilling cold hit you and I guarantee that you will be able to see your breath.  It will be super cold. Trust me.  I've worked many volunteer events here and they never put the heat on.  They only heat the building for soccer and football games. 

It was also just announced that Eddie Lack will be getting the start for the game tomorrow.  I understand that Eddie has played excellent in the last two games and  John Tortarella wants to reward him but this is the wrong decision.  Roberto Luongo is our franchise goalie and should be respected as such in big events such as this.  Even Cory Schneider didn't get the start over Marty Brodeur in the New Jersey Devil's outdoor game.  Not to take anything away from Eddie because I'm sure he's excited to play in the biggest game of his life.  I just think that Luongo should be playing in tomorrow's game. He should have that respect and there are other NHL goalies who think so too.  Not to mention the fans who are choked as well.  #FreeLuongo is trending in Canada on Twitter.

I'm supposed to be working at the stadium tomorrow morning but hoping to catch some of the festival in between my training and shift times.  If you don't already know, there is a FREE Heritage Game Fan Festival located in the Plaza of Nations parking lot. It's from 9am -1pm. Here is a link to Vancitybuzz with all the info you need.

Heritage Game Fan Festival

I'm looking forward to seeing Jyrki Lumme.  He's the only '94 Canuck I haven't run into during my last 10 yrs of volunteering at events.  Still love that team.

Finally, I will be posting what I can from the game tomorrow.  Hopefully I can get out there and enjoy it a bit as a fan as well.  I hope everyone comes out for this amazing event!