Canada vs Japan Rugby International

I volunteered for the IRB Pacific National Cup international rugby event at Swangard Stadium on Saturday.  There was only one other person whom I recognized there and it was one of my volunteers from Whitecaps, Vicki.  We sat together in a little room waiting for our coordinator to arrive.  Meanwhile, Vicki and I had started up a chat about Whitecaps and our experiences with it so far.  Once the coordinator arrived, we were handed out pink rugby volunteer shirts to wear.

The two Rugby managers who were sitting close to Vicki and I came up to us and chose us to be her runners as she had overheard us talking about working with the Whitecaps.  Alex and Stephanie were the two managers in charge who were running the show.  So they basically asked Vicki and I to look after the little kids and get them set up for pre-game and halftime events.

We were given these passes to wear while we volunteered to get us access to the pitch.

 

We had some time to kill before the event started at 5pm so after we got some drinks from Starbucks, we decided to walk around and see what was happening.  We took a walk around the track and took a stroll through the VIP area.  They had set up tents for the sponsors on what we used to call the "bronze side" at Whitecaps. I took a pic of the pitch from there as we were ground level. 

Once we made it over to the grandstand side, we decided to have a seat in the stands until we had to head down to the south end to get our kids in order for pre-game ceremonies. 

On the way there, we saw the teams start to arrive.  Here is Team Japan arriving.  They picked up their accreditation from a man standing outside the bus and then headed down to their dressing room tunnel.

Vicki and I had to get our kids together and most of them were in the crowds at the end zone.  So, we decided to watch a bit of Team Canada warming up and then herded the kids and parents into the zone.

 

We figured Adam Kleeberger was the one in the white headband. Adam is known around the world for his infamous beard. The phrase "Fear the Beard" was well known a few years ago at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

This picture taken by telegraph.co.uk of Adam shows his before and after pics.

The other volunteers were sent to work will call, to scan tickets at the gate, sell merchandise and help out with some games in the fan zone.  None of them received All Access passes but Vicki and I.  We really were happy with our positions as we really didn't have to do much or stand for too long.  We also got to sit and watch some of the match with the fans on top of a grassy knoll in the North zone.

With the score 25-14, it looked like Canada was well on their way to winning this one, but as Vicki said, in Rugby anything can happen.  And then it happened.  Right before our eyes we watch Japan make a great comeback to win it 34-25.  Vicki stayed on to help with take-down but I left after the match was done cause of my wrist injury.  I wouldn't have been any help.  Alex had thanked us for our help and that was it.  It was a really great turnout for the match. 6,500 standing room sellout!  Last time that happened for an event at Swangard, it was the India vs China friendly soccer match back in 2007. 

I ended up getting a "tan".  Vicki didn't get much of one.  Go figure but it was a beautiful day to have this event.  I'm so lucky to have been given an opportunity to be a part of that and work with Alex and Stephanie.  They were absolutely wonderful to work with.  Next match is in Toronto Canada vs Scotland at the BMO Field.  Good Luck to Team Canada!

Kevin Bieksa's Injury in the Czech Republic

Bieksa telling the Zebra's "I lost my fucking tooth!"

The next day, after the blood was all washed away and the stitches were in place, this is what he looked like.

 

He truly is a warrior and leader on this team.  Good luck on the rest of the way to Gold, Bieksa! No one deserves it more.

Team Canada wins vs Team Sweden! 3-2!

Woke up at 6am again to watch Team Canada take on Team Sweden.  It was certainly entertaining.  Sweden took at 2-0 lead in the first only for the Canadians to make their comeback.  They finally fell into their groove and got a goal from Brayden Schenn to open it for Canada. They followed up that play with a right handed Defenceman taking aim at the net. Kevin Bieksa got rewarded with his second goal of the tournament tying up the game in bieksellent fashion.  Of course, nothing was decided in regular time and had to go to OT.  Ryan Ellis got the OT goal on a 2-1 with Jonathan Huberdeau winning the game in sudden death.

Canada will now go on to face Norway on May 20th, 2:30am PT.

Go Team Canada!

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.