It was an emotional evening at GM place tonight. There were other stories to be told, Iginla scored his 50th goal of the season, and the Canucks got blown out 7-1 in a technically meaningless game.
But to fans of the Vancouver Canucks this game was far from meaningless. Bitterness put aside from the stretch drive meltdown, this game was most likely one of the last to be played by a great Vancouver hockey player and an even better person.
Although he has yet to announce it, in all probability he has played his last NHL game in a great 20 year career.
As great a hockey player Linden was, he was an even better person. He has contributed so much of his time to the community for charitable organizations such as Canuck Place. He has an amazing reputation as an outstanding member of this community.
Trevor Linden, has always been my favourite hockey player. He always will be. I grew up in the Linden and Bure era of the Vancouver Canucks. I saw him in his prime. I still remember the electricity of the 94 playoff run. He truly lead his team into the war that was the playoffs that year. By the end of it he had 2 broken noses and was battered and bruised but still fought valiantly scoring the 2 goals in game 7.
He always had the ability to elevate his game at the most important time of the year. Guess who tied for the team lead in points last year in the playoffs?
But as much of a hockey fan I am now, I didn't really follow along as the dark days of the Canucks loomed in after the lockout season in the mid-nineties, with Keenan and Messier. An era many of us would love to forget. In fact, I basically stopped watching hockey when I heard Trevor Linden was traded.
Low and behold, the revival of the Canucks came back in the early 2000's, and seemed to coincide with the return of Trevor Linden. Needless to say I was ecstatic. The Canucks were back. My Canucks were back. My obsession for hockey rematerialized.
It didn't ever matter who was captain of the team. Trevor Linden will always be Captain Canuck to me.
But to fans of the Vancouver Canucks this game was far from meaningless. Bitterness put aside from the stretch drive meltdown, this game was most likely one of the last to be played by a great Vancouver hockey player and an even better person.
Although he has yet to announce it, in all probability he has played his last NHL game in a great 20 year career.
As great a hockey player Linden was, he was an even better person. He has contributed so much of his time to the community for charitable organizations such as Canuck Place. He has an amazing reputation as an outstanding member of this community.
Trevor Linden, has always been my favourite hockey player. He always will be. I grew up in the Linden and Bure era of the Vancouver Canucks. I saw him in his prime. I still remember the electricity of the 94 playoff run. He truly lead his team into the war that was the playoffs that year. By the end of it he had 2 broken noses and was battered and bruised but still fought valiantly scoring the 2 goals in game 7.
He always had the ability to elevate his game at the most important time of the year. Guess who tied for the team lead in points last year in the playoffs?
But as much of a hockey fan I am now, I didn't really follow along as the dark days of the Canucks loomed in after the lockout season in the mid-nineties, with Keenan and Messier. An era many of us would love to forget. In fact, I basically stopped watching hockey when I heard Trevor Linden was traded.
Low and behold, the revival of the Canucks came back in the early 2000's, and seemed to coincide with the return of Trevor Linden. Needless to say I was ecstatic. The Canucks were back. My Canucks were back. My obsession for hockey rematerialized.
It didn't ever matter who was captain of the team. Trevor Linden will always be Captain Canuck to me.
