Canucks and Beyond http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/CandB/ Canucks and Beyond is a NHL blog covering Vancouver hockey -- and more -- with attitude and a sense of humour. en pkwjr@comcast.net Copyright 2007 2007-01-07T06:08:01+00:00 The Odds on Vancouver Goaltending http://kuklaskorner.com/candb/comments/the_odds_on_vancouver_goaltending http://kuklaskorner.com/candb/comments/the_odds_on_vancouver_goaltending Given all the fuss about goaltending around these parts, Bodog is glad to make some money off the argument. Here are their odds on what has apparently become the Annual October Debate in this province: Who will start more games in the month of November 2011? Roberto Luongo (VAN)          -500 Cory Schneider (VAN)          +300 Who will have more wins during the 2011-12 regular season? Roberto Luongo (VAN)  -18½ Cory Schneider (VAN)  +18½ Given all the fuss about goaltending around these parts, Bodog is glad to make some money off the argument. Here are their odds on what has apparently become the Annual October Debate in this province:

Who will start more games in the month of November 2011?
Roberto Luongo (VAN)          -500
Cory Schneider (VAN)          +300

Who will have more wins during the 2011-12 regular season?
Roberto Luongo (VAN)  -18½
Cory Schneider (VAN)  +18½

Continue reading "The Odds on Vancouver Goaltending"

]]> 2011-10-27T22:00:06+00:00 Alanah McGinley Luongo’s New Mask http://kuklaskorner.com/candb/comments/luongos_new_mask http://kuklaskorner.com/candb/comments/luongos_new_mask “It’s a couple weeks late, just like my game.” —Roberto Luongo, on receiving his new mask (via Canucks.com which adds:  “Criticizing Luongo has apparently become so popular that the man himself is taking shots at the man himself.”) *photo is property of Ben Kuzma vancouver-canucks, image

“It’s a couple weeks late, just like my game.”

—Roberto Luongo, on receiving his new mask (via Canucks.com which adds:  “Criticizing Luongo has apparently become so popular that the man himself is taking shots at the man himself.”)

*photo is property of Ben Kuzma

]]> 2011-10-20T22:25:20+00:00 Alanah McGinley Canucks Tribute Video to Rick Rypien http://kuklaskorner.com/candb/comments/canucks_tribute_video_to_rick_rypien http://kuklaskorner.com/candb/comments/canucks_tribute_video_to_rick_rypien From last night’s pre-game ceremonies— On a related topic, ESPN’s Roy S. Johnson has a piece out today on the issue of depression among many throughout professional sports. vancouver-canucks, From last night’s pre-game ceremonies—

On a related topic, ESPN’s Roy S. Johnson has a piece out today on the issue of depression among many throughout professional sports.

]]> 2011-10-19T21:31:34+00:00 Alanah McGinley The Redemption of Johnny Canuck http://kuklaskorner.com/candb/comments/the_redemption_of_johnny_canuck http://kuklaskorner.com/candb/comments/the_redemption_of_johnny_canuck Last year’s Stanley Cup Final against the Boston Bruins featured a very clever video by Canucks’ fan Adam MacKay-Smith—you can see it here.  One of my favourite fan videos of all time. This season, Adam returns with his new outlook in The Heartbreak of Johnny Canuck... and his search for redemption.  (Thanks to Kent Basky for the link.) Video: vancouver-canucks, Last year’s Stanley Cup Final against the Boston Bruins featured a very clever video by Canucks’ fan Adam MacKay-Smith—you can see it here.  One of my favourite fan videos of all time.

This season, Adam returns with his new outlook in The Heartbreak of Johnny Canuck... and his search for redemption.  (Thanks to Kent Basky for the link.)

Video:

Continue reading "The Redemption of Johnny Canuck"

]]> 2011-10-18T22:54:41+00:00 Alanah McGinley Canucks Remember Rypien http://kuklaskorner.com/candb/comments/canucks_remember_rypien http://kuklaskorner.com/candb/comments/canucks_remember_rypien While the focus of tonight’s match-up between the Vancouver Canucks and the New York Rangers is primarily the game itself, there are other—and more important—matters at hand tonight in Vancouver.  While the Canucks celebrate the return on Ryan Kesler and NYR hope to get their team on track, the game itself will be set against a more poignant backdrop. Tonight, the Canucks will be ceremonially remembering Rick Rypien during pre-game events, starting at 7:04pm PT, delaying puck-drop to 7:15.  Among other things, Rick’s family will be on hand for an announcement on behalf of the Canucks For Kids Fund. In honour of Rick’s memory, the CFKF is contributing $50,000 to the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation to develop a website dedicated to helping youth and young adults with mental health issues. vancouver-canucks, While the focus of tonight’s match-up between the Vancouver Canucks and the New York Rangers is primarily the game itself, there are other—and more important—matters at hand tonight in Vancouver.  While the Canucks celebrate the return on Ryan Kesler and NYR hope to get their team on track, the game itself will be set against a more poignant backdrop.

Tonight, the Canucks will be ceremonially remembering Rick Rypien during pre-game events, starting at 7:04pm PT, delaying puck-drop to 7:15. 

Among other things, Rick’s family will be on hand for an announcement on behalf of the Canucks For Kids Fund. In honour of Rick’s memory, the CFKF is contributing $50,000 to the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation to develop a website dedicated to helping youth and young adults with mental health issues.

Continue reading "Canucks Remember Rypien"

]]> 2011-10-18T20:30:51+00:00 Alanah McGinley Ryan Kesler Back http://kuklaskorner.com/candb/comments/ryan_kesler_back http://kuklaskorner.com/candb/comments/ryan_kesler_back After a long stretch of rehab from the torn labrum suffered during last season’s Stanley Cup playoffs, Ryan Kesler is apparently ready to return. From Iain MacIntyre at the Vancouver Sun:Ryan Kesler’s path back to the Vancouver Canucks’ lineup has been cleared with the reassignment of sophomore defenceman Chris Tanev to the AHL’s Chicago Wolves, opening a spot on the National Hockey League team’s 23-man roster. In the final stages of recovering from off-season hip surgery, Kesler practised this morning on the Canucks’ second line between wingers Chris Higgins and Cody Hodgson. He also worked with Vancouver’s first-unit power play. After a long stretch of rehab from the torn labrum suffered during last season’s Stanley Cup playoffs, Ryan Kesler is apparently ready to return. From Iain MacIntyre at the Vancouver Sun:

Ryan Kesler’s path back to the Vancouver Canucks’ lineup has been cleared with the reassignment of sophomore defenceman Chris Tanev to the AHL’s Chicago Wolves, opening a spot on the National Hockey League team’s 23-man roster.

In the final stages of recovering from off-season hip surgery, Kesler practised this morning on the Canucks’ second line between wingers Chris Higgins and Cody Hodgson. He also worked with Vancouver’s first-unit power play.

Continue reading "Ryan Kesler Back"

]]> 2011-10-17T21:20:26+00:00 Alanah McGinley Canucks-Related Misery http://kuklaskorner.com/candb/comments/canucks-related_misery http://kuklaskorner.com/candb/comments/canucks-related_misery — Last night’s Philly/Van game. Listening to “Jagr has the puck…” calls was surreal enough, but much of the rest of the game was outright painful. Hopefully the pre-season ends soon for these guys? (On the other side of the equation, hearing the words “goalie controversy” five minutes into the season sort of makes some of us want to smack around the entire Canucks fanbase.) — Today’s Canucks/Wings game.  It appears that some Canucks fans (i.e. me) aren’t able to watch the Vancouver/Detroit game tonight.  Apparently MLB (and its spry little scurrying squirrel... wth?) is dominating our regular Sportsnet SD and HD channels. This has forced tonight’s hockey matchup between the Red Wings and Canucks up onto some stratospheric backup channel on the TV dial (well, they used to be called dials… back when I had 80’s hair), and one that apparently I can’t get. This is despite the fact I pay more for my cable each month than I do for health insurance. For my entire family. dumb-stuff, vancouver-canucks, — Last night’s Philly/Van game. Listening to “Jagr has the puck…” calls was surreal enough, but much of the rest of the game was outright painful. Hopefully the pre-season ends soon for these guys? (On the other side of the equation, hearing the words “goalie controversy” five minutes into the season sort of makes some of us want to smack around the entire Canucks fanbase.)

— Today’s Canucks/Wings game.  It appears that some Canucks fans (i.e. me) aren’t able to watch the Vancouver/Detroit game tonight.  Apparently MLB (and its spry little scurrying squirrel... wth?) is dominating our regular Sportsnet SD and HD channels.

This has forced tonight’s hockey matchup between the Red Wings and Canucks up onto some stratospheric backup channel on the TV dial (well, they used to be called dials… back when I had 80’s hair), and one that apparently I can’t get. This is despite the fact I pay more for my cable each month than I do for health insurance. For my entire family.

Continue reading "Canucks-Related Misery"

]]> 2011-10-13T23:29:22+00:00 Alanah McGinley iPhone Adventures in Hockey http://kuklaskorner.com/candb/comments/iphone_adventures_in_hockey http://kuklaskorner.com/candb/comments/iphone_adventures_in_hockey So, I’m distressed to say that I missed the Canucks second game of the season, against Columbus on Monday. Not because I was busy with work (it was Canadian Thanksgiving); not because my kid was screaming for attention (she was buried in family affection all weekend and really didn’t want anything to do with any of us after a certain point); not because I was cooking some big feast (after three straight days of Thanksgiving dinners, I may never look at food again, much less turkey); and not because I was too drunk to program the PVR (like I said, Thanksgiving, family, screaming kids, etc). None of these things.  No, the reason I missed Monday’s game against Columbus is because I downloaded the Canucks iPhone app. hockey-media, vancouver-canucks, So, I’m distressed to say that I missed the Canucks second game of the season, against Columbus on Monday.

Not because I was busy with work (it was Canadian Thanksgiving); not because my kid was screaming for attention (she was buried in family affection all weekend and really didn’t want anything to do with any of us after a certain point); not because I was cooking some big feast (after three straight days of Thanksgiving dinners, I may never look at food again, much less turkey); and not because I was too drunk to program the PVR (like I said, Thanksgiving, family, screaming kids, etc).

None of these things. 

No, the reason I missed Monday’s game against Columbus is because I downloaded the Canucks iPhone app.

Continue reading "iPhone Adventures in Hockey"

]]> 2011-10-12T23:10:32+00:00 Alanah McGinley Turning the Page in Vancouver http://kuklaskorner.com/candb/comments/turning_the_page_in_vancouver http://kuklaskorner.com/candb/comments/turning_the_page_in_vancouver Most of the stories about the Vancouver Canucks this past summer had one theme: they lost. Kaboom.  The Stanley Cup Finals was a great ride… until it wasn’t. But with a new season finally upon us, the page seems to be turning as the analysis switches towards the new topic of “so now what?”  With the puck drop countdown now in its final hours, perhaps it’s finally safe to to start being optimistic about a new season. _______________ —Is the latest version of the NHL—Brendan Shanahan’s NHL, that is— built for the Canucks? You could make the argument that it is.  In today’s Province, Ed Willes argues his thesis about the Red Wings Way: vancouver-canucks, Most of the stories about the Vancouver Canucks this past summer had one theme: they lost. Kaboom.  The Stanley Cup Finals was a great ride… until it wasn’t.

But with a new season finally upon us, the page seems to be turning as the analysis switches towards the new topic of “so now what?”  With the puck drop countdown now in its final hours, perhaps it’s finally safe to to start being optimistic about a new season.

_______________

—Is the latest version of the NHL—Brendan Shanahan’s NHL, that is— built for the Canucks? You could make the argument that it is.  In today’s Province, Ed Willes argues his thesis about the Red Wings Way:

Continue reading "Turning the Page in Vancouver"

]]> 2011-10-05T23:23:33+00:00 Alanah McGinley From the Naked City… http://kuklaskorner.com/candb/comments/from_the_naked_city http://kuklaskorner.com/candb/comments/from_the_naked_city The Canucks superstar is among nine male sports stars posing au naturel, including basketball player Blake Griffin, footballer Steven Jackson and UFC fighter Jon Jones. Kesler is the only NHL player to appear this year. —CTV British Columbia The complete ESPN feature available here. vancouver-canucks,

The Canucks superstar is among nine male sports stars posing au naturel, including basketball player Blake Griffin, footballer Steven Jackson and UFC fighter Jon Jones. Kesler is the only NHL player to appear this year.
—CTV British Columbia

image

The complete ESPN feature available here.

]]> 2011-10-05T20:30:14+00:00 Alanah McGinley