I hope you're having a great day, filled with good cheer and quality time with the ones you love!
My favourite hockey-holiday memory was the year I gave my dad his first-ever jersey—Trevor Linden—as well as a tie splashed with the Canucks downward-skate logo in a bunch of different, bright colours. Do you remember that whimsical-tie period of the early 90s?
Our family had just forked out for season tickets for the first time—thanks, in large part, to Pavel Bure's arrival. That, plus a sudden amount of exposure to hockey players at my workplace, marked the beginning of my immersion into all things Canucks. I'd always watched, but from then on, I watched *everything.*
What was your favourite hockey-related Christmas gift or holiday moment?
Feel free to continue tweaking the Canucks' lineup in the comments today if you're so inclined. I'm going to take a spin through the roster and see what our boys are up to on Twitter. Let's begin with the master, whose injury doesn't seem to have bruised his sense of humour:
Why do mummies love Christmas so much?
Cuz of all the wrapping!!! #naileditagain
— Strombone (@strombone1) December 25, 2013Bieksa and Hamhuis may not be a regular pair anymore, but are clearly still close:
Yes, Dan had one too many eggnogs one snowy Christmas night...#therethere #sleepmychild pic.twitter.com/v5u8lseX4W
— Kevin Bieksa (@kbieksa3) December 18, 2013David Booth, pretty low-key:
Only where He was homeless, are you and I at home
— David Booth (@D_Booth7) December 24, 2013Family fuzzies from Kassian:
Voted #uncleoftheyear happy holidays and merry christmas to everyone pic.twitter.com/NLbs8kbqmS
— zack kassian (@zkassian9) December 25, 2013Zac Dalpe, using the Christmas sweater pic for his profile!
Merry Christmas everyone. Enjoy time with your family and friends.
— Zac Dalpe (@ZacDalpe22) December 25, 2013Tom Sestito:
Merry Christmas to all out there enjoy your family and friends! And remember your soldiers that couldn't make it home for the holidays
— Tom Sestito (@TomSestito23) December 24, 2013To conclude the main roster, Eddie Lack, lighting up the room as usual:
Merry Christmas everyone!!!! pic.twitter.com/qTGF8jkCkc
— Eddie Lack (@eddielack) December 24, 2013And from the kids:
Merry Christmas! Hope everyone has a great day.
— Frank Corrado (@frankcorrado22) December 25, 2013Merry Christmas everyone 🎅🎄
— Hunter Shinkaruk (@H_S_9) December 25, 2013Merry Christmas everyone! Can't wait to get started tmo #WJC 🎅🎄ðŸŽ
— Bo Horvat (@BoHorvat) December 25, 2013World Junior Championship Preview:
The 2014 World Junior Championships gets underway on Boxing Day in Malmo, Sweden, with Team Canada taking on Germany at 4:30 a.m. Thursday morning. Canucks' prospect Bo Horvat has been centring the team's first line, between possible 2014 No. 1 pick Sam Reinhart and 16-year-old prodigy Connor McDavid. They made up the only line that stayed together through all three pre-tournament games, looking good in the wins over Finland and Switzerland.
This year, Germany boasts a bona-fide top-ten draft prospect in Leon Draisaitl, who has impressed with the WHL's Prince Albert Raiders. I suspect I'll rely on the PVR rather than getting up at 4:30, but I am looking forward to seeing if Canada can get off to a good start in its quest to bring home its first gold medal in five years. The broadcast will also repeat at 4:30 p.m.