Canucks.com is running a new feature this week, pitting the Sedin twins against each other in a number of different sports activities.
Today's challenge is a penalty kick soccer shootout against Vancouver Whitecaps' goalie David Ousted. We know the twins are pretty solid with a soccer ball. They do quite well here:
This ties in nicely with some discussion in yesterday's comments about the atmosphere at Whitecaps games vs. Canucks games.
I agree—the energy is high at B.C. Place when the Whitecaps play. The Canucks made an overture in this direction in 2013, inviting a group of the Whitecaps' Southsiders to liven up the proceedings from a perch in the upper bowl. It ended badly.
Though my sightlines certainly weren't affected, I found the steady chanting and cheering a bit strange, since it wasn't tuned in to what was happening on the ice. Listening to the group sing through play stoppages or chant when the opposition got a scoring chance seemed really odd to me. It's different in soccer, when there are long stretches with limited action. When I was at a Whitecaps game a couple of weeks ago, the fans were also reacting to events on the pitch.
That being said, I understand the vibe of constant cheering is similar at European hockey games—maybe it would just take some getting used to. I'd be more than happy to see any fan initiatives that would help dial down those Jumbotron instructions to "Make Some Noise!" or have "Everybody Clap Your Hands!"
Perry Pearn Named Assistant Coach
On Monday morning, the Canucks named Perry Pearn as a new assistant coach. He'll join Glen Gulutzan and Doug Lidster in assisting Willie Desjardins behind the Canucks bench.
Pearn's name was in the mix during the head coaching search. He has 19 years of NHL experience as an assistant with the Ottawa Senators, New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens and Winnipeg Jets. He was relieved of his duties in Winnipeg when Claude Noel was fired last January. Pearn's another Alberta native—the 63-year-old was born in Stettler.
Canucks on Holiday
VanCity Buzz has a fun piece today, looking at some of the summer activities of current and future Canucks. Click here to take a look.
One highlight is a look at Hunter Shinkaruk's elite training company in Halifax, which includes Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon.
Recreational activities for various players include everything from ping pong to amusements parks to weddings.
Giant drop was scaaaaary! #gronalund #stockholm #datenight pic.twitter.com/VLSYLOTKPu
— Eddie Lack (@eddielack) July 7, 2014Who Wore It Best?
Rejoice, loyal fans! The Canucks' website has named Wayne Maki as the player who best wore No. 11. If you like that, you'll love this wording—straight from the website:
he remains one of only three players to have ever donned No. 11, the others were Chris Oddleifson and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.
Tomrrow, at No. 12, there won't be much of a battle. The number was retired in honour of Stan Smyl on November 3, 1991, and those who wore it before him were a pretty motley bunch. The most recognizable name to me is Rob Flockhart, a left-winger who scored three points for Vancouver in 43 games over three seasons from 1976 to 1979.
Thank god for Steamer!
Listed at 5'8" and 185 pounds, Stan Smyl was selected 40th overall in the third round of the 1978 amateur draft. He was a product of the New Westminster Bruins, who'd won two Memorial Cups during his tenure.
Smyl played just three games in the minors in his rookie season, then contributed 14 goals and 38 points in 62 games with the Canucks. In his sophomore year, Smyl exploded for 31 goals and 204 penalty minutes, proving himself to be a fearless competitor who could excel at all parts of the game.
His offense continued to improve, to a peak of 38 goals and 88 points in 1982-83, and he was named team captain in 1982. Smyl also contributed an impressive nine goals and nine assists in 17 games during the Canucks' first major playoff run, when they reached the Stanley Cup Final against the New York Islanders in 1982.