We Can All Be Canucks: Why We Should Root For Them
by Art Middleton on Apr 13, 2010 3:02 PM CDT
in Dallas Stars Analysis
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PrintI know what you are thinking.
"Oh wonderful, here comes the Canadian writer pushing a Canadian team on us... How cliche!"
Ok, I admit it! The fact the Vancouver Canucks are from my home country is a big part of why I want them to win it all and why we should be all rooting for them. If for no other reason, a Canucks Stanley Cup win would finally appease many insecure Canadian hockey fans who have been crying and whining for 17 years now about Lord Stanley has not belonged to a Canadian club.
It will appease them for a while... Or convince them that all that the remaining 24 teams in the United States need to move to Canada - I'm not sure which. But I'll gamble that it will appease them with the side bonus of all those same fans turning on themselves with bitter jealousy that the Canucks have the Cup and not any of the other five Canadian teams and thus will - for once - not be so consumed with moving the Coyotes to Hamilton, Ontario.
If that reason alone isn't enough for you dear reader to get over the fact that it is the dastardly Canucks and that the memories of the 2007 playoffs are still a little too fresh in your mind, then I would like to present you six reasons (well more than six actually) on why you should get over the past and hop on Johnny Canuck's bandwagon for the next few weeks...
The Canucks really aren't that different from our Stars when you think about it. I know that it is also cliche as the four of us Defending Big D writers try to convince you on why our team should be the people's pick, but for my money the Canucks come the closest on the ice - where the games truly matter - to resembling your Dallas Stars:
- We both love the Scandinavian players!
Three of the Canucks top five and five of the top ten scorers this season are from Scandinavian countries. True some of our Scandinavian players in Dallas weren't as effective as Vancouver's were, but it wasn't very long ago Dallas was known as "Helsinki South." Besides, what red-blooded male doesn't like Swedish twins? Granted we've already seen that Vancouver's Swedish twins just aren't quite the same, but still...
- We have a thing for goalies who have a history of choking
Admit it, every year that the Stars headed into the playoffs with Marty Turco in goal you sat there and said that this year would be different from all his other past playoff failures and he'd finally come through for us and backstop the Stars to a Stanley Cup. Never happened right? Vancouver fans are starting to get into the same boat. Roberto Luongo is supposed to be one of the game's elite and yet he hasn't even carried his team to a conference final and if he doesn't do it this year then the questions about his ability will grow even louder. Now you may say "But Art, that's a reason for us to cheer his downfall!" and normally I'd agree with you, but think of the children who look up to Lu and wear the Lu jerseys and chant "Luuuu" with the adults... you wouldn't want to see their hopes crushed would you? Won't anyone think of the children?! Besides, remember Luongo is the captain of the Canucks and deep inside, you've always wanted to see Gary Bettman hand the Cup to a goalie...
- We love pests who can score as well
Sure every team in the playoffs may have that one guy who can be a super-pest driving the opposition crazy, but the Canucks have two guys that can do that and they actually have more scoring punch to them. Love Steve Ott and everything he does for the Stars? Then I am sure you hate Alex Burrows and Ryan Kesler because of what they can do against the Stars. If you loved Otter and watching him every night this past season, then for this playoff run you'll appreciate what Burrows and Kesler can do for the Canucks. Be honest with yourself, it'll be a lot easier to cheer for them for once than root against them.
- Late night games insure that most of your evening is still free
Look, it's spring... I loves me my hockey, but there are some nights that the last thing I really want to do is spend beautiful spring evenings in a home in front of my TV. Not to mention after six months of hockey in prime time on my TV night after night, the girlfriend here really has her hopes up that she will be allowed to watch some of her shows as they happen and not three days later after the entire world has already talked about them and moved on. I'm sure most of your signifigant others feel the same way if they don't in fact share your relentless love for hockey. Canucks games are on at regular times on the west coast, but for us in the central and mountain time zones they are a little later which means not as much sleep of course, but its in the name of hockey and keeping our evenings partly free for life outside of hockey viewing.
- They like green... we like green!
Trivial reason? Perhaps... Yes neither the Stars or Canucks have green as their primary color, but it is still a team color and us lovers of the color green need to stick together. It's what Kermit The Frog would want. That's good enough for me!
- All the other reasons (because six points was enough...)
No one wants to see the Wings win ... Can't imagine seeing Gary Bettman hand the Cup to himself as owner of the Phoenix Coyotes ... It's bad enough one team from California has won a Cup, we don't really need another ... Nashville winning the Cup means I'll throw up all summer ... If you're a true Stars fan, you'll root against the Blackhawks because that is what old-school NorthStars fans do ... Tired of seeing Crosby and Ovechkin ads on my TV and maybe if Henrik Sedin wins a Stanley Cup to go with his Art Ross scoring title we'll see an ad on TV next year with him firing pucks into a beat up dryer on a frozen airport tarmac ... They have a much better chance than the other two Canadian cities in the playoffs ... If you don't cheer for the Canucks, Willie Mitchell while still in Vancouver will hit you on the head with his illegally long stick no matter where in North America you live ... Kyle Wellwood winning is a win for fat guys everywhere.
What more can I point out to convince you that Vancouver should be your playoff team of choice for the next couple of months?
Oh yeah... This guy is the anthem singer!
Sign me up! For the next few weeks I am a Canuck!
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My Stanley Cup pick this year.
I’m behind them all the way.
"It would've been a huge momentum boost if we had beaten the St. Mary's School for the Blessed, Blind, Deaf and Dumb."
Hockey nut since the night of 5/2/08. What a night it was.
DefendingBigD
I'll buy that
Since you weren’t around in 2007 for the epic shutout showdowns. Had you been a fan then, I’m sure you’d be singing a different tune. One of the biggest disappointments of my life.
Yeah, I mostly just caught a whiff of those losses.
"It would've been a huge momentum boost if we had beaten the St. Mary's School for the Blessed, Blind, Deaf and Dumb."
Hockey nut since the night of 5/2/08. What a night it was.
DefendingBigD
I'm Canadian but I'm rooting for the Canadiens!
If you live in Canada you’ll get that joke ;)
Golf Leafs Golf!
NEVER!
Since having to deal with some their obnoxiously rude fans during that series in 2007, I wish them nothing but failure. Not to mention, the Sedins have the biggest heads in hockey and it gives me a migraine watching them play while trying to figure out how they don’t topple over.
NEVAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I too hate the rude fans for coming to the AAC in 2007 and singing along with each other. Not to mention they call Luongo “Jesus, between the pipes.” Yeah I’m a little too God fearing to call anybody Jesus. I don’t care what old school North Stars fan do cause frankly for me the Stars started existing in 1994. And honestly, when the hell was the last time a Canadian team won the cup? I see that streak continuing. As far as I’m concerned San Jose and Vancouver are my 1A and 1B most hated teams in hockey. I’d rather cheer for Detroit and that’s saying something.
I also feel like
They robbed Marty, cause he could have taken on anybody that year in the playoffs and won by himself, 3 shutouts in 1 series? That pure champion sh*t right there. Coulda rode him to a Cup but nooooooo, somebody had to go on a scoring freeze.
You’re mad because we were dedicated and came and sang our anthem at the game?
but anyways, just want to say…we never call Luongo, jesus between the pipes. come on. i’ve never ever called him that.
but an honest question—-why do you hate us so much? i’m just honestly curious. because we don’t hate you.
Hate is a strong word...I don't wanna call it that
With 2007 being the 2nd to last playoff series I’ve seen for my boys, it’s still fresh on my memory. But I guess I’m a firm believer in you root for your team and that’s all you root for. Don’t worry I feel the same about San Jose, and Detroit. For the same reason I don’t dislike L.A. we hardly ever meet them in the playoffs. But long story short, I was crazily put out when Marty posted 3 shutouts against the ‘Nucks and still didn’t win. haven’t gotten over it.
Fair Enough, I completely understand that. I hate Chicago for what they did to us last year in the playoffs (except I secretly respect them and am jealous of their depth and youth…but I’ll deny that) Why do you hate San Jose?
I hate the Flames and Avalanche obviously but the team I probably hate the most is the Washington Capitals. Ugh.
I don't know if it gets much coverage up there
But Sharks/Stars is a bitter rivalry that probably got it’s hottest in 2008 when as a 5 seed we destroyed them in six games when they were favorites. I’ll let Sharks fans chime in since they’re here often, if they’d like but I believe they hate us as we’re always pinned as unerdogs, they’re favorites every year and we still find a way to own them. Evilducks will probably chime in here, which I welcome, as I’m sure he has some insight into when it really started. Something about a 2005 series but I can’t remember for some reason. Think Stars/Avalanche or Stars/Oilers. I feel like the Sharks are probably the Oilers of the 2000’s to most Stars fans but that’s just my opinion. Anybody feel free to weigh in on this.
To be honest, nobody talks about Dallas up here. You can probably see why. I mean you’re a hockey team in texas—-that will never make sense to us canadians. Much like 3 nhl teams in California never will. Or atlanta, florida, tampa bay, nashville, etc.
sorry, just being honest :S
No offense taken
Well that’s easy then, take two big rivals up North, slap a Shark and a Star on their jersey and there you have it.
Honestly
As long as it isn’t San Jose or Detroit, I’m all for whoever gets there. I think the Canucks are going to be the team that gets there.
That being said, I’d rather it was Phoenix, Colorado, or Chicago before Vancouver.
by Travis Drybread on Apr 13, 2010 3:29 PM CDT reply actions
No way.
The Canucks are one of two teams I absolutely refuse to root for, the other being the Penguins. My feelings about Alex Burrows are pretty much how the rest of the world feels about Steve Ott.
I just can’t stand the team. They’re so arrogant, especially Luongo. I know they have a chance to win the Cup, but I will not root for them.
Here's to all us girls who love hockey...and the men who play it.
by Brad_Richards_Rocks on Apr 13, 2010 3:30 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Wow I underestimated the hatred for Vancouver here!
And here I thought if I was going to see any hate, it’d be over 1994 and people saying “Pavel Bure must die!!”
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I can't hate Pavel Bure for that.
I was born in 1994 :P
Here's to all us girls who love hockey...and the men who play it.
by Brad_Richards_Rocks on Apr 13, 2010 3:42 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I (barely) remember '94, and don't like those memories either,
but 2007 is much fresher and more painful still.
Modano’s shot off the pipe was stuck in my head for days.
I was two.:P
"It would've been a huge momentum boost if we had beaten the St. Mary's School for the Blessed, Blind, Deaf and Dumb."
Hockey nut since the night of 5/2/08. What a night it was.
DefendingBigD
Ryan Kesler
is a good reason to root for the Canucks.
by Travis Drybread on Apr 13, 2010 3:31 PM CDT reply actions
I suppose
that they do have more people I dislike (Sedin 1, Sedin 2, Burrows, Luongo) than people I like (Kesler).
Disappointing.
by Travis Drybread on Apr 13, 2010 3:40 PM CDT up reply actions
See, it's opposite for me. Like: (Sedin 1, Sedin 2, Kesler) Hate: (Luongo, Burrows)
"It would've been a huge momentum boost if we had beaten the St. Mary's School for the Blessed, Blind, Deaf and Dumb."
Hockey nut since the night of 5/2/08. What a night it was.
DefendingBigD
at least we can agree on Kesler. haha
by Travis Drybread on Apr 13, 2010 3:48 PM CDT up reply actions
haha. Yeah. Kesler is greatness.
"It would've been a huge momentum boost if we had beaten the St. Mary's School for the Blessed, Blind, Deaf and Dumb."
Hockey nut since the night of 5/2/08. What a night it was.
DefendingBigD
I was probably one of the many people
hoping that he would score to beat Team Canada in overtime and upset his own team’s fans in the process.
by Travis Drybread on Apr 13, 2010 3:52 PM CDT up reply actions
Without making a scene
I’d just like to say that I am quietly nodding my head as I read several of these posts.
I'll just root for Buffalo.
Maybe then they’ll shut up about how they were “robbed”
by Travis Drybread on Apr 13, 2010 3:44 PM CDT reply actions
I can't stand Alex Burrows.
Especially after the cheap shot he took hacking the back of Morrow’s leg in game 6 of the 2007 Quarter Finals. Sorry. :(
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTIUBVIM1fs
Gotta have hockey!
@ zubov56 on twitter
I don't want to start anything here
but anyone who grew up playing hockey has been slashed and has slashed someone else in similar fashion. Stick work is part of the game like it or not. That wasn’t a vicious slash. He didn’t really wind up. Just gave him a good chop. Not even really a cheap shop in the traditional sense since slashing like that happens all the time. Morrow was unlucky to get hurt there but that’s all.
Also no matter what happens on the ice you can’t go into a bench like that to go after someone. Do it on the ice. And if you can’t cause your hurt wait until your healthy again and then go after the guy on the ice. Going into the bench like that is as bad as a pretty run of the mill slash in my books.
"We love them, We mourn for them, Unlucky boys of Red" - Morrissey
"Giggs gets past Viera, past Dixon, who comes back at him, it's a wonderful run from GIGGS!!!" - Martin Tyler
"He's got a man deep..wait, no that IS Mandeep!!" - Don Taylor
by Section 312 on Apr 13, 2010 5:50 PM CDT up reply actions
Ive been slashed many a time..
"But yeah…like CC…I harbour no ill will." - VancityDan
by Chuckles Canuckles on Apr 13, 2010 9:50 PM CDT up reply actions
Thanks for rooting for us.
"But yeah…like CC…I harbour no ill will." - VancityDan
by Chuckles Canuckles on Apr 13, 2010 5:04 PM CDT reply actions
Haha
You should be flattered to be hated this much. I know you remember 2007. All the hate means you’re good.
Yeah, Vancouver doesn’t make too many fans wherever it goes.
That said, we’re less evil than the Kings. You don’t really want to root for the team that brought Sean Avery into our hockey world do you? :)
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 13, 2010 5:10 PM CDT up reply actions
You shouldn't root for the Wings either
but you’re right, you sunk my battleship.
the team that he made his name on?
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 13, 2010 5:26 PM CDT up reply actions
it's actually really hard for me
not to use obscenities and the canucks in the same sentence. i probably hate them more than the red wings to be honest. definitely in the top 3 teams i hate the most, with san jose and anaheim.
to agree with other posts, Kesler is the only player i like on that team. the rest can all burn in h-e-double hockey sticks..
LET'S GO AVS!!!
I will NEVER, EVER, cheer for the Canucks because of what Bertdooche did to Steve Moore and how I was almost jumped 5 times walking out of GM Place following that game for wearing my Roy jersey. As an Avs fan, I will cheer for the Wings before I cheer for the Canuckleheads.
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Defending Big D: A Dallas Stars blog on SBN: easy to use, free to join.
I would cheer for Detroit
before I would cheer for the Avs because of what Claude did to Draper which was as bad as the Moore incident.
"We love them, We mourn for them, Unlucky boys of Red" - Morrissey
"Giggs gets past Viera, past Dixon, who comes back at him, it's a wonderful run from GIGGS!!!" - Martin Tyler
"He's got a man deep..wait, no that IS Mandeep!!" - Don Taylor
by Section 312 on Apr 14, 2010 2:33 AM CDT up reply actions
Canucks....
I hate them, I hate Luongo, I hate Kesler, I hate the Sedins, I hate there broken bones assembly of a defense, I especially hate Burrows.
yeah i'll say it
i really hate the canucks. i only like pavel pure in nhl ’96, and i immediately traded for him. nothing upsets me more than kesler resigning there. other than him, i really hate the ’nucks.
In a Star-less playoffs I cheer against the teams I hate most.
So the team I cheer for changes depending on matchups. Nucks v Kings is a hard one.
Cheering for a division foe is just hard, plus I would like to delay a young talented Kings team building a bunch of confidence for the future. But I do respect their talent.
Nucks … well I always just want someone to plaster a Sedin, any Sedin, against the glass. Luongo? who doesn’t want to change that Lou cheer to Boo! Burrows? need I say more than his name? ’07 playoffs? Well I blame our offense more than I credit the Nucks … but the best goalie in that series did not move on.
So I guess it is a close call, but I go for the Nucks … now if they win and get Detroit in the next round I will be cheering for Lou! Like I said I cheer against teams at this time if the Stars aren’t in to cheer for.
Eek, I can't type!!
I meant to say it’s close but I go for the Kings in this series!
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