This is what happens when you celebrate community, volunteers, fans, and those active in hockey: HockeyStars.com is a new social networking portal focused on all of these important people when it comes to local minor hockey players in BC, the real stars of the game.

HockeyStars is devoted to the real stars of the game. It’s a social networking site for minor hockey players, coaches, parents and volunteers that will officially launch to the public in time for the 2008-09 hockey season.

To kick off in style, they’re looking for your photo or video, on or off the ice, of your personal best hockey moment for the My Best Hockey Highlight contest.

All you need to do is head to the site from May 5 to June 9, 2008, upload your content along with a brief story (250 words max) that depicts your Best Hockey Highlight and you could win an XBox 360 or a $1000 Citizens Bank gift card Visa. Also, if you head to the site and place votes on the content that’s up there you could also win a “voters” prize pack including a Sony DVD Camcorder.

As a super cool added bonus gift, if you drop a comment on THIS blog post by midnight on Monday May 19th, you’ll be entered to win these two hockey books authographed by the author, Jason Farris:

Hockey Play by Play with Jim Robson (legendary Canucks broadcaster) and Hail Cesare (tribute to Cesare Maniago).

So let’s recap shall we?

Step One: Check out the My Best Hockey Highlight contest on HockeyStars.com. If you have some content to share (and are 13 years old and up), upload your photos or videos for your chance to win a $1000 Citizens Bank gift card or XBox 360. If you don’t have content to share, vote on other submissions to win the “voters” prize.

Step Two: Just for checking out the HockeyStars site, leave a comment on this blog post to have a chance at winning the two great hockey books mentioned above.

I’ll draw the winner of the books on Tuesday May 20th, pulling a name at random from all the comments below. A huge hat tip to Nancy Zimmerman for making this possible and for being the best social media for banking evangelist around. Good luck everyone!

There are only two games left in round one of the NHL playoffs, both coming down to the wire for the Caps vs Flyers, and the Sharks vs Flames. Tonight the Habs took the Bruins in another Game 7, which is probably for the best since my nephews now all own sweaters and my niece wouldn’t have grown into my Boston jersey for another few years.

Whenever the home team gets left behind for the post season those who aren’t too soured on the entire sport chose another team to follow.

Photo credit: Darren Barefoot on Flickr

With hockey sometimes it’s the “other Canadian teams” in the playoffs or perhaps the team that beat us out because hey - it stings a bit less to know you were defeated by the best. Other times you’ll start to root for your favourite player, you’ll chose a team by geographical location, or finally your friend has a favourite team and since you’ll be watching the playoffs together you just go along with their choice.

I’ve poked around the blogosphere to see who’s looking good to some bruised Canucks fans right about now:

So how about everyone else? You can select up to two answers in the Miss604 Poll below:

 Loading …

I’ve been keeping my eye on the Eastern Conference as I am one of those bitter people who can’t stand to look at any other team in the West right now. I must admit, it’s been some pretty fantastic hockey with end to end action and the league’s most exciting players.

Tuesday will decide which other two teams carry on to round two with the Washington vs Philly at 7pm ET and San Jose vs Calgary at 10pm ET.

My moment with Trev in 2006

Yesterday the CBC contacted Gary because he’s responsible for an online petition to get a street renamed after Trevor Linden. Unfortunately Gary wasn’t available to go into the CBC ‘bunker’ this morning so I was his stand-in. I was basically asked, “why name a street after Linden?” and after I initially froze after the first question (cause I get nervous like that) I think the rest of the interview with Rick Cluff went okay. You can listen online sometime today or tomorrow on the Early Edition’s website.

When trying to find the Facebook group dedicated to the same street-naming cause, I came across over 130 other groups all in support of Linden. Here are a few examples:

… just to name a few.

It’s no surprise that this city is crazy about him. Like many have echoed, he personifies the Canucks in this hockey-crazy town that hasn’t even won a Stanley Cup since the beginning of last century. He’s represented Canada on the world stage at the Olympics, and in the World tournament, he’s been an All Star, a record-breaker, award-winner, and is also currently up for the Masterton Trophy for 2008.

We’ve got Joe Sakic Way in Burnaby and Griffiths Way downtown, both represent a tradition of hockey in this region and I think that a similar dedication to Linden is definitely in order - especially with his commitment off-ice to various charitable organizations for sick children.

Sign the petition, join the Facebook group, and let me know your thoughts below in this week’s Miss604 Poll.

 Loading …

Trevor Linden will be in the Early Edition studios tomorrow morning, check back to get his thoughts on the season, and maybe even this campaign (the CBC is 690 on your am dial).

Update: Read my thoughts on page A6 of today’s Province newspaper.

Update: I’ll also be on the CBC’s Early Edition with Rick Cluff Wednesday morning (April 9th) talking about Trevor Linden and more specifically, the petition to rename a street after him.

From The Canucks Hockey Blog

Did anyone even notice the score last night? I’m sure Flames fans did but all eyes in Vancouver were on #16, Trevor Linden (with brief kudos to Iginla for his 50th goal of the season).

Captain Canuck is the second in all time scoring, he holds almost every playoff records for the team and despite the four dark years when he wasn’t on our team, he’s still played more games than any other for Vancouver. He’s all heart, all class (on and off the ice), and although he hasn’t yet officially announced his retirement, we were all pretty certain last night was his final game as a Canuck.

The team awards were also announced last night and thanks to JJ I was able to sit in on this momentous occasion - here are some photos:

My iPhone doesn’t take the best “on ice” shots hence all the overheads but I’m glad I was able to experience this in person… and get choked up… and have my eyes well up with tears during that impromptu fan tribute to Trev at the beginning of the 3rd.

This Saturday the Canucks will play the Flames but it won’t mean anything as the nail was hammered into our coffin last night by those stinkin’ Oilers.

What this means is that Saturday might just be the last time we see Trevor Linden puts his heart and soul into a Canucks game - if they even play the guy who has carried Vancouver fans for 19 years. This town loves him so much there was a campaign to get him re-signed last year and many have even noted they’d vote him in as mayor in a heartbeat.

Photo Credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

This Saturday at the Flames game, show your support for Captain Vancouver:

Trevor Linden is the heart of the team. Even though he got 5 minutes a game, he still gives it every game. It may be his last game ever (hopefully not), so we should try and put in the effort to make it Trevor Linden’s special day against the Flames.

For people going to the game:
- Make chants
- Make Signs
- Wear your Linden Jerseys/Shirts

For people who aren’t going to the game - if your at the bar, if your at home, if your not watching the game, who cares. Sport TL everywhere, this man is unreal.

PASS THE WORD - INVITE YOUR FRIENDS
post good chants if you have one or what your going to write on your sign if you will be at the game.
[Facebook Event]

I had the pleasure of meeting Trevor on a Raise a Reader morning two years ago, and was supposed to meet him again last January but I was in Toronto - luckily John was able to take my place.

He’s been the most popular Canucks player, the one we’d all want to have a been with, and has represented Vancouver better than anyone else on the North American hockey stage (you know, even though he’s originally from Medicine Hat).

That excited kid with the fluffy hair posed slyly against the side of a fiery red mustang is now being bumped off lines, and has been a healthy scratch an obscene amount of games this season. Let’s make sure he knows how much Canucks fans truly appreciate his contribution to our hockey-watching lives.

UPDATE:The winner has been announced - thanks to all that entered!

It’s contest time again! This time you won’t have to stand on one foot, pat your head and rub your belly at the same time.

This is the no-linking required contest that couldn’t be more simple to enter (but I mean hey, if you want to link…). This is purely out of reader appreciation, cause you all rock. (more…)

I promised myself I wouldn’t do any more blogging this weekend but we just got back from GM Place where we had a lot of fun being a part of the Ultimate Canucks Search booth. By “we” I mean The Crazy Canucks of course. Here are some photos from our exciting morning in Canuck-land.

Free pass to the free event.

Alanah, DaveO and I all wearing our stick in rink gear.

Ultimate Canucks Search, do crazy things to show how big of a fan you are and win stuff.

First pink, now… plaid?

One of my favourite players on the team, Willie Mitchell - he scored a breakaway goal today with his sweater over his head.

Photo Credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

View more photos in my Flickr set, or browse John’s (more on-ice shots) on his Flickr.

We should have audio up some time this week, but don’t quote me on that as we recorded a ton of cool clips today from fans, the Ultimate Canucks guys (above), a fellow podcaster, and even the creator of the Canucks fan Facebook application.

With ticket prices up in the clouds at least the Canucks organization comes up with a handful of fun, family-oriented events each year that are low-dough or entirely free.

This Sunday, February 24th, the Canucks will host the annual Open Practice.

Fans will have the opportunity to watch their favourite Canucks players take to the ice in preparation of their February 27th match-up against the Colorado Avalanche. The festivities will also include a Canucks shootout challenge as well as appearances by FIN, the Canucks Mascot, and the Smirnoff Ice Team. Canucks

Pick up your tickets in advance but they don’t cost a thing. The best part is that the folks at the Ultimate Canucks Search will have some stuff going on in the concourse and we’ve been asked to participate!

Not only will we be speaking on a panel at Northern Voice on Saturday, but watch for The Crazy Canucks podcast members as we record an episode live from GM Place this Sunday. Come up to our booth in the councourse, say hi, get on the podcast with us and partake in many more activities that the UCS guys have in store.