SunLife Financial is providing the opportunity for fans young and old to skate with Vancouver Canucks (current and alumni) at Rogers Arena on January 14, 2012 — but you have to win your way in.

I’ve had the chance to skate at Rogers Arena, and even walk around a bit on the ice to film a promotional spot, but I’ve never skated with team members – how great would that be? You can win one of 25 spots through the Canucks contest and they have also saved room for one lucky Miss604 reader and up to three of their friends or family members. Here’s how you can enter to win a spot on the ice:

• Leave a comment on this post naming your favourite moment as a Canucks fan (1 entry)
• Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)

The Skate with the Canucks event takes place January 14th from 7:00pm to 8:15pm at Rogers Arena. Participants will be required to bring their own gear (rentals not available) and sign a release waiver before stepping onto the ice. I will draw one winner at 9:00am on December 28, 2011.

Official rules, except for dates that are exclusive to the Miss604 contest, may be found on the Canucks contest page. At least one member of the 2011-2012 Vancouver Canucks and Canucks Alumni will be on the ice at the event.

Update The winner is Amber!

PepsiCo Canada and Canucks Sports & Entertainment have teamed up this year with Pepsi having the official beverage and food agreement with Rogers Arena.

Image courtesy of PepsiCo Canada

The Canucks For Kids Fund benefited immediately from this contract as PepsiCo Canada donated $10,000 to the cause along with a pair of Canucks home game tickets to the Canucks Centre for BC Hockey.

To celebrate this partnership, I have been given a giant prize basket to give away to one of my readers, perfect for a night of watching the Canucks from the comfort of your living room. The basket includes: A supply of Lay’s Potato Chips, Lay’s/Canucks branded t-shirt, Lay’s/Canucks branded hat, Vancouver Canucks Coasters, Lay’s hockey puck, Pepsi branded t-shirt, Pepsi branded drinking cup, Pepsi branded hand clapper.

Here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment naming your favourite game-time snack (1 entry)
• Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 9:00am on Friday, October 21, 2011. I will be personally delivering the prize to the winner since I would have no idea how to mail it out – it’s just that big.

Update The winner is Brenda!

I first met Joey Kenward at the Pacific Coliseum four years ago when he was the voice of the Vancouver Giants. John set up the radio broadcast and Joey did production, the play-by-play, ran down to the locker rooms to do interviews between periods, then ran back up to the press box to call the rest of the game. Seeing how hard he continue to work for his career (and sports in this town) makes it rather fitting that he’s doing the Heart of a Canuck segments now for the Vancouver Canucks.

Joey Kenward in the WhitecapsFC’s press row. Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

This summer Joey went out from behind the microphone and stepped in front of the camera. He attends practices, travels with the team, does interviews, provides commentary, and still finds time to fill in the radio play-by-play timeslot here and there. “I get to fill the viewers in on what happens to the team on a day-to-day basis and what’s happening with the team when we don’t see them at a rink,” Joey told me during a call I had with him this week. “Most people only see these guys as athletes. Now, we get to have a very ‘behind the scenes’ look at who these individuals are and see what got them to where they are.”

One of Joey’s first tasks when he signed on with the Canucks was to film the Heart of a Canuck segments with players as they visited their hometowns. The segments focused on a few core players who are North America-based. “It was really cool to walk around the former neighbourhood with the player, walk into their old rink where they laced ‘em up as a kid, and see the expressions on their faces as they talked about their past,” Joey said, reflecting on his visits to Smithers with Dan Hamhuis and Montreal with Alex Burrows.

The hometown visits will be broadcast during games throughout the season and you will probably be able to catch them on CanucksTV (on YouTube) once they air.

As for Joey, he is about to head out on the road with the team until they return to play the Rangers on October 18th.

He told me that the most recent filming they did was in the car with Daniel Sedin as he dropped his daughter off at school then headed to the rink. “What’s the player thinking about when he’s driving into work? What music does he listen to? What are some of the things they think about? It’s a chance for the viewer [and fan] to see the players outside of the rink environment.”

Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

From our talk I gathered that Joey was pretty much settling into his dream job – and who could blame him. He’s come a long way since he did colour commentary in Kelowna or play-by-play for the Swift Current Broncos. “I’ve been very lucky and very privileged to have been given the opportunities I’ve had. Now I get more experience in front of the camera and this is a great chance to do what I love doing.”

A full 2:54 minute preview of this season’s Heart of a Canuck theme is now up on CanucksTV.

The Vancouver Canucks hit the ice at Rogers Arena tonight to officially begin their 2011-2012 season as they take on the Pittsburgh Penguins. With the events of June behind us, members of the Canucks Nation are looking straight ahead, and moving on. If you’re preparing yourself for another season of hockey with heart, here’s a quick guide to help you take in all the action.

The Team

We have a few new faces on the Canucks roster this season. Andrew Ebbett, Marco Sturm, Mark Mancari, Steven Pinizzotto, Alexander Sulzer, and Dale Weise [see a full list in the NucksMisconduct season preview].

Where to Watch

For most people, it’s a toss up between their living room and Rogers Arena for the best fan experience. However, there are some great dine-out options in Vancouver during the game. Many local pubs and restaurants have stepped up their audio and visuals (flat screens, house sound system, etc.) for games and you can’t beat the deals they offer on game days.

The Canucks officially partner with the following during the season: Beyond Restaurant + Lounge (on Burrard), Boston Pizza (over 30 locations in the Lower Mainland alone), The Hurricane Grill (1137 Marinaside in Yaletown), Verace Pizzeria Napoletana (189 Keefer, 1 block from Rogers Arena), The Keg (14 locations in the Vancouver area), and Vera’s Burger Shack (14 Lower Mainland locations).

How to Listen

Can’t get near a television? Tune into TEAM 1040AM to listen to the broadcasts, check out the live stream, and download the Bell Media radio app if you’re on the go.

Blogs

My favourite Canucks bloggers are ready to go this year. Read and subscribe to NucksMisconduct, Canucks Hockey Blog, and Canucks Corner for the best analysis and information. I’m also going to check out Canucks Army and Head to the Net this season.

Apps & Social

Download the Canucks iPhone application for schedules, scores, player biographies and instant updates. Follow @VanCanucks on Twitter and the #Canucks tag. There aren’t many players on Twitter but you’ll find @Ryan_Kesler talking to @KBieksa3 quite a bit.

If you’re using GetGlue (which is like Foursquare but for television and movies) you can check into Hockey Night in Canada and earn team stickers.

Chicago Wolves

Don’t forget that the Canucks’ AHL affiliate team is the Chicago Wolves. Check them out on Twitter and Facebook.

Special Events

The first open practice of the season is this Saturday, October 8, 2011. Stay tuned later in the season for Super Skills information. October 18th will also be designated Rick Rypien night at Rogers Arena and the players will be wearing tributes to #37 on their helmets all season [source: Canucks Hockey Blog].

Getting There

With BC Place open once again, and a few conflicting game nights, parking near the arena might not be an option. Your best bet is to try transit and if you’re coming from the South or East, you can even park & ride at a Canada Line station (like at Bridgeport). Walk over to the Vancouver City Centre, Yaletown Roundhouse, or Waterfront stations after the game and meet up with your car outside of the city (or take it all the way home, combined with a bus if need be).

Here’s to another great season of hockey. Cheers to everyone who has the Heart of a Canuck. Go Canucks Go!

The riot in June was voted Vancouver’s “Claim to Shame” in yesterday’s Best of Vancouver issue of the Georgia Straight but many believe the 11,000 volunteers who hit the streets in the morning to clean up our city should be our new claim to fame.

Photo credit: PiscesDremer on Flickr

People from all over the Lower Mainland converged on downtown streets at the break of dawn with brooms and garbage cans. They took the train from Burnaby and Surrey, and they came out from their hotels in their Bruins jerseys. The theme was clear: Real Canucks fans don’t riot.

Cleanup photos submitted to me by my friend Natalie Binns (right)

Photo credit: Jay Piddy, Clayton Perry Photoworks on Flickr

Photo credit: Maurice Li, Maurice Li submitted to the Miss604 Flickr Pool

Vancouverites care about their city and the Vancouver Canucks recognize that with their latest “Heart of a Canuck” campaign.

During the pre-season they have been inviting emergency personnel to games and for October 1st they have reserved 200 seats in Rogers Arena for cleanup volunteers.

Vancouver’s final pre-season game on October 1st is reserved to recognize the volunteers who initiated the clean-up efforts in downtown Vancouver the day after the riots. For this we are looking to give away 100 pairs of tickets to those who participated and made a world of difference.

If you assisted in making downtown Vancouver beautiful again, please share your experience in 100 words or less and attach a photo of you pitching in from June 16th’s clean-up.

They are currently accepting entries until Monday, September 26, 2011. Submit your story and/or photo online before that time to be entered into the draw.

Hockey’s most outstanding players from the 2010-2011 season will be honored and recognized at the 2011 NHL Awards Wednesday, June 22nd.

Live coverage will begin at 7:00pm Eastern / 4:00pm Pacific and I’ll be covering the awards (red carpet and all) live from the Palms in Las Vegas. Updates will be made to this post if possible throughout the evening.

Here are this year’s nominees including six of our Canucks (updated throughout the event):

James Norris Memorial Trophy
The James Norris Memorial Trophy is an annual award given to the defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position. (presented by Kevin Smith & Cobie Smulders)
Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins
Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings* recipient
Shea Weber, Nashville Predators

Bridgestone Messier Leadership Award
The Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award presented by Bridgestone has been awarded since 2006-07 and is awarded “to the player who exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice during the regular season.”
Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins *recipient
Shane Doan, Phoenix Coyotes
Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings

Art Ross Trophy
Presented to Daniel Sedin by Jay Mohr

Daniel Sedin

Frank J. Selke Trophy
The Frank J. Selke Trophy is an annual award given to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game. The winner is selected in a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association at the end of the regular season.
(presented by Criss Angel)
Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
Ryan Kesler, Vancouver Canucks* recipient
Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks

Ryan Kesler being interviewed after winning the Selke

Jack Adams Award
The Jack Adams Award is an annual award presented by the National Hockey League Broadcasters’ Association to the NHL coach judged to have contributed the most to his team’s success. (presented by Donny Osmond)
Dan Bylsma, Pittsburgh Penguins *recipient
Barry Trotz, Nashville Predators
Alain Vigneault, Vancouver Canucks

Calder Memorial Trophy
The Calder Memorial Trophy is an annual award given to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League. (presented by George Stroumboulopoulos & Jeremy
Roenick)
Logan Couture, San Jose Sharks
Michael Grabner, New York Islanders
Jeff Skinner, Carolina Hurricanes *recipient

Rookie of the Year Jeff Skinner (left) with his family.

William M. Jennings Trophy
Presented to Cory Schneider & Roberto Luongo* recipients by Jay Mohr

NHL General Manager of the Year Award (presented by Craig Patrick)
Mike Gillis, Vancouver Canucks* recipient
David Poile, Nashville Predators
Steve Yzerman, Tampa Bay Lightning

Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard Trophy
Presented to Corey Perry by Jay Mohr

Corey Perry

Ted Lindsay Award (formerly Lester B. Pearson Award)
The Ted Lindsay Award is presented annually to the “most outstanding player” in the NHL as voted by fellow members of the National Hockey League Players’ Association.
Corey Perry, Anaheim Ducks
Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks* recipient
Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning

Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy
The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is an annual award under the trusteeship of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association and is given to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. The winner is selected in a poll of all chapters of the PHWA at the end of the regular season. (presented by Luc Robitaille & David Henrie)
Ray Emery, Anaheim Ducks
Daymond Langkow, Calgary Flames
Ian Laperriere, Philadelphia Flyers* recipient

Ian Laperrierre with his boys

King Clancy Memorial Trophy
Presented to Doug Weight by Jerry Bruckheimer

Doug Weight

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy
The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy is an annual award given to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability. (presented by Camille Grammer & Adrienne Maloof)
Loui Eriksson, Dallas Stars
Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings
Martin St Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning* recipient

Martin St Louis (left) and Steven Stamkos (right)

NHL Foundation Award
The NHL Foundation Player Award is awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) player “who applies the core values of (ice) hockey—commitment, perseverance and teamwork—to enrich the lives of people in his community”. (presented by Michelle Beisner & Commissioner Gary Bettman)
Dustin Brown, LA Kings* recipient
Mike Green, Washington Capitals
Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks
Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks

Vezina Trophy
The Vezina Trophy is an annual award given to the goalkeeper adjudged to be the best at this position as voted by the general managers of all NHL clubs. (presented by Jon Hamm)
Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks
Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators
Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins* recipient

Tim Thomas (left) and country singer Dierks Bentley (right)

Thomas with his hardware

Hart Memorial Trophy
The Hart Memorial Trophy is an annual award given to the player judged to be the most valuable to his team. (presented by Jennifer Beals & Jason Reitman)
Corey Perry, Anaheim Ducks* recipient
Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks
Martin St Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning

Update 3:00pm Red carpet photos as celebrity presenters and NHL stars arrive.

Far East Movement

Shae Weber

Donny Osmond (left) and Criss Angel (right)

Update 4:00pm Host Jay Mohr (just a few minutes in) say “We got to talk about the elephant in the room.” He says in his monologue, regarding the riot, that it was very “un-Canadian” and “Vancouver is the marijuana capital of the world,” he wouldn’t have expected that from such a mellow city. The jokes fly and they lovingly poke fun at Vancouver although Mohr said to punish those arrested at the riots they should be sent to watch New York Islanders games. Thomas old jokes, Edmonton jokes, Boston fan ribbin, and Recchi jokes follow, all receiving light-hearted laughs from the crowd.

Update 4:30pm Check the list above for my updates on award winners. Nominees are all listed and the winners names will be in bold.

Update 5:00pm The cover of EA Sports 2012 has been revealed and it will feature Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Update 5:47pm After Far East Movement performed their single “OMG” Jon Hamm came out to present the Vezina Trophy and said, “O-M-G, I’m O-L-D.” The presenters have been entertaining all evening, from jokes and banter to the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills awarding Martin St Lewis the Lady Byng.

Update 5:55pm The awards are wrapping up and it’s on to the reception. I have piles of photos and audio to pour through so this post will continue to be updated over the next 24 hours. Congratulations to all of the award winners tonight and to all of the nominees on their outstanding performance this past season.

Canucks fans are everywhere; on the streets, in the airports, and on every continent. When we used to do The Crazy Canucks podcast, we had listeners in New Zealand, China, the United States and the UK. Whether it’s expatriates now living abroad or international fans of the game in general, hockey crosses oceans or borders.

Photo credit: PiscesDreamer on Flickr, Luna Blue Photography

On what is most certainly the most important day in Vancouver Canucks history, I woke up at 4:45am and saw John off to work at the station. Usually I’d go back to bed but on a day like today, how would I ever calm down enough to get back to sleep? I decided to hit Twitter to see if someone, a Canucks fan, in another time zone wanted to chat about playoff fever in their neck of the woods. While I was poking around Nuck-Yeah.com, a resource that lists pubs and places to watch Canucks games from San Diego to Seoul, I received a reply on Twitter from Katie @muffinmyth. She lives in Sweden and is fully prepared for tonight’s final match-up.

Canucks in Stockholm. Photo courtesy of Katie from The Muffin Myth

Born and raised in Vancouver, Katie has been splitting her time between Stockholm (where her Saskatoon-born husband got a job) and Vancouver while she finished her degree at UBC. “I was here for about 6 months of the last year and a half,” she told me. “Tragically, my flight left Vancouver about an hour after the puck dropped on game 1 of this series. I am hoping to get back to Vancouver twice a year, but it’s a long and expensive trip, so we’ll see.” Her allegiance is to the Canucks, or “any Canadian team, so long as they’re not playing against us.”

I asked her how easy it was to catch a playoff game in Sweden. “We had to pay an extra 75 crowns (about $10) per month for some special sports channels, and now we get all of the games. They are played live, and then re-played commercial free a few more times. They are live at 2:00am, so not much interest in going to a sports bar or getting a crowd together to watch, unfortunately. It makes me homesick seeing the crowds in Vancouver.”

Photo courtesy of Katie from The Muffin Myth

Since the Canucks have their fair share of Swedes on the team, I also wanted to know if there’s a visible or palpable excitement around town surrounding the Stanley Cup finals. Katie said there’s “a little” but she has been stopped a few times wearing her Canucks t-shirt. “The Sedins are a pretty big deal here, so most people want to talk about them. My husband plays hockey with some people from work on Friday mornings and he says that every day people are talking to him about the Canucks.”

As for predictions from across the pond? Katie said it will be close, but a win. “And I said that if the Canucks won the Stanley Cup that I’d run naked down my street in Stockholm. My mother-in-law suggested I wear a flag instead, therefore I acquired the flag which is now flying out our window.” She added that most wouldn’t understand why a naked Canadian would run down the street at 5:00am local time so she’ll stick with the flag idea.

There’s much appeal to Vancouver, around the globe and throughout Canada. After all, we threw a pretty great party last year. However, not everyone is a Canucks fan. We don’t get the East Coast vote (for example most Haligonians identify with the Bruins), and it was determined at the beginning of the playoff run that we’re not really “Canada’s Team”… but I think that’s okay with everyone around here.

Who we are is a community of fans who have ridden the incredible roller coaster that comes with being a supporter of this team, some for a full 40 years. There are ups and downs, it’s scary, and sometimes you get flipped head over heels. In the end, there’s no rush like it.

Go Canucks Go!

This morning the Vancouver Park Board said on Twitter that June 15th (the date of the Canucks game 7 match-up with the Boston Bruins) is also the 170th 103rd birthday anniversary of the death of Lord Stanley¹. While we know Stanley for the park that was named in his honor, and his coveted cup, I thought it might be worth learning a bit more about the man with the famous name.

Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

Lord Stanley (Frederick Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby) was the 6th Governor General of Canada who served from 1888 to 1893. I learned more about Lord Stanley when we watched the CBC’s Hockey: A People’s History a few years ago, which I highly recommend.

The story goes that Lord Derby (he was Baron Stanley of Preston as well) had two sons that loved to play hockey and got their parents hooked on the game as well. Around 1892-1893 Lord Stanley donated the silver cup that would be awarded to the best amateur hockey club in the country. It was first known as the Challenge Cup and by 1909 it was awarded to professional teams exclusively. Since 1926 it’s been the prize for the top team in the National Hockey League. [source]

However, before there was a cup, there was a park – in Vancouver. From VancouverHistory:

1889 brought us the first visit to Vancouver by a Governor General. On October 29 Lord Stanley of Preston, who had been sworn in the year before, dedicated Stanley Park, which had been opened in September, 1888. An observer at the dedication wrote: “Lord Stanley threw his arms to the heavens, as though embracing within them the whole of one thousand acres of primeval forest, and dedicated it ‘to the use and enjoyment of peoples of all colours, creeds, and customs, for all time’.”

1960. Governor General Georges Vanier unveiling the Lord Stanley statue.
Vancouver archives item# Mon N63.5

A few days before the dedication, incidentally, a letter was written (we’re not sure by whom) promising a suitable monument to commemorate the event. City archivist J.S. Matthews would discover that letter in 1950, more than 60 years after it was written, and realize the promise had not been fulfilled. He began a fund-raising campaign, and raised enough money to commission a statue. It took a while: the statue—created by English sculptor Sydney Marsh, and capturing Stanley’s expansive gesture—wouldn’t be unveiled until May 19, 1960. Fittingly, that ceremony was presided over by another Governor General, Georges Vanier.

Lord Stanley, adorned with a replica cup during the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals in Vancouver, is immortalized at the entrance to the park named in his honor.

Photo credit: PiscesDreamer on Flickr, Luna Blue Photography

You can find him in bronze when you walk along the causeway (from downtown) on the Coal Harbour side – just over the pedestrian bridge. The statue was installed on May 29, 1960, thanks to the research and efforts of our city’s first archivist, Major Matthews.

¹ Thanks to Bob Mackin for the correction on the anniversary stat.

I love featuring creative videos of Vancouver, from time lapses to tributes that tug at our heart strings. There’s no shortage of content being uploading during the Stanley Cup Playoffs and fan enthusiasm is at an all-time high. Even the Johnny Canuck video has been published on the Huffington Post. In case you were unable to witness the 100,000 fans in the downtown core last Friday, here’s the latest Canucks-themed video (sent to me by Hockey Community) to get your heart pumping.

Here are two more time lapse videos of streets that intersect with Granville that show just how massive the crowds have been getting.

Other Vancouver time lapse videos: Vancouver Spring Reborn, Vancouver Time Lapse Videos 1, Vancouver Time Lapse Videos 2, Top Vancouver Videos of 2010, and the Stephen Brunt Canucks Video Essay, for good measure.

This morning the BC Hydro Power Smart team will begin their “17 Hours of Kesler” campaign. The Vancouver Canucks’ own Ryan Kesler has been a member of Team Power Smart for the last few years and for the next 17 hours, Kesler-filled facts will be sent out from the @PowerSmartBC Twitter account.

Power Smart BC sets up their their Playoff Power Off at the CBC’s fan zone on Hamilton near Georgia for Canucks games and it begins at 2:30pm on game days. You can learn some valuable Power Smart tips, find out how power consumption drops on game days, or try your hand at powering a TV with a bicycle.

Photo credit: jmv on Flickr

To promote the “17 Hours of Kesler” and the Playoff Power Off at the CBC fan zone, Power Smart BC is giving one of my readers a Vancouver Canucks jersey signed by Ryan Kesler.

There are three ways that you can enter to win. Feel free to do one, or all three to better your chances:

1) Watch @PowerSmartBC on Twitter during the “17 Hours of Kesler” today and paste the facts in the comments section on this blog post.

2) If you’re on Twitter, you can also re-tweet one of @PowerSmartBC’s 17 tips and include @Miss604 to be entered in the draw. Re-tweet one or all of them, for up to 17 entries.

Sample Twitter Entry

3) Make your way to the CBC fan zone site this afternoon and take a photo, posting it to Twitter and including @PowerSmartBC & @Miss604.

I will draw one winner tomorrow morning at 10:00am. Good luck and Go Canucks Go!

Update The winner is Anne-Marie Tvete!