Athlete Ambassadors: Our Reflections

by Storie Serres | 26 NOV 2021

The 2020/2021 season has been difficult for many. Leagues have started and stopped; the risk of a Covid outbreak has added a layer of organizational, mental, and physical challenges. Players at the top of their game have had to rethink their training plans and strategies, all while lacing up their skates for their country and working to be the best. 

Our athlete ambassadors weigh in on the women’s hockey season that was a reflect on the strength and resiliency of players as they prepare for what’s ahead. 

Growing up I always followed men’s hockey and until I was 15 years old I did not even know there were any structures for girls or women to play ice hockey. However, ever since then and after traveling the world and playing in the U.S. and Sweden, women´s hockey has come a long way and has an even longer way to go. Right now is the time for us to be pioneers and have a voice in society to create structures and opportunities for the next generations of girls that love the game as much as I do. The women’s movement never stops and future girls and women have to get equal opportunities to follow their passion. The women’s hockey family is in this together. It makes it very special to fight for a bigger cause alongside other men and women in this world that want to make a difference in society, no matter where anyone is from. 

Growing up a hockey-crazy girl, I always followed men’s ice hockey. Until I turned 15, I didn’t even know that there were special structures for girls or women who play ice hockey. However, since I’ve traveled the world and played in the US and Sweden, women’s ice hockey has made a big positive change, but it still has a long way to go. Now is the time for us pioneers to be aware of our role and have a voice in society to create structures and opportunities for the next generations of girls who love the game as much as we do. The women’s movement never stops and future girls and women must be given equal opportunities to follow their passions. The women’s hockey family stands together.

It has been a difficult time and year for us all over the world, but for me it’s been a year of focusing on what I can do mentally and physically towards the Olympics.

I believe and hope that our ambition to succeed at the Olympics will give Spirit and Power to the People Watching.

with Only a Few Months Left, I Hope to be Well Prepared for What’S Up Ahead.

but is day-to-day that serious situation is followed all over the world, can be of their own toward the big goal of the Olympic Games It was a year of concentrating on.

I believe that our success will be the energy and power of many people, and I would like to prepare well for the Olympics.

The pandemic’s travel restrictions the past few years took a real big hit for our team. However, we were recently able to play some international games over in Europe. We were grateful, excited, and so happy to get some international games under our belts! 

There’s only a few months left until  the Beijing Olympics, and we’re eager to show the world what Team Japan can do!

not go to overseas expedition, was a very tough two years that can not gain experience of precious international matches But lately, I’ve been able to go on an expedition to Europe, and I’m full of joy and gratitude for being able to play a match!

We will do our best to show our strength for the remaining two months until the Beijing Olympics!

PREVIEW | Canucks at Blue Jackets

by Canucks Communication @Canucks November 25, 2021

CANUCKS AT BLUE JACKETS PREVIEW

TV: SNP
Radio: SN650

MATCH-UP INFO
  • Tonight marks the first of two meetings between the Canucks and Blue Jackets this season: Nov. 26 (road), Dec. 14 (home).
  • Vancouver is 5-3-2 in their last 10 games vs Columbus (2-3-0 in their last 5).
  • The Canucks have a 37-14-2-8 all-time record in 61 games against the Blue Jackets. Vancouver holds a 18-8-2-3 record on the road against
  • Columbus.
  • Among active Canucks skaters, J.T. Miller leads the team in scoring vs Columbus with 13 points (2-11-13) in 21 games.
  • Elias Pettersson has recorded more than a point per game in his career vs Columbus (1.5) with six points (3-3-6) in four games.
  • Thatcher Demko has faced the Blue Jackets three times in his career (1-2-0) and has a .871 SV% and 3.67 GAA.
  • Jaroslav Halak has faced the Blue Jackets 26 times in his career (14-7-3), owning a .917 SV% and a 2.63 GAA.
QUICK NUMBERS
  • Conor Garland has six points (2-4-6) in his last 11 games.
  • Nils Höglander has five points (4-1-5) in his last seven games.
  • Bo Horvat has five points (2-3-5) in his last 10 games.
  • J.T. Miller has 11 points (6-5-11) in his last 12 games.
  • Quinn Hughes has seven points (0-7-7) in his last nine games.
  • Elias Pettersson has six points (2-4-6) in his last 11 games.
LAST MEETING – MAR. 8/20: VAN 1 vs CBJ 2

Elias Pettersson tied J.T. Miller for the team lead in goals with his 27th of the season at 8:19 in the third period…Oscar Fantenberg collected an assist…Quinn Hughes led all skaters in TOI (27:08)…Tyler Toffoli led the team in shots (5)…Tanner Pearson recorded a team-high in hits (4)…Thatcher Demko made 20 saves.

LAST GAME PLAYED – NOV. 24/21: VAN 1 at PIT 4

Bo Horvat denied Pittsburgh’s shutout bid with his sixth goal of the season at 14:52 in the third period…Luke Schenn registered the lone assist on the play…Four Canucks tied with four shots (Garland, Horvat, Ekman-Larsson, Pearson)…Tyler Myers logged a team-high in TOI (25:56)…Juho Lammikko led the team in hits (4)…J.T. Miller won 15 of 21 face-offs (71%)…Thatcher Demko made 33 saves.

RECENT TRANSACTIONS
  • Luke Schenn activated from injured reserve, Nov. 24
  • Travis Hamonic loaned to Abbotsford, Nov. 22
  • Justin Bailey designated for assignment to Abbotsford, Nov. 18
  • Guillaume Brisebois designated for assignment to Abbotsford, Nov. 16
  • Travis Hamonic recalled from Abbotsford, Nov. 15
  • Madison Bowey loaned to Abbotsford, Nov. 15
CANUCKS RAISE $1 MILLION FOR BC FLOOD RELIEF

Canucks Sports &Entertainment and the Canucks for Kids Fund announced Tuesday that $1 million has been raised in support of flood relief efforts in Abbotsford, the Fraser Valley, and throughout British Columbia through three special 50/50 raffles during the team’s latest homestand from November 17-21.

DID YOU KNOW?

Canucks netminders Thatcher Demko and Jaroslav Halak both made their NHL debuts and recorded their first career NHL wins against Columbus, more than a decade apart. Demko made 26 saves in a 5-4 OTW with Vancouver vs CBJ on Mar. 31/18, while Halak made 31 saves as a member of the Canadiens for his first career win on Feb. 18/07 at CBJ.

TOP TWENTY

Netting his sixth goal of the season on Nov. 24 at PIT, Bo Horvat tied Mattias Ohlund for 20th place on the franchise all-time points list with 325 points (145-180-325). Horvat also ranks inside the top 20 in Canucks history for goals (145; 15th), power play goals (44; 16th), shorthanded goals (7; t-9th) and game-winning goals (17; t-19th).

HOMETOWN GLORY

Burying his first career NHL goal in front of the home crowd on Nov. 19 vs WPG, Vancouver-born Kyle Burroughs became the 11th BC-born defenceman in club history to score a regular season goal, and just the fourth Lower Mainland product to do so, joining Troy Stecher, Jason Garrison, and Chris Joseph. He also joined Troy Stecher and Doug Lidster as just the third BC-born defenceman to score his first career NHL goal with the Canucks.

NO NIGHTS OFF

Canucks captain Bo Horvat has now appeared in 263 consecutive regular season games, ranking 10th among active skaters in the NHL for most consecutive games played. Previous Canucks captain Henrik Sedin remains the franchise leader in consecutive games played (679), which still ranks 10th all-time in League history.

AT FACE VALUE

Bo Horvat leads all NHL skaters in face-offs taken (476), face-off wins (279) and even strength face-off wins (208) so far this season. Among centremen with at least 250 face-offs taken, Horvat’s face-off percentage (58.6%) fifth League-wide, one spot behind teammate J.T. Miller (58.7%).

MIGHTY MILLER

Collecting an assist on Nils Höglander’s goal on Nov. 14 at ANA, J.T. Miller matched a career-best eight-game point streak (6-4-10), initially set during the 2019.20 season (5-6-11 from Nov. 21-Dec. 7/19).
On Nov. 13 at VGK, Miller went 11-for-11 in the face-off circle, becoming the third player in Canucks history to win 100 percent of face-offs in a game with a minimum of 10 face-offs taken, joining Brandon Sutter (10/10, Feb. 4/16) and Byron Ritchie (10/10, Feb. 19/06).

ON THE COUNT OF THREE

Quinn Hughes collected his first three-point outing of the season (0-3-3) and seventh career three-assist game on Nov. 7 vs DAL, with all assists coming on the power play. At 22 years old, Hughes ranks t-7th all time among NHL defencemen for most games (7) with three or more assists before the age of 23.

RECENT CANUCKS MILESTONES
  • Kyle Burroughs scored his 1st career NHL goal, Nov. 19 vs WPG
  • Juho Lammikko appeared in his 100th career game, Nov. 14 @ ANA
  • Luke Schenn appeared in his 800th career game, Oct. 30 vs EDM
  • Brock Boeser recorded his 100th career goal, Oct. 30 vs EDM