Canucks Thank Fans After Winning The President's Trophy By Beating Los Angeles.
For week’s, even months, our oldest son Ben had been planning a trip to Vancouver to see our Vancouver Canucks play hockey in the National Hockey League (N.H.L.) Finally tickets were acquired, hotel rooms were booked and the trip was a go, with a capital G. The four of us who were going on the trip, (Ben, Josée, Cynthia and myself) were so pumped to be going.
We have been faithful fans all season long, watching with interest and excitement as our team was getting better and better as the games went by. Through injuries to key players and through the gruelling travel schedule which happens every year to the Canucks, the team has battled on, building confidence, team spirit and determination to succeed at all the team does.
Finally, on Thursday Mar. 31, we were on the road headed south to the ferry terminal at Horseshoe Bay, Nanaimo and on to the “big smoke”. Unfortunately, our beloved leader Ben, had experienced a terrible case of Montezuma’s revenge during the night, and was flat out on his back in the rear of the Honda Element, but definitely not feeling IN his element. For those of you who don’t know this model car, the Element has a rubber floor which extends throughout the vehicle. It is a perfect vehicle for anyone who loves outdoor sports and recreation. Dirty bikes, muddy sport clothes, shoes covered in slime can all be dumped in the vehicle without the owner being concerned. He/she knows that with a swish of the hose, the floor can be sparkling clean in a jiffy. As we traveled down island, we were hoping the hose would not be needed on our two days away from home.
Ben Asleep in Car Flat Out Next To Me.
Poor Ben…he slept going down island…he slept on the ferry…he was asleep as we got to the hotel and checked in. We got him upstairs and into bed. He went back to sleep as we went out for a late lunch/ early dinner. As we were about to head off to Rogers Arena and the game, he was too weak to go. As we commiserated with him, we were also wondering what to do about his ticket. We headed out, leaving him behind with a bottle of water and some dry bread…fare suited to a prisoner, which I guess, in a way, he was.
As we approached Rogers arena, the scalpers were everywhere ( In the U.K. I think they were called ticket touts.) One of them offered Josée a price for our spare ticket, but she was assertive and demanded more. Finally he cracked under her pressure and gave her what she’d asked for, so we managed to salvage nearly all of the cost of Ben’s ticket. (I made a mental note to self at that point…never wrangle with Josée!)
Into the arena we went, to take in the warm-up by the teams. The atmosphere was electric as we found our seats and the crowd of 19, 000 began to fill the arena. There was so much going on, one hadn’t a moment to relax, and the game hadn’t even started. As the teams circled on the ice, skating so smoothly and powerfully, a huge cheer went up from the crowd. The Philadelphia Flyers of the Eastern half of the league had been beaten by Atlanta. Why the cheer you ask? Well, all that was needed for the Canucks to win the coveted President’s Trophy (awarded to the top most team in the league), was for the Flyers to lose and the Canucks to win. One half of the puzzle had been solved. Now all we needed was for the Canucks to do their part and win.
The game started and at the end of the first period of three, the L.A. Kings were up one goal to nothing. However, in the next period the Canucks tied it up and eventually went on to win by three goals to one. It was a brilliant win. At the end of the game, the announcer told the crowd what they already knew, that the Canucks had won the league title and were the proud owners of the President’s Trophy for the 2011 season. Now they have but four games left in their regular season schedule, two home, two away. Then, the play-offs begin and we will all hold our collective breath as our lads try to do what they haven’t been able to do in their 40 year history…win the coveted Stanley Cup.
It was good to be there for that historic moment in the Canucks’ hockey history, as it was the first time in 40 years they’d won that trophy. My heart saddened though, as I thought of poor old Ben, the organiser of the whole thing, being flat out in the hotel room, and feeling like a plate of limp spaghetti. I so wished he could have been there with us.
We strolled back to the room after the game, reveling in the hoots and cheers of the pumped up crowd leaving the arena. Ben was still in bed, though he did seem a little better. We went out for a late-night snack and took him a dry bun. He didn’t touch it.
Friday morning we left the hotel about 10.30 and went to see Fiona, Ben and Josée’s friend who owns a Flip Flop Shop franchise in Vancouver. We spent 30 minutes or so chatting with her as she gave them hints on what to do when they open their franchise in Nanaimo later this year. However, as we finally left the city for home, Ben was once again flat on his back in the Element. He did come upstairs with us on the ferry, and had a wee bite to eat in the cafeteria. However, thankful for plain sailing and smooth seas, he soon headed back to his nest in the back of the Element. I drove home to give Josée a break. We dropped off at our home and they headed for the farm.
For me it had been a great trip. Thank you Ben for all the work you put into this trip and all credit to you for making the effort to get to the game, in spite of the way you were feeling. Here’s hoping you heal quickly. Meanwhile, keep the guzzunda close by. Go Canucks Go!
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