Please see article re: Joe Sakic's retirement announcment:
He ruled out any possibility of making an Olympic comeback this fall or winter, saying he doesn't feel he can elevate his game to the level required. He, however, said he would be honoured to accept an off-ice role with the team if one is offered to him.
Hmmmm...what a novel idea.
Showing posts with label joe sakic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label joe sakic. Show all posts
Friday, July 10, 2009
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Burnaby Joe should still go!!
He can only be described as one of the greats. Classy, smooth, unassuming, and boy whatta wrister. I have to admit I sighed in resignation when I heard the news via a text from Dewey a short while ago.
In a career that spaned twenty years, with two cups, a Conn Smythe, Lester B. Pearson, Lady Byng and Hart trophy each, his defining moment in the eyes of many Canadians will perhaps be in February of 2002 as Joe Sakic, on a line with Jerome Iginla and Simon Gagne, led Canada to its first Olympic Gold Medal in 50 years.
As a kid, I idolized sports broadcasters - hockey and harness racing alike - who doesn't love a good call...and I will never forget Bob Cole's words, even his unique intonation as Sakic slide into the boards after firing home the fifth goal against Mike Richter and the U.S. (Oh how I will miss Bob Cole at the twentyten games...he may be slipping, but man is the guy a great cheerleader or what!)
This video gives me goosebumps
With Sakic's retirement imminent, I harken all you twentyteners back to an earlier post of mine (found here) where I suggested a route that Stevie Y could take to make sure Burnaby Joe had a place on this team.
Kuddos on a fantastic career Joe...You are a class act and will remain a hockey icon in the eyes of a certain two bloggers.
In a career that spaned twenty years, with two cups, a Conn Smythe, Lester B. Pearson, Lady Byng and Hart trophy each, his defining moment in the eyes of many Canadians will perhaps be in February of 2002 as Joe Sakic, on a line with Jerome Iginla and Simon Gagne, led Canada to its first Olympic Gold Medal in 50 years.
As a kid, I idolized sports broadcasters - hockey and harness racing alike - who doesn't love a good call...and I will never forget Bob Cole's words, even his unique intonation as Sakic slide into the boards after firing home the fifth goal against Mike Richter and the U.S. (Oh how I will miss Bob Cole at the twentyten games...he may be slipping, but man is the guy a great cheerleader or what!)
This video gives me goosebumps
With Sakic's retirement imminent, I harken all you twentyteners back to an earlier post of mine (found here) where I suggested a route that Stevie Y could take to make sure Burnaby Joe had a place on this team.
Kuddos on a fantastic career Joe...You are a class act and will remain a hockey icon in the eyes of a certain two bloggers.
Sakic retires, causes confusion
One of the big topics of discussion for us thus far has been the status of Joe Sakic, and whether or not he will play for team TwentyTen in Vancouver. It was made clear that originally, he was not on the roster of 44 invited to camp, but Stevie Y called him up, asked him whether he was good to go or not, and put him on the list when he indicated he was good to go.
All that became a moot point today as TSN is reporting that Joe Sakic will announce his retirement on Thursday. Joe was one of my favorite players ever in the NHL, and no doubt throws a big wrench into the whole TwentyTen situation.
No doubt many posts and debates will come from this...
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
"My Life in Hockey"...the next chapter
You can chalk this one up to pure class. Jean Belliveau, "Le Gros Bill" will serve as honorary captain of Canada's twentyten Olympic Hockey team, and I don't think there is anyone in the country who could fathomably shake their head at this one.
My mother has long told me that growing up, she routinely listened to her father (my late grand-dad) talk with the utmost respect and admiration about the man who led the Canadiens to 10...yes 10 Stanley Cup victories. I, in fact, had the priveledge to meet Belliveau, oh....I'm gonna put it at 13 or 14 years ago, when he was in Fredericton signing autographs for his book, "My Life in Hockey". I still have that photo of me with Belliveau, as well as the signed book in my room in Fredericton, and I still treasure the opportunity to have met one of Canada's classiest historical figures. It's a worthwhile read for anyone who's even a marginal fan.
We all know of how former Prime Minister Jean Cretien tried to have Belliveau installed as both a Senator and Governor General, only to have the dignified giant of Canadian culture respectfully decline. But somehow, Stevie Y and co. was able to entice the legend into the fold.
I like it. I hope they can still find a place for Joe Sakic as well...who know's, that may be on the ice.
My mother has long told me that growing up, she routinely listened to her father (my late grand-dad) talk with the utmost respect and admiration about the man who led the Canadiens to 10...yes 10 Stanley Cup victories. I, in fact, had the priveledge to meet Belliveau, oh....I'm gonna put it at 13 or 14 years ago, when he was in Fredericton signing autographs for his book, "My Life in Hockey". I still have that photo of me with Belliveau, as well as the signed book in my room in Fredericton, and I still treasure the opportunity to have met one of Canada's classiest historical figures. It's a worthwhile read for anyone who's even a marginal fan.
We all know of how former Prime Minister Jean Cretien tried to have Belliveau installed as both a Senator and Governor General, only to have the dignified giant of Canadian culture respectfully decline. But somehow, Stevie Y and co. was able to entice the legend into the fold.
I like it. I hope they can still find a place for Joe Sakic as well...who know's, that may be on the ice.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Joe CAN go
Ok Ok Ok, I've solved the problem we've been having over the past few weeks in our deliberations about whether or not Joe Sakic should be a part of Team Canada in twentyten.
Brian Burke, you're a shrewd ole bird, hard as nails, but you've given me an out. Over the weekend it was announced by Burke, the US Olympic Team boss, that Chris Chelios...yes Chelly, that tireless, long streak of misery...will be joining the US team in a yet to be defined "off-ice role" in Vancouver. See here.
What a well-measured and smart move by Burke. He knows that the US team will be rife with talent, but he also knows that all those young kids who are sure to make up the bulk of the team will benefit from the presence of the battle-tested and sage Chelios.
This got me thinking...why does Yzerman not extend his hand to Burnaby Joe in much the same way that Burkie did to Chelly. We here, have been going back-and-forth for the past months over whether or not there is a spot on the team for Sakic, should he decide to give it a go this coming season in Colorado. Now, Joe is not the same type character as the fierce and ornery Chelios. But, let us not forget that it was Sakic who took the team on his shoulders in the gold medal game in Salt Lake City, scoring two goals and playing a big part in two of Iginla's in that game. He then captained the team in 2006 (let's forget about the result). The guy (Sakic), in my estimation, is one of the most underrated players in the history of the NHL. One of the most consistent gamers, albeit quietly done, that this game has ever seen.
While, Burke tries to figure out what role Chelios will play on the US team, I think that Stevie Y should be considering just where Sakic - a B.C. native and fan favorite of many Canadians - will sit as he builds his team for next February.
Brian Burke, you're a shrewd ole bird, hard as nails, but you've given me an out. Over the weekend it was announced by Burke, the US Olympic Team boss, that Chris Chelios...yes Chelly, that tireless, long streak of misery...will be joining the US team in a yet to be defined "off-ice role" in Vancouver. See here.
What a well-measured and smart move by Burke. He knows that the US team will be rife with talent, but he also knows that all those young kids who are sure to make up the bulk of the team will benefit from the presence of the battle-tested and sage Chelios.
This got me thinking...why does Yzerman not extend his hand to Burnaby Joe in much the same way that Burkie did to Chelly. We here, have been going back-and-forth for the past months over whether or not there is a spot on the team for Sakic, should he decide to give it a go this coming season in Colorado. Now, Joe is not the same type character as the fierce and ornery Chelios. But, let us not forget that it was Sakic who took the team on his shoulders in the gold medal game in Salt Lake City, scoring two goals and playing a big part in two of Iginla's in that game. He then captained the team in 2006 (let's forget about the result). The guy (Sakic), in my estimation, is one of the most underrated players in the history of the NHL. One of the most consistent gamers, albeit quietly done, that this game has ever seen.
While, Burke tries to figure out what role Chelios will play on the US team, I think that Stevie Y should be considering just where Sakic - a B.C. native and fan favorite of many Canadians - will sit as he builds his team for next February.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Interesting Debates and Debacles
A few of the boys from home (Fredericton represent!) were in town last night and naturally the topic of the 2010 Olympic team came up as we had a few bevys, watched the Pittsburgh Penguins get absolutely demolished and played a few hands of 45's.
What I found most interesting about the debate though was that there were three main areas of the team that the six could not seem to agree on. I'd love to have some other thoughts on these:
Defensemen. Matty and I had a very difficult time cutting our list of the top 20 defensemen down to 12, and even then we only wanted 10 but we couldn't come to a consensus on who should be at the camp. Who are your 7 defensemen that make the team?
Joe Sakic. It hurt me to omit Sakic from our list of the top 25 forwards, but the reasoning for me was that I just don't think he'll be playing. With the injuries he suffered last year I just don't know if he will come back. One of my friends argued that his age would be why he's on the team, which is another post for another day, but to generalize, I think you need to take the best available players. We learned in 2006 that tenured veterans don't always make up the best team.
Shane Doan. Is he on the team or not? He's been a stallward of Team Canada's the last few years, but I attribute that to two things. Obviously he's on a terrible team and is always first in line to play IIHF. Second, Gretzky has been "the man" and not choosing someone from his own team could potentially cause a lot of problems. I don't think he's there, but what do you think?
What I found most interesting about the debate though was that there were three main areas of the team that the six could not seem to agree on. I'd love to have some other thoughts on these:
Defensemen. Matty and I had a very difficult time cutting our list of the top 20 defensemen down to 12, and even then we only wanted 10 but we couldn't come to a consensus on who should be at the camp. Who are your 7 defensemen that make the team?
Joe Sakic. It hurt me to omit Sakic from our list of the top 25 forwards, but the reasoning for me was that I just don't think he'll be playing. With the injuries he suffered last year I just don't know if he will come back. One of my friends argued that his age would be why he's on the team, which is another post for another day, but to generalize, I think you need to take the best available players. We learned in 2006 that tenured veterans don't always make up the best team.
Shane Doan. Is he on the team or not? He's been a stallward of Team Canada's the last few years, but I attribute that to two things. Obviously he's on a terrible team and is always first in line to play IIHF. Second, Gretzky has been "the man" and not choosing someone from his own team could potentially cause a lot of problems. I don't think he's there, but what do you think?
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