The Stanley Cup – An almost impossible dream.

I have always been a staunch supporter of hockey, although I am not much of a player to speak of.  In fact, I can hardly get my wonky legs to carry me on skates these days.  However watching sports here in the north of North America one thing has always bugged me about my neighbors to the south and their precious NFL football claiming that the Superbowl is the hardest of all the trophies in pro-sports to kiss and hold high in victory.

Zdeno Chára lifts the Stanley Cup in Boston’s 2011 victory over The Vancouver Canucks

Yes, I will grant that Football is a man’s sport fraught with contact and danger. However I would wager my front teeth that hockey is really the sport that is that hardest on the body and hardest sport in which to win the top prize.  The NHL’s Stanley Cup.

Should it please the court I will present my evidence.

Go Canucks Go!

Well here it is about 24 hours before game 6 in the 2011 Stanley Cup finals. I am sitting on pins and needles for two reasons tonight.

Firstly my team since the early 1990’s, the Vancouver Canucks,  is one game away from winning the whole shebang and secondly Winnipeg is getting its team back.

I must admit in all honesty that I was never a huge hockey fan growing up, yes I used to sit on my Dad’s knee and steal sips of beer while we watched hockey.  But I was more interested in Peter Puck than the actual games back then.

Yes as every good Canadian boy does I laced up my skates in the back yard, but I was never much of a player.  My ankles always bothered me as they still do, and I spent more time on my ass as I did upright.

My Epic Roadtrip. NHL Playoffs – Vancouver 1994

At this time in 1994 I was on an epic road trip.  One worthy of any Animal House camera crew and probably John Belushi himself.

I was living with a few friends at the time, one of whom was a rabid Vancouver Canucks fan.  We would get off of work from the video store which we both worked in, drink beer and drive his girlfriend absolutely nuts.  I am actually ashamed to say it now but she fled to their bedroom while us guys hooted and shouted urging the Canucks on.

Vancouver Canucks logo back in 1994