This is a sports post. Most of you will find it boring… sorry.
I have been a big-time hockey fan since 1993. Before then I was a fan, just not as obsessed with it as I became in 1993. That was the year that I started playing ice hockey. I had been playing street hockey for several years and it just so happened that the Skyline’s hockey coach lived on my street. If you have seen the street that I grew up on, you would know that this is quite an astounding coincidence. There are only 16 houses (including the corner lots) on it. We played roller hockey on the street quite a bit, since there was not a lot of traffic on it. Anyway, one day when we were playing he came and talked to us about joining the ice hockey team when school started. It sounded fun so a bunch of us signed up. In fact, during my junior year, my ward had 11 guys on the team. Being hockey players, we naturally got more and more into pro hockey. We’d get together to watch and analyze games every chance we got. Those
players became our heroes as we attempted to emulate their on-the-ice skills. It was a common thing to sit and make lists of who was the fastest, who had the best slap shot, show was the best skater and on and on. Since the closest team was in Los Angeles, we were free to choose a favorite team. But in 1995 it was announced that the Quebec Nordiques would be moving to Denver, wow, Denver that’s only like 8 hours away.
My dad and I started to become Avalanche fans. We spent countless evenings watching hockey together. The Avs became our team. Joe Sakic, the captain of the Avalanche soon became one of my favorite players. He wasn’t flashy like Jaromir Jagr, Sergei Fedorov or Pavel Bure whose posters hung on my wall and whose jerseys hung in my closet. Joe was a quite leader. If a goal needed to be scored late in the game, Joe would come through. We always called him “Super Joe” a nickname he had, most likely due to his unassuming style, but amazing abilities.
It was been announced that he is retiring after 20 years in the NHL. Here is a list of some of his accomplishments:
- 2 Stanley Cups in 1996 and 2001
- 1 Conn Smythe Trophy for playoff MVP in 1996
- 13 All Star Games
- Team Captain for 17 years
- 8th in all-time points with 1641
- 14th in all-time goals with 635
- 11th in all-time assists with 1016
- Gold Medal at 2002 Winter Olympics
- Most all-time playoff overtime goals with 8
Joe Sakic was a special player. It is a sad day for the NHL to lose a player like Sakic. Not only is her great, but he makes everyone else on his team better. I have a feeling that we may see Joe in the NHL again, not as a player, but as a coach. I was fortunate enough to see him play live when my dad took my younger brother Jeff and I on a road trip to Denver to see the Avs play the New York Rangers. That was a memorable trip.
Farewell Joe and thanks for the memories.
I have been a big-time hockey fan since 1993. Before then I was a fan, just not as obsessed with it as I became in 1993. That was the year that I started playing ice hockey. I had been playing street hockey for several years and it just so happened that the Skyline’s hockey coach lived on my street. If you have seen the street that I grew up on, you would know that this is quite an astounding coincidence. There are only 16 houses (including the corner lots) on it. We played roller hockey on the street quite a bit, since there was not a lot of traffic on it. Anyway, one day when we were playing he came and talked to us about joining the ice hockey team when school started. It sounded fun so a bunch of us signed up. In fact, during my junior year, my ward had 11 guys on the team. Being hockey players, we naturally got more and more into pro hockey. We’d get together to watch and analyze games every chance we got. Those
players became our heroes as we attempted to emulate their on-the-ice skills. It was a common thing to sit and make lists of who was the fastest, who had the best slap shot, show was the best skater and on and on. Since the closest team was in Los Angeles, we were free to choose a favorite team. But in 1995 it was announced that the Quebec Nordiques would be moving to Denver, wow, Denver that’s only like 8 hours away.My dad and I started to become Avalanche fans. We spent countless evenings watching hockey together. The Avs became our team. Joe Sakic, the captain of the Avalanche soon became one of my favorite players. He wasn’t flashy like Jaromir Jagr, Sergei Fedorov or Pavel Bure whose posters hung on my wall and whose jerseys hung in my closet. Joe was a quite leader. If a goal needed to be scored late in the game, Joe would come through. We always called him “Super Joe” a nickname he had, most likely due to his unassuming style, but amazing abilities.
It was been announced that he is retiring after 20 years in the NHL. Here is a list of some of his accomplishments:
- 2 Stanley Cups in 1996 and 2001- 1 Conn Smythe Trophy for playoff MVP in 1996
- 13 All Star Games
- Team Captain for 17 years
- 8th in all-time points with 1641
- 14th in all-time goals with 635
- 11th in all-time assists with 1016
- Gold Medal at 2002 Winter Olympics
- Most all-time playoff overtime goals with 8
Joe Sakic was a special player. It is a sad day for the NHL to lose a player like Sakic. Not only is her great, but he makes everyone else on his team better. I have a feeling that we may see Joe in the NHL again, not as a player, but as a coach. I was fortunate enough to see him play live when my dad took my younger brother Jeff and I on a road trip to Denver to see the Avs play the New York Rangers. That was a memorable trip.
Farewell Joe and thanks for the memories.
2 comments:
Better off Dead. I am not the pumpkin grower. I leave that up to my brother. They are currently doing very well in my Dad's victory garden. It's the pride and joy of his retirement. If you would like some g-g-giant pumkin seeds, I think I can score you some. Let me know.
PS, I'll send you a $2 check in the mail.
I have Jaromir Jagr's rookie card. I'd take the '01 av's over any team of that time, one of the greats.
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