TCC#53 - Pittsburgh night in Vancouver
There are only four of us in this episode, but Alanah shall return again soon. In the meantime, we all gathered together before the game tonight against the L.A. Kings to get you some of our thoughts on the last few games that have been.
- Record as of this episode: 16-10-2
Northwest Division: 1st
Western Conference: 2nd
We hit the last few games to give our thoughts on how they went, but a lot focus comes back to the recent game in Vancouver against the Penguins. There was a lot of build up to the game, and we all feel like it lived up to be quite the event. We also look ahead to the coming games while looking even further at the new schedule that will take affect next year. We also hear from a listener in Seattle about his thoughts on the NHL expanding more into the Pacific Northwest.
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So true about Tony Gallagher this guy has nothing good to say about the Canucks. My other problem is with the Moj coming on Sportsnet right before the game and picking against the team all the time. Sportsaction advertises at Canucks games and the they have this clown come on before Canucks games and tell people not to bet on the Canucks.
[...] recorded another episode of the Crazy Canucks (TCC#53 - Pittsburgh night in Vancouver) [...]
Agree with the assessment of the new Seattle and Portland residents; California transplants that think hockey is something you do in your pants.
My first hockey game was when I was a wee-tot, Seattle Totems, and I can remember asking my Dad why the goalie for one team had the scary mask on (the other goalie didn’t)…this was around 1967 or 68, I think. I can also remember the old Seattle arena being packed with people as well.
When we moved to Portland, the Buckaroos were IT…along with a fledgling NBA franchise at the time. But, alas, the WHL folded, the Blazers drafted a guy named Bill Walton and the sporting landscape was forever altered in the city of Portland.
Brian Shaw moved the Edmonton Oil Kings to Portland in 1976…the same time the Blazers were dominating the NBA, and hockey struggled to find its grip on the city for a while. Lot’s of ex-Buc’s fans found the game was being played by ‘kids’ and were turned off a bit by it. In the early 80’s after the ‘Miracle’, hockey took off and crowds filled the Coliseum for Winterhawk games.
But, as your listener pointed out, the face of the NW changed in the late 80’s and 90’s with the emphasis on ‘clean’ tech industries, the decline in the lumber industry and Californians moving away from the urban sprawl and cash in on their inflated home prices…hockey began to wane.
On my recent trip to the states, I attended a ‘Hawk game and was surprised by the paltry 3K crowd. I used to think Portland could handle an NHL and NBA team, now I don’t think so. And, Seattle can barely handle its NBA team (with it most likely to move in the next season or so)…what would people do with an NHL team??
If I were Bettman…I’d be looking to expand in places like St. John’s, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Quebec City, rather than places like Portland or Seattle. The real fan base for a stable future lies north of the border…or along the US border in the north central and north east of the country.
Portland and Seattle have great hockey histories…but, they are just that, history. My heart is with the Canucks anyway…
Happy holidays to everyone!!!!!!
Hope Santa was good to all and have a GREAT NEW YEAR.
Steve..xx