Thursday morning began with former 16-season NHLer, Stanley Cup-champion and Island-resident Andrew Ference jumping in to help former NHL great Wendel Clark sweep the snow off the $100,000 synthetic-ice rink at Ship Point so young players could skate on it through the day.
Weather be damned. Victorians, famously averse to snow, have found a way through the most unexpected of conditions for the 2024 Hockey Day in Canada week. All events have sold out. That includes the Legends of Broadcasting Hot Stove on Tuesday night, the 800-plus gala on Thursday night at the Victoria Conference Centre, tonight’s NHL alumni and celebrity game and Saturday’s WHL game between the Victoria Royals and Kamloops Blazers, both at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
Also sold out and packed, despite the inclement weather, was the taping for this week’s 32 Thoughts Podcast on Thursday afternoon at Wicket Hall in the Strathcona Hotel.
“This crowd blows me away. I’m stunned,” said Elliotte Friedman, co-host of the 32 Thoughts Podcast with Jeff Marek.
“We don’t take this for granted and are very flattered.”
What followed was a lively debate on all aspects of hockey.
About the potential of the Vancouver Canucks acquiring Jake Guentzel, Friedman said: “The Canucks think they can win. If I’m Vancouver, I’d be going for it all this year.”
Former Canucks GM Brian Burke, a guest on the podcast, was a little more circumspect: “The best chance this year is for Vancouver. There is no depth now on rosters and every team is one injury away from disaster … one injury away from [the Stanley Cup] being a pipe dream. For the Canucks, that would be Thatcher Demko or Petey [Elias Pettersson] going down.”
Former Canucks defenceman and emerging broadcaster Kevin Bieksa brought the house down in Wicket Hall with some of his humorous stories and observations about hockey. Now a hockey dad and coach in California, Bieksa quipped: “There are horror stories about dads coaching their kids, and they are usually true, unless you are an unbelievable coach like myself.”
Asked the pressing question of the day, now as a professional broadcaster, does he cheer for the Canucks?
“I root for friends and people I know [who are playing in the NHL],” answered the personable former Canuck, who earlier in the day with Friedman, toured HMCS Ottawa at CFB Esquimalt.
Pressed further, Bieksa said: “Yes, I cheer for the Canucks.”
The Stanley Cup made an appearance at Wicket Hall after an earlier appearance Thursday at the Songhees Wellness Centre. Burke, GM of the 2007 winners Anaheim Ducks, was the only 32 Thoughts panellist allowed to touch it by tradition (non-winners are not allowed to lay a hand on the Cup).
“Maybe Bieksa can take the Cup back from here. Oh wait, I forgot he can’t touch it,” said Burke, as the room erupted in laughter.
Bieksa will join the full Hockey Night in Canada panel — including Friedman, Ron MacLean, Evanka Osmak, David Amber, Jennifer Botterill, Kelly Hrudey atop Milestones Restaurant with its sweeping views of the Inner Harbour — for the 12.5-hour marathon Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada broadcast Saturday featuring all seven Canadian NHL teams in action. Interspersed will be features on Island hockey. The broadcast will begin with noted Victoria-produced singer Nelly Furtado reflecting on her hometown.
The final panellist for the 32 Thoughts Podcast on Thursday was Victoria Royals head coach James Patrick, who drew raves from Friedman and Marek for the Royals’ turnaround this season in the WHL after, as Marek described it: “Wandering in the desert [the past three seasons] and not exactly lighting the league on fire.”
To his credit, Patrick did acknowledge: “I’ve only been here two months [since replacing Dan Price, who left him with a winning record].”
Bringing all these NHL alumni and broadcasters here hasn’t been easy due to the continent-wide winter weather conditions. “We had people stranded everywhere — in Toronto, Buffalo, Calgary — trying to get here with so many flight issues,” said Heidi Barlow-Lee, director of operations for Victoria’s Hockey Day in Canada.
> Friday: Events begin at noon at Ship Point in Victoria. SHDIC Alumni and Celebrity Classic Game at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre at 7:30 p.m.
> Saturday: At Ship Point in Victoria, Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada, free public festival, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
> Online: Hockey Day in Canada events
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