Author Archives: Emile Tracy

Vancouver Giants remain Underdogs against Kamloops Blazers.

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The Vancouver Giants continue their journey as dark horses towards the Western Hockey League Championship, the Ed Chynoweth Cup, against the Kamloops Blazers. The best of seven series of the Western Conference semifinals begins Friday, May 6th.

https://twitter.com/WHLGiants/status/1522607476075491334?s=20&t=0bZ6pReaVrf8Sh8AD0olcQ

Looking to continue their Cinderella story, the Giants are looking to upset another top-seeded team in the Western Conference after making history in the first round of the playoffs against the Everett Silvertips. They became the first eighth-seeded team in WHL history to beat the number one team.

But this Kamloops Blazer team is not going to be an easy task for the Giants to deal with, as in recent history this season, Vancouver has seemed to struggle against this team, only winning two out of 12 games played against Kamloops this season.

The Blazers are coming off a sweep in the first round against the Spokane Chiefs. This team is known to play at a higher pace and push the tempo offensively in their games. Kamloops has also won the Memorial Cup the most times out of any team in the league, winning six titles in franchise history, but their last cup win comes in the 1994-95 season, so you know the team is hungry for a seventh championship.

If Vancouver wants to beat this team and move on to the Western Conference Finals, they will have to have a short memory and forget all about their recent games played against Kamloops and realize that this is a whole new series. What happened in the past shouldn’t impact what happens next, but this is much easier said than done.

Yes, the Giants will have to adjust to their opponent, but they beat the number one team for a reason. The players and coaches will have to continue to have the mindset that they have nothing to lose. People may be writing them off, but the Giants will be writing their own story.

The B.C. Division showdown will begin on home ice for the Blazers, as the Vancouver Giants will begin their second-round journey at the Sandman Centre in Kamloops on Friday, May 6th. The puck will drop for Game 1 at 7:00 pm.

Vancouver hockey fans will be cheering them on, as the Giants are the only remaining Vancouver hockey team in a playoff spot. Go, Giants, Go!

Vancouver Canadians look to Bounce Back after Consecutive Losses

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The Vancouver Canadians have now lost two in a row against the Everett AquaSox at the Nat Bailey Stadium. The struggles seem to continue for the team, with only one win in their last seven games, and not even the force from May the Fourth could’ve helped the Canadians on Wednesday. A lot of force, and magical powers were going to be needed for the club after they dug themselves a hole too big to get out of by giving up four runs in the first inning, followed by a three-run home run that put Everett up 7-0 in the third inning.

 

But Vancouver was able to rally back and put a couple of runs on the board in the fifth inning to make things interesting for Everett, but it was too late. The Canadians lost 8-4 in the second game of a best of six against the AquaSox.

For the first-time all-season, Vancouver’s record has dipped below .500, as they sit with a 10-11 record, and after being tied for second place in the Northwest League going into Tuesday, they have now fallen three spots and sit second last. The only team beneath them is Everett, with a 9-13 record.

If there was a chance for the Canadians to push for first place, it was against Everett, but the AquaSoxs seem to be giving them a run for their money.

Their next game was supposed to be on Thursday, May 5th, but due to typical Vancouver weather, the game has been postponed due to rain and a make-up game will be played on Saturday, May 7th. That means back-to-back, seven-inning games for the team to start the weekend off, first pitch for game one is set for 1:05 pm.

It’s also unfortunate for the squad because they won’t be able to rock their classic 1996-inspired uniforms this Throwback Thursday. Hopefully, the weather next Thursday will hold up, and they’ll be able to show off those gorgeous uniforms.

The Canadians will look to get their first win of the series on Friday, May 6th, for the ‘Nooner at the Nat.

Penticton & Nanaimo off to Fred Page Cup Finals

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The Penticton Vees and the Nanaimo Clippers will fight for the BCHL Championship as the last two teams standing in the playoffs. The two powerhouse teams have been nothing short of dominant and assertive in their journey to the Fred Page Cup Finals.

The Penticton Vees have only lost once in these playoffs and won the Interior Conference Championship on Wednesday, May 4th, against the West Kelowna Warriors. The Vees swept the Warriors in four games, winning in front of their opponent’s home crowd at the Royal LePage Place with a 6-1 victory and clinching their ticket to the BCHL championships.

Penticton doesn’t mess around on the offensive end, as they had the best offence during the regular season, and it showed against West Kelowna, outscoring them 25-4 over the four-game sweep.

Not only can they score, but they can also defend, as the Vees allowed the fewest number of goals during the regular season, only allowing 123 goals, in 54 games, with a goal differential of 133 on the season. That shows how relentless this team is on both ends of the ice.

On the other side, Nanaimo hasn’t lost a single game this postseason, winning all 12 games to clinch their spot in the finals. They played the Langley Rivermen on Wednesday, May 4th, for the Coastal Conference Championship and defeated them in four games, winning 6-1 in their final matchup. They also shut out Langley in two of their four games played in the series.

These two teams were much better than their previous opponents, so it’ll be interesting to see how they match up in their first game of the finals. Both teams haven’t been put to the test this postseason, so it will come down to how well each team prepares mentally for what’s to come in the final stage of their quest for the cup. There can only be one team in the end, and I think it’ll take more than four games to decide who’s the last one standing.

Game 1 of the Fred Page Cup Finals will be held at the South Okanagan Events Centre on Friday, May 13th, as Nanaimo will be visiting Penticton at their home arena. Puck drop will be at 7:00 pm.

 

Captain Bo Nominated for King Clancy Memorial Trophy

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Vancouver Canucks captain and forward Bo Horvat was nominated by the team for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy. One player from every team in the National Hockey League is chosen and nominated for the award.

The trophy is in honour of Francis Michael “King” Clancy, a former Canadian NHL player, referee, coach, and executive. Clancy played 16 seasons in the league, starting off in the nation’s capital, the Ottawa Senators in 1921-22, and finishing his playing career in 1936-37 with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1958 and associated himself with professional hockey for 65 of his 84 years on this earth. He passed away in 1986.

The award is presented annually “to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.”

A committee of NHL executives, led by the head commissioner of the NHL, Gary Bettman, chooses the winner of this award. The recipient of the King Clancy Trophy must engage and influence its community by making a positive impact.

The first-place winner of the award will win a $25,000 donation towards any charity or charities of their choice. The second and third-place players will receive $5,000 towards a charity of their choice.

Bo Horvat is a deserving nominee for the Canucks, as he has been a leader on and off the ice in recent years for the organization. He’s been open and outspoken about social justice issues, and has been very supportive of the Black Lives Matter movement and the Every Child Matters movement, which acknowledges the damages of residential schools to Indigenous communities.

Three Canucks have been recipients of the King Clancy Award in the past. Trevor Linden in 1997, Henrik Sedin in 2016, and the Sedin Brothers in 2018.

The trophy will be presented during the Stanley Cup Finals at the 2022 NHL Awards ceremony. We’re cheering for you, Bo!

Burnaby Village Museum opens its doors back up this Saturday

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The Burnaby Village Museum is back in action this weekend, and best of all, it’s celebrating its 50th anniversary this summer season. History fanatics admire this place, and families always have a great time visiting.

The museum will reopen on May 7th, 2022, and will feature several new activities, exhibits, and entertainment for everyone to enjoy. The new additions come as the Burnaby Village Museum commemorates the 50 years they’ve been in business. Some of the new exhibits include, We are 50: Explore the Unexpected, which will shine more light on objects rarely seen by visitors, and the Kids Conservation Lab, where the young ones can find out how to become a museum conservator.

This place is always popular because it truly does bring people back in time and shows them what life was like back in the 1920s. From the historical attractions to the heritage buildings to the staff that dresses up like they’re in the twentieth century, this place never fails to bring you back 100 years.

It’s also a great chance to learn more about the history of Burnaby Village through old photographs and anniversary banners that they have on display. The museum’s cultural heritage manager, Deborah Tuyttens, has mentioned how thrilled she and her staff are to be celebrating such a milestone with the community this year.

“We’re very excited about our anniversary celebrations and hope that Burnaby residents and visitors from all over will celebrate with us. It’s a great time to look back at the village’s history, but it’s also a great time to look forward.”

To make this place even more spectacular, they have a carousel called The C.W. Parker Carousel, and it sure is a beautiful piece of machinery. The Burnaby Village Museum will be open till September 5th, Tuesdays to Sundays, 11 am-4:30 pm.

Admission is free, and carousel rides will only cost you $2.65 each time you go for a spin. Be sure to find a warm day this summer to enjoy this charming, open-air historical spot in Burnaby.

Canadian Musicians host Cultural Experience at the Massey Theatre

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Cassius Khan, a Canadian Indian musician, will host a Global Tea Room at the Massey Theatre with special guests and Taiwanese Canadian artist Lan Tung on May 8th from 3-5 pm. The two acclaimed musicians will be joined by tea specialists and other accomplished artists who will bring their music to life while enjoying some of the tastiest kinds of teas you’ll ever try.

These artists will immerse you into their world, where you will be able to connect with them through their songs and past experiences. Their music has also been recognized by some of the top academies, with Lan Tung’s harmonies and melodies earning her an International Independent Music Award.

Tung has also had multiple nominations from Canadian academies, such as the Juno’s, Canadian Folk Music Awards, and Western Canadian Music Awards.

The Taiwanese Canadian performer, producer, and artistic director is known to push the boundaries, as she experiments with the fusion of different cultures and styles in her work.

Cassius Khan will be hosting this two-hour event and is one of Canada’s most distinct Classical Indian musicians. The skills Khan brings to the table are second to none, as he can combine classical Indian singing with the Tabla, which is a pair of hand drums from India.

For one artist to do both at the same time takes an incredible amount of skill, strength, and concentration and is a first in Indian classical music.

These two incredible artists will be sharing the stage at the Massey Theatre, located in New Westminster on Mother’s Day. The event is free for anyone who wants to spend a couple of hours enjoying some traditional music while sipping on some pleasant tea on a Sunday afternoon. Don’t miss out on this spectacular showing of art and expression, and show your support to these hard-working musicians who have spent a big part of their life perfecting their craft.

Vancouver Warriors are Looking Ahead after a Disappointing Season

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The Vancouver Warriors closed out their long National Lacrosse League season on Saturday, April 30th against the number one team in their division, the San Diego Seals. The Warriors are missing the playoffs for the sixth time in seven seasons, which sounds a lot like the Vancouver Canucks, who play in the same building and have also only made the playoffs once in the past seven seasons.

But on the contrary, the Warriors started the season well, winning five of their first eight games, but only snagged one more win the rest of the season after losing eight of their last nine games. Vancouver ended the season in last place in the West conference, with a 6-12 record for the 2021-22 year.

The Vancouver Warriors were eliminated from playoff contention after their game on April 16th against the Calgary Roughnecks, losing 15-13 at home at Rogers Arena. This was a theme all year long for the team, as many of their games were lost by only a goal or two, but it’s the wins that truly matter at the end season.

There are some things to build off from this season going into the 2022-23 season for the Warriors, as they have a lot of young players who are developing to be great in the future. One of those players is rookie of the year candidate Reid Bowering.

The 23-year-old defender is a Coquitlam native and was the second overall pick in the 2020 NLL draft. Bowering topped off his season by tying Brodie Merrell’s record with 214 loose ball recoveries by a rookie in a single season.

Keegan Bal was also a factor for the team, as the right-handed forward is tied for sixth in the league in scoring with Josh Byrne with 99 points, just one point shy of 100 points on the season. Bal has proven to be a scoring threat with 44 goals in 17 games.

Warriors GM Dan Richardson said at the end of the season that. “We need to look at what we have here. We need to start setting ourselves up for next season.” Vancouver will look for a fresh start as the 2022-23 season will begin in December.

Artists Unite at Vancouver Convention Centre

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Art Vancouver is the perfect place for you this spring if you love art and will be held at the Vancouver Convention Centre from May 5th till May 8th, 2022. This modern-day art fair features art from around the world, as well as diverse international panelists and art classes.

Art Vancouver is one of the biggest and most impressive contemporary art fairs in Western Canada. This event provides artists a global stage to showcase their work and also offers them a way to sell their pieces to the public. This gives the public a chance to indulge themselves in some of the best artistry in the world and bring it home with them.

This fair is not only going to be showcasing paintings and drawing but will include all forms of contemporary art, such as photography, video art, sculptures, and even more. This impressive display of diversity in the art will allow it to be a superb place for the public, especially art lovers, to check out the different styles, techniques, and methods these artists use to perfect their craft. There is also a chance for viewers to listen to international guest speakers and panelists and enjoy live demonstrations.

This year, guests will be able to enjoy the Opus Art Masters painting competition, which is a friendly competition between eight different artists. The goal for these artists will be to paint something remarkable using a mystery box of supplies while only having one hour to paint their picture. At the end of the contest, spectators will have a chance to vote for the piece they like the best.

The Vancouver Visual Art Foundation organizes this event, and it will be the first time since 2019 when over 10,000 people attended Art Vancouver that year alone. It’s been three years, so you can expect more in attendance this year as this city is full of passionate artists, and you can always count on people from around the world to travel here to be a part of this event. The fair begins this Cinco de Mayo and ends on Mother’s Day.