Author Archives: Kieran Phagura

Abbotsford moves on!

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The Canucks organization just loves winning overtime I guess.

Not only Vancouver, but the Abbotsford Canucks also won in overtime against the Colorado Eagles last night to move onto the second round of the Calder Cup playoffs. 

Game 3 of the first round started off very defensively, with both teams not doing enough to get past the goalies however the Eagles were managing to get quite a few more shots on goal than the Canucks. It wasn’t until almost 15 minutes into the game where the Canucks looked to pour on some pressure that made Colorado uneasy. Max Sasson broke out of the defensive zone and found Arshdeep Bains on the receiving end of a cross ice pass, who was able to put the puck in the back of the net for his second goal of the postseason. The Canucks were now up 1-0, and the prospect of making it to the next round was looking better and better. The score remained the same for a majority of the game, with both goalies making some crucial saves to keep both teams where they were. 

Abbotsford goalie Zach Sawchenko stood on his head last night, making crucial saves when needed to keep the shutout going strong. The game looked sure to go Vancouver’s way, until a penalty late in the third period saw Colorado go up on a man advantage. On top of this, the Eagles pulled their goalie to go on a 6 on 4 advantage for the power play. The attack heavy play call worked out, as Sam Malinski was able to claw a goal back and tie the game up at 1-1 to ultimately send the game to overtime. 

Overtime lasted just under nine minutes, until a pass from Bains found its way through the crowd and deflected off Chase Wouters’ stick into the back of the net. The Canucks won the game 2-1 after the overtime goal.

https://www.twitter.com/abbycanucks/status/1784746708531826862

 

The Canucks will now play the Ontario Reign in a five game series, hosting games 3 to 5. The winner will be the first to win three games. The series begins on May 1st, with game 1 at Toyota Arena in Ontario, puck drop is 7:00pm PST. Abbotsford’s first home game of the playoffs will be on Wednesday, May 8th at 7:00pm PST.

With the first round ending, Arshdeep Bains and Tristen Nielsen lead the team in points with 4 points in three games. Sawchenko ended the series with a 2.50 goals against average, and a 0.925 save percentage. 

Hattrick hero saves the day in game 3

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Wow.

That was one of the most electric nights of Canuck hockey I have witnessed in a long long time. It all looked so dreadful for so long, but Mr. Brock Boeser stepped up to prove that the Canucks are not here to mess around. His third period heroics carried Vancouver into overtime after scoring all three regulation time goals against Nashville. 

It started off well as Boeser fired home a goal on the first shot for the Canucks, just as Miller did in game three, just under three minutes into the game, and put Vancouver up 1-0. That lead didn’t last for too long unfortunately as Mark Jankowski tipped in a shot from Jeremy Lauzon to tie the game up at 1-1. This is where things started to get ugly for the ‘Nucks. Although the score stayed the same, the Nashville fans were fired up and it definitely made a difference in the game. The Preds were piling on the pressure for the rest of the period and continued to do so well into the second period as well. The attacking play became too much for the Canucks defence and Gustav Nyquist fired home a top corner shot on a two on one attack. The score remained 2-1 for the rest of the period, with Canucks only getting six shots on goal in that frame, compared to the Predators ten. 

The third period began and twelve seconds later it was 3-1 Nashville, and the thought of a full seven game series started burning bright in all Vancouverites watching the game. Filip Forsberg scored the goal and registered his fourth point in as many games. For the rest of the period Vancouver really couldn’t get anything going, and it looked blatant that the series would be tied 2-2 heading into game 5. Up stepped Brock Boeser and the Canucks for what could arguably be one of the best comebacks in recent Stanley Cup playoff history. With just under three minutes left in the game, and an empty Vancouver goal to go on a 6-on-5 advantage, JT Miller passed to Elias Lindholm, who slid the puck across the front of goal to Boeser who was able to make it 3-2. Celebrations were short as the ‘Nucks knew that there was still work to do. As the time wined down, the Predators were looking more and more confident that the game would end in their favour. But after Colton Sissons missed what looked like a sure fire goal, there was still a glimmer of hope. With the one man advantage still going, the Canucks kept piling the pressure on to get as many shots on goal as they could. Petterrson found Miller who ripped a shot on goal that bounced to Boeser and with as much persistence as he could possibly manage he smashed the puck in the back of the net for his hattrick with just 6.2 seconds left on the clock and tied the game at 3-3.

The first overtime of the series was beckoning, and both teams looked to put this game to bed. Nashville couldn’t get anything going to start off the extra period, enter the dynamic duo of Connor Garland and Dakota Joshua, as they combined to assist Elias Lindholm who fired home his second goal of the series to complete the comeback. Fans all over the place went nuts, as did the players on the ice as they all rushed to celebrate with Lindholm.

Now Boeser is the obvious player to get all the glory, but third string goalie Arturs Silvos made his presence known, saving 27 of the 30 shots he faced, putting up a .900 save percentage. The Canucks can look back at this game and be ecstatic about the result, but head coach Rick Tochett knows there is still work to do.

Game 5 is back at Rogers Arena in Vancouver on Tuesday April 30th. Puck drop is at 7:00pm, and the Canucks look to be the second or third team to move onto the second round.

More goalie issues for the Canucks

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It goes from bad to worse for the Vancouver Canucks as second string goalie Casey DeSmith misses out on game 4 due to an injury, meaning third string Arthur Silvos gets the start.

Silvos only featured four times this season for the Canucks, having a 3-0-1 record, a 2.47 goals-against average, and a .881 save percentage. He has spent most of the season playing for the Abbotsford Canucks, making 34 appearances with a 16-11-6 record, 2.74 goals against average, and a .907 save percentage. DeSmith took over the starting duties for Vancouver after starting goalie Thatcher Demko was ruled out after game 1. After taking a brutal hit in game 2, head coach Rick Tochett decided to be safe and rule DeSmith out for game 4.

It appears that the situation regarding DeSmith’s injury is up in the air, as no official confirmation has been provided regarding the duration of his absence. The nature of his injury remains undisclosed, leaving fans and analysts speculating about the severity and potential timeline for his return.

Making things even more interesting, head coach Rick Tocchet opted to keep details close to the vest during the pregame interview, declining to reveal the starting goaltender for the upcoming game. This decision fueled worry among fans, suggesting that there would indeed be another change in the crease for the upcoming game.

The uncertainty surrounding DeSmith’s status prompted sports journalist Elliotte Friedman to weigh in on the matter. Speaking to the Hockey Central panel, Friedman emphasized that there is undoubtedly cause for concern within the team. His insights likely caused further discussion and speculation among hockey enthusiasts, as they await updates on DeSmith’s condition and the goaltending situation for the remainder of the series.

“He’s not playing today… I don’t think it’s because of the McCarron play; he practised yesterday. But I do think there’s something. The Canucks have decided to be careful.” Elliotte Friedman, Sports Journalist, Sportsnet

Silvos was drafted by the Canucks in 2019, however, didn’t make his debut for them until the 2022-23 season. That season he played five times, winning three and losing twice. The Latvian goalie represented Latvia in the 2023 IIHF World Championships, where he helped bring home a 3rd place medal, Latvia’s first ever medal, with an overtime win over the USA in the third place game. He was awarded as the tournament’s best goalie, made the team of the tournament, and was also named the tournament MVP. Since being drafted, he has spent most of his time with Abbotsford but makes the most of any opportunity that he gets when called up to Vancouver

First ever UBC NFL draftee

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It’s an exciting weekend for the University of British Columbia as Giovanni Manu was drafted into the NFL in this year’s draft.

Giovanni Manu, the Pitt Meadows native, was selected in the 4th round on Saturday, April 27th and became the first ever UBC player to ever be drafted into the NFL. He now has the opportunity to become the 4th UBC Thunderbird to play in the NFL, behind Bill Crawford (OL – New York Giants), Brant Bengen (WR – Seattle Seahawks), and Dakoda Shepley, who currently plays for the Dallas Cowboys. Manu is an offensive lineman, who stands at 6 foot 8 and weighs 352 pounds, hopes to be a great addition to the Detroit Lions this season. Giovanni said that he couldn’t be more excited to join the Lions, who made it to the NFC Conference Championship game last season.

“My phone started ringing, it was a Detroit area code and I just picked it up and it was head coach Dan Campbell on the phone… I had my whole family beside me and the first thing he said when I picked up the phone, he yelled through: ‘are you ready to be a Lion?!’ I was just so ecstatic, all the emotions were running through me. I told him 110 percent I’m ready to be a Lion and represent the great city of Detroit.” Giovanni Manu, Offensive Lineman, Detroit Lions.

As a two-time All-Canadian, Manu was essential to the success of UBC’s offence since his rookie year. The Thunderbirds had the number one ranked offence in 2023, and he helped lead his team to the Hardy Cup and Mitchell Bowl titles. With these credentials, Manu was looked as one of the biggest sleeper picks in this year’s draft. His pro-day was next to unheard of for a man his size, as he ran 5.03 40-yard dash, which is the tenth fastest time for an offensive lineman, even though he ranks as the second heaviest player to attempt it. The Thunderbirds team was highly talented over the past few years, and although many of them didn’t get drafted to the NFL, many of them are touted to be drafted in this year’s CFL draft on Tuesday April 30th.

Giovanni was one of four Canadians to be drafted this year, along with two others who signed as free agents. Theo Johnson was drafted by the New York Giants, Isaiah Adams was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals, Qwan’Tez Stiggers was drafted by the New York jets and Tanner McLachlan was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals.

Rookie mini-camp starts on May 11th, and Giovanni Manu will be looking to make a huge impact there, as he looks to make his NFL debut later this year.

Brian White makes history

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The Vancouver Whitecaps played the NY Red Bulls last night in a hard fought 1-1 draw last night. With that result the ‘Caps slid down to third place in the Western Conference, behind LA Galaxy and Real Salt Lake, who both have 18 points. The NY Bulls also slid down to third place behind Inter Miami, 21 points, and FC Cincinnati, 18 points.

The formation used by Whitecaps head coach Vinni Sartini was the 3-4-3 that has been used all year. This time however it didn’t sway in the advantage of the ‘Caps, as they struggled for possession all game, and conceded 16 shots, nine of which were on target, which was the second most all season. Despite not having much of the ball, the Whitecaps made the most of the time they did have with it. Ryan Raposo cut the ball across the Red Bulls 18-yard box and Brian White was there to flick home his 44th goal as a Whitecap, making history by becoming the all-time leading goalscorer for the Whitecaps in the MLS era.

https://www.twitter.com/WhitecapsFC/status/1784411891613499596

After the goal, White had another opportunity to double the lead, however was denied by NY goalie, Carlos Coronel. The attacking onslaught from NY continued for much of the game, as Vancouver goalie Yohei Takaoka was called into action many times, racking up eight total saves throughout the night. The Red Bulls had numerous other chances to get through on goal, but they were denied by the likes of Ranko Veselinović, Mathías Laborda and Tristan Blackmon in defence. The first half ended 1-0 for Vancouver, after a last minute free kick for the ‘Caps was struck into the defending wall by Sebastian Berhalter. The second half began the same as the first, with the Whitecaps being under constant pressure from NY. Vancouver defended well for the first ten minutes of the game, but after a dangerous corner was all NY needed for forward Lewis Morgan to tie the game at 1-1 in the 56th minute. The pressure continued for the majority of the game, with both teams having great chances to take the lead. White had an opportunity taken away not long after the NY goal, but his chance was cleared away by defender Daniel Edelman. On the other side, Veselinović made a terrific sliding tackle to take away an opportunity from forward Dante Vanzeir. Things remained the same until the 74th minute, when NY defender Noah Elie was given a red card for using his hand in a clear goal scoring opportunity from captain Ryan Gauld. Despite the ‘Caps throwing everything they had at NY with the man advantage, the game remained 1-1 and ended in a draw.

https://www.twitter.com/WhitecapsFC/status/1784397735510041053

The Whitecaps now come back to BC Place for a game against Austin FC, who just beat LA Galaxy 2-0 this weekend. Kickoff is 7:30pm PST on May 4th.

Whitecaps ready to grab the Bulls by the Horns

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It’s Vancouver Whitecaps game day today as they take on the NY Red Bulls at 4:30pm at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ.

https://www.twitter.com/WhitecapsFC/status/1784236068348567745

Coming into this game both teams are in very good form, with the ‘Caps winning three of their last five, and the Bulls being undefeated in their last five. The last time Vancouver played NY was in May of 2022, where, now Vancouver talisman, Brian White scored FOR the Red Bulls as the game ended in a 2-2 tie. He now has the opportunity to become the Whitecaps all time leading scorer in the MLS era against his former club.

The teams have played each other in the MLS twelve total times before tonight, six times in Vancouver and six times in New Jersey. Vancouver has outscored NY 18-15 in those twelve matchups and the Whitecaps have won six of those, while the Red Bulls have only won twice, and the other four games have ended in a tie. Vancouver looks to continue their strong attacking style of play with the 3-4-3 formation, allowing them to have at least one extra attacker to put the pressure on the opposing team. The ‘Caps look to continue their strong run of away form as they are a perfect 3-0-0 when playing on the road this year. Their away form has been so good in fact, that they have the best point percentage from away games since July last year, (7W-3L-3D, 61.5%). They also have the second most points secured from away games in that span, only behind FC Cincinnati (7W-3L-4D) who played one other game. If the Whitecaps win their game tonight, they will have the most points in that time frame.

On top of the Whitecaps’ fine attacking display this season, their defence has also been on top of their game. The recent win for Vancouver against Seattle marked their third shutout of the season, placing them in a tie for the second-highest number of clean sheets in the league. Additionally, they boast the third-lowest expected goals conceded (xG) at 8.7, with the Red Bulls leading with 7.8. Yohei Takaoka has been instrumental in the ‘Caps defensive strength, leading the league in clean sheets and wins, while also ranking fourth-lowest in goals conceded per 90 minutes.

With LA Galaxy losing to Austin FC earlier today, the Whitecaps can jump into sole possession of first place in the Western Conference with a win over the Red Bulls tonight. They also still have a game in hand, highlighting how good their season has been this year.

Abbotsford Canucks fall in game 2

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It wasn’t meant to be for both Canucks teams last night, as the Abbotsford Canucks lost 5-4 to the Colorado Eagles last night in game two of the first round matchup of the Calder Cup playoffs.

 

Looking to finish off the series and move on in the playoffs, the Canucks took on the Eagles in Colorado last night in a nine goal affair. It wasn’t the start Abbotsford wanted however as they went down as Nikolai Kovalenko scored just over 13 minutes into the game after a pass was intercepted by Brad Hunt and set up the goal for him. It went from bad to worse in the first period for the Canucks as Tanner Kero put the Eagles up 2-0 a minute later with his first postseason goal of the season. Abbotsford was able to get one back just before the period ended, as Aatu Raty tipped home a goal off of a Tristen Nielsen shot. The first frame of hockey ended 2-1 in favour of the Colorado Eagles.

The second period started horrifically for the Canucks as Callahan Burke scored an unassisted goal for his second goal of the postseason. For the second time this game it went from worse to even worse and the Eagles scored three and a half minutes later as Spencer Smallman scored another unassisted goal to make the game 4-1. Just when fans thought the game was over and done with, the Canucks finally decided to lock in and play some hockey. Just over a minute later, Christian Wolanin scored as he snuck the puck past Eagles goalie to cut the lead in half for the second time this game. Arshdeep Bains assisted and picked up his second point in as many games. Things started looking up for the Canucks as they were awarded a power play late in the second period. The man advantage was enough for Linus Karlsson to rip home a goal late in the period and make the score 4-3 going into the final period. The Canucks knew they needed to do something to keep the game alive and they fought all period to get it. Penalties came and went with neither team taking advantage of the power plays. Then up stood defenseman Akito Hirose for the Canucks who scored an unassisted goal to tie the game just over half way through the third period. Both teams continued to have chances for the rest of regulation but nothing came from all of the pressure and overtime was needed.

The Canucks worked hard to tie the game up and send it to OT, however it wasn’t enough as Chris Wagner tipped in a goal from a Brad Hunt shot three minutes into overtime. The final score was 5-4.

With Colorado forcing game three, Vancouver will have to battle hard to move on to the next round of the playoffs. Puck drop is at 1:05pm PST in Colorado.

Vancouver Canucks bounce back in game 3

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Game three of the first round went in favour of the Vancouver Canucks last night, with a final score of 2-1.

Vancouver started off the game very slowly, not registering a shot on goal until they were over thirteen minutes into the first period. However despite not taking many shots to start the game, the Canucks made it count and took advantage of their power plays last night, as J.T. Miller scored on the first shot of the game for the Canucks. Quinn Hughes registered his third point of the series with another assist, and Elias Petterrson gained his first point of the series, also being credited with the assist. The first period ended 1-0 for the Canucks, while they only produced three shots on goal compared to Nashville’s five. The second period started off hot for Vancouver, who took advantage of another power play to make the game 2-0. Brock Boeser scored just over four and a half minutes into the period after a Roman Josi tripping penalty. Boeser was assisted by Hughes (4th point) and Miller (3rd point). The Canucks held on for another period and goalie Casey DeSmith kept the shut out going with 16 saves through two periods. Vancouver also had killed off all five of Nashville’s power plays through two periods. 

The third period is where things started getting dicey. Vancouver again only registered three shots on goal to bring their total for the game up to 12, while Nashville poured on the pressure racking up 14 shots on goal in the period, bringing their total to 30. The game continued 2-0 for the majority of the game, until Luke Evangelista rifled in a wrist shot just under 17 minutes into the game. The Canucks kept holding through man-advantages, shutting the Preds out on power plays for the night, and not letting the 6-on-5, after Nashville pulled their goalie, get to them. This game kind of seemed like the hockey gods were giving back to Vancouver after their lack lustered game two performance. The Canucks turned the tables and blocked an insane 28 shots of their own, not allowing the Preds to get many great looks on goal. As for offensively, the Canucks still seem very passive when in the attacking end, only registering 51 shots over the three games. Now regardless of how many shots they got, the Canucks scored when it mattered most and finally looked like a bit of a threat on the power play. But the true star of the game was DeSmith who stood on his head last night and did his best to fill in Demkos skates. He ended the night with 29 saves and a .967 save percentage.

The Canucks look to bring the Predators to the brink of elimination in game four on Sunday, which then heads back to Vancouver for game five on Tuesday the 30th. Game four puck drop is at 2:00pm PST on the 28th.

Abbotsford Canucks begin playoff run

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It’s not only the Vancouver Canucks that have started their hunt for a trophy to end the season. Their farm team, the Abbotsford Canucks began their playoff run the exact same way as their parent team with a 4-2 win over the Colorado Eagles.

The game started out hot for the Canucks as Arshdeep Bains opened up the scoring just under two minutes into the game off of a rebound from a John Stevens shot. It was just the start that they needed to try and assert their dominance in the Calder Cup playoffs. However it didn’t last long, as Colorado scored just on a power play later that period to make it 1-1. The score remained the same for the rest of the period, and the Canucks had to kill off the powerplay a couple times before Sheldon Dries fired home a shot to make it 2-1. However again, the lead didn’t last long and the Eagles were right back in the game with an Ivan Ivan goal. Abbotsford was in need of a hero and up stepped Dries again to make it a 3-2 going into the final period. After multiple great saves from Canucks goalie Zach Sawchenko to keep them in the lead, the Eagles pulled away with an empty net goal from the Canucks regular season point leader Linus Karlsson. The game ended 4-2 and Abbotsford goes up 1-0 in the best of three series, if the Canucks win again tonight, they move onto the next round. 

There was plenty to be happy about after Vancouver’s game one win on Wednesday. And that’s no surprise based off of the kind of hockey they were playing going into the playoffs. Head coach Jeremy Colliton thinks that his team answered the call of the intimidating playoffs. 

“I thought we finished the season really well. We won nine of our last 11 and it was more than just the results. We challenged the group to prepare better and play a playoff style. The guys really answered the call. We feel like our game is in a good place with how we’re playing, and understanding what it takes to win playoff-style games. And that’s a good feeling.” Jeremy Colliton, Head Coach, Abbotsford Canucks.

Game two of the first round series is tonight at 6:05pm PST in Colorado, and if that game ends not in the favour of the Canucks, they will play again on Sunday the 28th at 1:05pm.

Redbull Wings for Life World Run

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If you love the running scene but don’t want to commit to a full marathon at the BMO Marathon, then this is the run for you!

The Redbull Wings for Life World Run is the world’s largest communal running event, as it connects runners and athletes all over the world to join in a one-of-a-kind format. The format of the run is super unique and gives every runner the chance to run at their own pace. Runners all over the world start the run at the same time, for Vancouver it’s 4:00am, and try to outrun the virtual Catcher Car that acts as a moving finish line. The concept is simple, keep running until the car catches you and stop when it does! All you have to do is register yourself, download the app, and follow the instructions on there and you’re all set.

The purpose of the run is to raise awareness and find a cure for spinal cord injuries. Many athletes and people around the world suffer terrible back injuries that can leave them paralyzed, with no feeling in their legs or even their arms as well. Wings for Life’s goal is to try and help these people around the world, with all of the entry fees going towards this cutting edge research. 

Now you’re probably thinking, what the heck is a catcher car?! Well here’s what you need to know. The Catcher Car, also known as the moving finish line, begins its virtual “hunt” thirty minutes after the race begins. After the thirty minutes is up, it slowly starts moving towards any participants in the run. It keeps going until the last person in the world, yes the whole world, running gets caught by it, no matter how long it takes. What makes this race so fun and unique is that every single person who does across the globe starts at the exact same time. Whether you’re starting the run at 4:00am on the west coast of Canada, 7:00am on the east coast of Canada, or 12:00pm all the way in Europe, everyone starts together. Last year, the final survivor of the run was Jo Fukuda from Japan, who ran a grand total of 69.01km in Shinjuku Ku Jingu Gaien.

As of right now, Redbulls Wings for Life World Run has accumulated over $64 million CAD, over 11.8 million kilometres ran, 1.2 plus million participants, and over 165 countries have joined. The run takes place Sunday May 5th, at 4:00am Vancouver time, the starting position, if you choose to run with a crowd, is at the Vancouver Maritime Museum. Do you think you could last very long against the Catcher Car? Let us know in the comments!