Peter Forsberg: Legendary Impact On and Off the Ice

‘Forsberg shoots, Forsberg scores!!!’ were words commonly heard in NHL arenas around North America from the mid 90’s to mid 2000’s and various other arenas in the world starting in the early 90’s. Those words were also often heard some 4500 kms from Forsberg’s hometown of Ornskoldsvik, Sweden and 5500 kms from his NHL home of Denver, in the small town of Adam’s Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador. It was in the kitchen while playing mini stick hockey, on a small strip of pavement playing road hockey or playing ball hockey at school, I would shout those words. As a kid (and maybe still as an adult), 95% percent of the time I would pretend to be Forsberg while playing any hockey, copying his famous shootout goal or his commonly used wraparound-top shelf move.

Of all the hockey superstars in the world, many of whom were Canadian; it was the Swede Forsberg, playing far away in Colorado who would be my hockey hero. I honestly feel for many east coast hockey fans because of the little exposure to Forsberg on this end of the continent. Between the time difference and the media focus on Toronto and Montreal, Forsberg was maybe lesser known than he deserved to be. Lucky for me at the time, the Avalanche were a powerhouse and thus got a little more national coverage. Surely when they were on my TV, I’d be staying up late to watch them and during the playoffs all their games would be televised so I didn’t have to miss one! I may have gone to school a little tired with games often not ending until 130 or 2 am but watching the Avs and Forsberg was more than worth it.

The playoffs were Peter’s bread and butter and perhaps I didn’t realize it at the time but looking back on it now it was a true privilege to watch him perform. Of course the highlight packages show his amazing skill and play making ability but they don’t do justice to the way he played in those games. Forsberg had all the skill in the world but it was his competitive nature that was so endearing. Every time he stepped on the ice he made something happen and you could feel the excitement in the building. For hockey fans of the current era, he could protect the puck and see the ice like Sidney Crosby, pass the puck like Joe Thornton and yet still be as gritty as a Jarome Iginla circa 2004 or Ryan Kesler circa 2011. However for Forsberg the grit and physicality was there shift in and shift out, year in and year out. He played the ‘Canadian way’ as good as anyone born north of the border and helped change how many people looked at Swedish hockey players. I often think back to his playoff battles with Derian Hatcher in the late 90’s; the abuse Forsberg took in that ‘dead puck era’ was just incredible but he would just keep coming back for more.

If you have the chance to watch a classic game from the late 90’s or early 00’s, it would really put Forsberg’s point production into perspective. Clutching, grabbing, hooking, interference were all ultimately fair game and goalie gear wasn’t exactly shrinking, yet Forsberg still managed six ,85 plus point seasons from 1995 to 2004 while playing the full schedule just once in that span. In the postseason, the games got tougher and Forsberg got that much better, twice leading the playoffs in scoring without even reaching the Stanley Cup Finals. He is the only person who can lay claim to that feat since the 1985-1986 season.

Perhaps the saddest part of looking back on Forsberg’s career is how great it could have been if he had been able to stay healthy. However, it wouldn’t be Peter’s style to look at it like that and it isn’t mine either. I prefer to be taken aback by what he was able to accomplish in such a short period of time: 2 Stanley Cups, 2 Olympic gold medals, 2 world Championships, a Hart trophy as NHL MVP and now at 41 years old a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. The way he pulled out all the stops to try and get back on the ice showed just how much he loved the game and it will always be something that I’ll admire.

When looking at his statistics, resume and highlights it’s easy to see how Forsberg could be a hero for a young kid but those were just a bonus to me. It was Forsberg’s style on and off the ice that I was drawn to. It’s your heroes in life that teach you the many attributes that you wish to use to build yourself as a person. Peter Forsberg taught me to compete every single shift, battle no matter the circumstance, be a team player, never give up and always be humble. These lessons weren’t about hockey but about life itself. I thank Peter Forsberg for the impact he has had on my life and I imagine so many others. He is most deserving of this induction and will take his rightful seat in hockey’s house of legends.There will never be another Peter Forsberg. Thanks again Foppa and never forget; real men don’t need spleens.

Follow me on twitter @poleary19

The Canadian Way

   Just over two weeks ago, we sent 220 of our best athletes to Sochi, Russia to represent us on the world stage. Today, those athletes begin the long trip home after again doing us proud with 25 total medals, good enough for 4^th overall in the standings! Of course we all like to see our own succeed at each Olympics, but honestly for Canadians it’s less about showing the world how good we are at sport (and make no mistake, we are good) and more about showing our ‘Canadian way.’ Canadians will look back on these games in 10 to 15 years, forgetting how many total medals we won but with detailed memories of how our athletes did things the ‘Canadian way.’

  The image of two sisters standing together on the podium awaiting the presentation of their gold and silver medals is almost the stuff of a fictional story book but it was real life for the Dufour-Lapointe sisters of Montreal. What makes it even more amazing is the fact that Justine and Chloe’s other sister Maxime was also in the event! Of course the winning siblings were to put the spotlight on older sister Maxime who inspired them to start in the first place. All three sat side by side at the post medal presentation media session and despite only two winning medals, they all are winners back home for exemplifying the ‘Canadian way.’

  The sisters didn’t give us the only great Canadian sibling story at these Olympics! Many remember the story of Frederic Bilodeau from 2010 in Vancouver! Frederic was not an athlete at the Olympics but is the older brother of now repeat Gold medalist Alex Bilodeau. Frederic was diagnosed with Cerebral palsy at a young age and was told he would be unable to walk by age 12. Alex made it known in 2010 that Frederic was his inspiration and repeated those sentiments in Sochi, saying that it is Frederic who helps him through the ups and downs. Four years after an unforgettable embrace between the brothers in 2010, the brothers gave Canadians the goose bumps again with another one seen all over social media in 2014. Each brother seeing the other as a hero defines the ‘Canadian way’ as does the fact that at age 28, Frederic is still able to walk!

  Should we be surprised that Frederic wasn’t the only non-athlete Canadian hero in Sochi? Probably not! Perhaps the name Justin Wadsworth doesn’t ring a bell but when someone mentions a Canadian Cross-Country skiing coach who ran on the course to help a skier fix a broken ski, people know what you’re talking about. It wasn’t even a Canadian skier who Justin helped, it was a Russian skier! Why did he do it? “I wanted him to have dignity as he crossed the finish line,” said Wadsworth. That’s the ‘Canadian way.’

  How far can you go for a teammate? My guess is you can’t go much further than offering up YOUR chance to compete for a medal at the Olympics! That’s exactly what Gilmore Junio did for his teammate Denny Morrison. Junio had earned his place in the 1000m speed skating final but gave it up to Morrison (who had fallen during qualifiers and missed out on a spot in the race) because he felt Morrison had the better chance of winning Canada a medal. When you step back and think of the kind of person it takes to do something like that you can’t help but to shake your head! It’s mind blowing! After all the sacrifices he had made over the years to get himself in that spot, he made the greater sacrifice for his country and gave Morrison his spot! Wouldn’t you know, Morrison won silver in the race and Junio became known worldwide for a heart of gold!

  Over the course of the Olympics, some of our athletes fell short of their own personal expectations. Many of them responded to this by apologizing to the people of their country! The apology that stands out most is perhaps the one of Patrick Chan after he won a SILVER medal in figure skating! Obviously he thought he could have won gold; no doubt he could, but he was a winner in the hearts of everyone at home no matter the result! Just as it’s the ‘Canadian way’ for an athlete to have high expectations of themselves, it’s the ‘Canadian way’ to see that doing your best is the only expectation that matters!

  There may be just one exception to the above sentence and everyone knows what the exception is. Hockey is our game and it may not be right, but giving our best is not enough. If we go to a best on best hockey tournament and come home as anything but winners, we have a national emergency on our hands! As if the competition itself wasn’t difficult enough, they have to play with an incredible amount of weight on their shoulders. The men’s team could not have represented themselves better despite many challenges along the way. PK Subban, Roberto Luongo and Mike Smith were all good enough to play in every game but everyone couldn’t and they were the guys who were to watch from the sidelines. For superstar NHL’ers, this could be a problem but these three men accepted their roles and were the best teammates they could be. With media and fans breathing down their neck; Sidney Crosby and Jonathan Toews kept playing their game knowing that it would pay off in the end, it did. Chris Kunitz, who many (including myself) felt didn’t belong on the team, stuck it out, got better towards the end and scored the game’s final goal! Then there’s Coach Babcock who faced question after question about line-ups, scratches and other decisions but never once strayed from what he believed was a gold medal winning plan. The boys represented the country so well in so many ways and there are too many examples to list. In short, Captain Crosby’s greatest example of leadership may have come during today’s celebration with teammates when he was asked if he would step aside for a photo of just himself. Crosby politely declined and said it wasn’t just about him, it was about the team. Some love him, some hate him but he lives the ‘Canadian way.’

  Last but not least, we had the women’s hockey team facing similar pressure. Everyone knew that it would come down to Canada vs. the USA for the gold but perhaps few knew the adversity the ladies had gone through to get there. The Americans had gotten the better of them multiple times leading up to the games, they had a coaching change just two months before the Olympics and a new captain was also named. Having gone through all that, it was only fitting that they would face a 2-0 deficit late in the gold medal game, only to tie things up and force overtime. In overtime, the golden goal was scored by Marie-Phillip Poulin and they had officially overcome all adversity. What I’ll remember most about the finish is the reaction of both Poulin and Coach Kevin Dineen. Poulin will never score a bigger goal in her life but you would never say it based on the goal celebration. While you could see the pure emotion in her actions; as Grapes would say, she acted like she scored before. Likewise, on the bench Dineen didn’t even raise his arms in the air; he showed obvious relief and turned to shake hands with his assistants. These are further examples of the ‘Canadian way.’

  In conclusion, I could probably write a book on the moments that made us proud in Sochi but I’ll have hard enough time getting people to read these two pages. We remember while in school and playing on a team, in a band, group, etc. attending another school, our teachers would always say be on your best behavior because you are representing your entire school. Our 220 athletes went to Sochi under that same notion and from coast to coast (yes, CBC that extends to Newfoundland) we may have different moments that stand out but the one consistency is knowing we couldn’t have been represented any better. I’ll wake up tomorrow with a smile on my face, not because ‘We are winter’ but because ‘We are Canadian’ and live the ‘Canadian way.’

@poleary19

Going for Gold: My thoughts on Canada’s roster in Sochi

  Oh how quickly we Canadians forget! Just two days ago all of the talk was about the failings of our national program following a second straight World Junior Tournament without a medal. However, today the kids are off the hook as all eyes are on Steve Yzerman and the executive of the 2014 Canadian Olympic squad. As you may recall (I know I must have 3 or 4 regular readers!) I wrote a blog back in August giving my preseason Team Canada predictions. Now with the roster officially set, we’ll see how my roster stacks up to Mr. Yzerman’s. I’ll also make note of how my predictions compared to those of the ultimate insider Bob McKenzie; the measuring stick for all wannabe insiders. Keep in mind however; Bob has sources in most NHL cities while my main source is Adam Basha from the hockey hotbed of Western Bay, with other sources scattered in random locations such as Thunder Bay (Ont), St. Stephen (NB) and Small Point (NL). I must admit, they’re panning out pretty well though. To finish it off, I’m going to criticize two time goal medal winner Steve Yzerman for a couple of his selections.  (*Note* I will not list my projected team from August here, it can be found on my main page.) Let’s drop the puck……

  Glad to say I got off to a hot start between the pipes nailing all three goaltenders. I believe the executive got it right here and also believe that Luongo will be the “starter” for game one and will play himself into or out of the Number 1 spot from there. Price will “backup” and if Luongo falters, he’ll take the reins and run with them. Smith will be the third goaltender and will likely see one game on the bench during the preliminary round. Expert McKenzie also went 3 for 3 in goal, preventing me from getting a much needed leg up.

  On Defense things got a little rocky for me as I went 5 for 8. Ultimately, 4 of the 5 picks were locks with Subban being the other. No doubt the Canadian blue line is strong; however I would have taken Brent Seabrook and Dan Boyle over Dan Hamhuis and Jay Bouwmeester. I can see the upside to Hamhuis’ game but I’m not sure if he is among the top 8 in this country, nor do I think he can bring more to the table than Seabrook and Boyle on or off the ice. Bouwmeester was basically considered a lock on everyone’s team going into today; but for me he’s not a guy who can turn the tempo up when it needs to be turned up. No doubt he skates well and moves the puck well but he lacks that “drive” as was proven by a fairly poor tourney back in 2006. The argument can be made for the importance of left defense vs. right defense but top players are top players and I think such an argument may be exaggerated. Otherwise,  difficult to argue the remaining picks as Vlasic has been stellar for San Jose and Subban will be a Canadian Hero on the power play (yes, even you will cheer leaf fans!). The defense looks good but those are tweaks I would have made. By the way, for those of you keeping score, Bobby Mac went 8 for 8 on the backend and thus I fired Adam Basha!

  Similarly, I struggled up front hitting just 8 of my 13 predicted forwards. With that being said, the only forwards that made the team that I would argue shouldn’t be going to Sochi are Chris Kunitz, Jeff Carter and Patrick Marleau. I am not a big believer in taking Chris Kunitz simply because he works well with Sidney Crosby nor am I a believer that Kunitz would be on this team if he was playing on a different NHL team. There were better players out there who can make other players better rather than simply be better due to the presence of someone else. Claude Giroux sticks out to me because he has all the tools of a superstar and has been a top producer among Canadians over the past few years. Putting him on the big ice with better players would have been something to see. I didn’t hear much discussion on it today but he may be a paying the price for choosing to skip out on the summer camp. Another concern with Kunitz is if he gets taken off a line with Crosby, where does he fit then? He likely slides into the last forward spot and has a minimal impact in the tournament, thus wasting a roster spot. Honestly, I’ve never really been a fan of Patrick Marleau and cannot see how he brings more upside than his Sharks teammate Logan Couture. Couture in my opinion has a better all around game and easily has more of an edge. Perhaps with Marleau returning from the 2010 team one can argue he brings experience and leadership but to me he doesn’t come off as the kind of guy who is a great leader (Stripped of the C in San Jose).  The last player selection that I really question is Jeff Carter. I like Jeff Carter as a player and no doubt the executive are thinking of his speed and ability to finish, paying off on the big ice. My Concern is where do you play him? If he doesn’t fit into the top 6 (which will be tough); how does he do in a third or fourth line role? That’s where I would prefer guys like Mike Richards and Eric Staal. Both of whom have the ability to be clutch but also have that versatility where you can slide them up or down a line-up and still have them be key contributors to the team. I thought those guys were really good for Canada back in 2010 and they could still play on this team in 2014. The forward group is good, but may consist of too many players who want to be top 6 forwards and unable to be bottom 6 forwards. Again, for the scorekeepers; Bob went 11 for 14 up front and ultimately won the team prediction battle with ease.

  When all is said and done, I do agree with the vast majority of the players selected to represent our country in Sochi. Above you can see some of the changes I would have made but my three major concerns are the third/fourth lines, ability to play OUR game, and leadership. I question which of the 14 forwards selected will excel in a third or fourth line role? If you look at those 14 forwards, with the exceptions of Bergeron, Sharp and Toews (who really shouldn’t be), I don’t see anyone who can drop back to the bottom 6 and be the checking, defensive, versatile, role playing forward needed. This is where I really thought Staal and Richards would have been of value. Likewise, I’m not sure if this team has the identity of a truly Canadian group. As you look down the roster there are not many names that standout as the “in your face,” intense, swagger filled players who have the ability to intimidate European players. The team is filled with speed and skill which is important on the big ice but somewhat lacks players who play the “Canadian” way. Outside of Subban, Weber, Doughty and Perry, I don’t see guys who will crash, bang and really get under the skin of the opposition. It’s almost like this team was picked to suit the European style of game on the big ice but I believe we are at our best when we force opponents to play our game. Last but not least, there has to be some concern in terms of veteran leadership. Our oldest skaters are Kunitz and Marleau; one who is playing in his first Olympics and the other who has had his leadership questioned in the past. Returnees such as Crosby, Toews, Getzlaf and Weber will be leaned upon to be the leaders of this team but I really feel like a Dan Boyle could have been a great calming influence similar to Neidermayer in 2010.

  In closing, I’m not sure there is anyone in this country who agrees with every player picked to this team, even those who picked the team. No matter what there will be debate and everyone cannot be satisfied. We will head into the Olympics with a very good looking team and we are a top contender to win gold. Will we win? That’s a question for another day but no matter whom we have wearing our jersey in February, we’ll all be chanting “Go Canada Go!”

Follow me on Twitter: @poleary19

CANADA!!! We’re Going to be Just Fine!!

  Many families in Canada have their own unique Christmas traditions but one common tradition from coast to coast is gathering around the television to watch the World Junior Hockey Championships. The tournament generates a great deal of discussion at the kitchen table, the local store, facebook, etc. So far this year; despite a solid 2-0-1 record for Team Canada, most of the talk has been negative. Many fans seem to have doubts as to whether this team can pull it off and question whether we will be able to beat the Americans, Swedes or Russians. Below are 5 reasons for the country to sit back, have a drink and have faith.

  1# Brent Sutter: We have one of; if not the best, coach in World Junior history. The loss(shootout) to the Czech’s on Saturday was his first loss in three world junior tournaments! Sutter has a knack for getting his message through to young players, a great ability to motivate and is a strategist behind the bench. Perhaps his greatest asset is his calm demeanor on the bench, which is passed down to the players and helps maintain composure on the ice. We can trust Sutter to have the boys prepared when the puck drops and to have them improve every game.

  #2 The rest of the World is getting better: Too many of us are stuck in the past with the notion that we are Canadian and should destroy anyone besides the States, Swedes, and Russians. Even then, we expect victory! Reality is, the world around us is getting better! We are the best in the world at this game but other countries are closing the gap. However, this is not a negative! It just means that our game is growing around the world and better competition will only make us better. Continuous domination on the world stage would cause us to become complacent; when we are “threatened” by other nations it forces us to look at our program and see what we can do it improve it. Our expectation of 10-0 wins over certain countries is perhaps outdated and we should begin to respect the programs of our opponents.

  #3 We are Canada!: Somewhat an add on to thought #2, no team has any trouble “getting up” for a game against Canada. Just as we consider ourselves the top dog, other nations look at us as a measuring stick and want to see where they stand up against us. It’s a case of the hunter vs. the hunted and we are the hunted. Everyone circles the Canada game on their schedule; whether it’s Germany hoping to give us a tough game or the Americans hoping to send us home! There will be games where we may not be at our best but chances are our opponent always is.

  #4 It’s all about the Gold!: “We didn’t beat Germany badly enough!” “A loss to the Czechs???!!””By’s hardly beat Slovakia sure!” These are the comments we have been hearing game after game. It’s hard to satisfy the Canadian hockey fan, we are go big or go home when it comes to hockey. Fact is, at this stage of the tourney a win is a win and a point is a point. Going into tomorrow’s game we still have a chance to win the group despite our “struggles” and if we lose, we can still win the gold medal. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and this adversity will be an asset to the team moving forward. You may forget in the 2002 Olympics, when we had a national emergency after losing 5-2 to Sweden, squeaking by Germany and barely tying the Czechs but I’m certain you recall the Gold Medal win. It doesn’t matter how you get there as long as you get there.

  #5 Try not to forget they are kids: All year we watch NHL hockey and then for 10 days over Christmas we watch a bunch of teenagers. Being so used to the NHL, I think we expect the same sort of hockey from the junior team. It takes years in the NHL to become the responsible, mature player we are expecting an 18 year old to be. These kids; feeling the pressure of an entire nation, will take a bad penalty when they are frustrated,  will try to do too much by themselves when they are down, and they won’t give any technical masterpieces. These are things we still see in mature 30 year old hockey players; so of course we are going to see them in teenagers! Adding to this; the group is thrown together a week before the tournament, they are overseas away from their families during the holiday season for the first time, and the pressure of an entire country at home watching with “win or bust” expectations.  Think of yourself in your late teens and ask how would you do under those circumstances? For me, it would be quite the challenge.

  Take a deep breath Canada! We’re going to be alright; they’re the best we have and they are doing their best. Keep your schedule free Sunday; we’ll be playing for Gold!!!! The best is yet to come!

Happy New Years!

Follow me on Twitter: @poleary19