The Vancouver Canucks

Drafted in the first round, fourth overall, Jason Bonsignore was a top pick of the 1994 NHL entry draft.  He played one game with the Oilers in 1994-95 and the rest of the season was with his OHL team, the Sudbury Wolves. The following year, Bonsignore played 20 games with the Oilers 18 in the OHL and 12 in the AHL with the Cape Breton Oilers. That was the last Bonsignore would play in the NHL for the Edmonton Oilers.

Often touted as a bust, Bonsignore’s story has gone untold. All that most fans know is what they saw, another first round Edmonton Oilers draft pick just didn’t make the cut. Surely it was the scouting staff not doing their job. Or was it? In an extremely candid interview with Gene Principe and Robin Brownlee on the Jason Gregor show of the Team 1260 on Wednesday August 31st, Bonsignore told his tale and changed many opinions along the way. The twitter response was instant and so positive towards the interview that I wanted to share it with those inside as well as outside of Edmonton.

Continue reading “Jason Bonsignore – “I feel like I let everyone in Edmonton down””

Go to Source…

So while Rypien was afflicted with deep depression, and Boogaard was on painkillers, we don’t know why Wade Belak died. Not yet. Maybe never. We just know that there aren’t an awful lot of 40-goal scorers or puck-moving defencemen dying young, and that the men whose role it is to fight in the NHL are starting to vanish like professional wrestlers. This shouldn’t be a political issue in the sport; it should be a human one. And at some point, some deadly serious questions have to be asked about the role of enforcers in hockey, if only to understand why these men are gone too soon. This has been an unspeakable summer, which is exactly why it needs to be talked about.

-Bruce Arthur of the National Post, where you can read more on this topic sure to be discussed in the coming days.

from Chris Johnston of the CP at the Winnipeg Free Press,

The string of incidents has raised uncomfortable questions about a possible link between the difficult role each man played in the NHL and his untimely death.

“We’re talking about such a short period of time,” said Craig Button, who was the general manager of the Calgary Flames when Belak played there early in his career. “It’s not only about the deaths, it’s the deaths that surround similar type players. …

“It’s not just getting hit in the head, it’s everything that goes with that (enforcer) role. I think that people are paying very, very serious attention to concussions and blows to the head and the role of the enforcer.

“I don’t think anybody can stop until we really understand the impact it has not only physically, but emotionally as well.”

more

Go to Source…

from Cathal Kelly of the Toronto Star,

Maybe the job needs to change.

We cannot know to a certainty what role their work — intimidating and inflicting pain on other people — played in these deaths. However, the league must now operate under the assumption that the loss, in such a short time, of three men who performed the same specialty function for a living points toward a causal link.

What exactly that link may be — brain injury? the cumulative mental toll of a life of violence? — is the starting point of a debate.

Debate is what the NHL’s overseers do best — much of it pointless, and most of it leading nowhere.

Headshots were easy for them to brush past — no amount of rule changes can entirely prevent blows to the skull, since so many of them are accidental.

There is no such thing as an accidental fist fight.

This new debate must be different.

more

Go to Source…

VanCanucks: @GinaRPrez Wonderful to hear. Thanks for your (and your son’s) support.

Go to Source…

from Helene Elliott of The Fabulous Forum,

The process of rebuilding the ice surface began at about 6 a.m. Wednesday and was expected to be finished Wednesday night. It will then require a few days to set before anyone can skate on it.

While that was going on, Bailey, the Kings’ mascot, planted three pennies at center ice for good luck. Luc Robitaille, the Kings’ president of business operations, said one was an 1893 penny to commemorate the year the Stanley Cup was donated by Lord Stanley of Preston. Robitaille said the second penny was placed by Bailey and had personal meaning to the costumed mascot.

“I talked to Bailey’s handler, because Bailey doesn’t talk,” Robitaille said. “And I heard they were putting in a 1993 penny. I asked why and they said that’s the year we went to the finals, and I said, ‘That doesn’t make sense. We lost. We’ve got to put something that means something to us that we’ve won.’ So he put something that was personal to him that was meaningful about a championship, and I did too.”

What was Robitaille’s choice? A penny from 2002, the year he won the Cup with the Detroit Red Wings.

more on the Kings…

Go to Source…

 
Oh the glory that could have been…
(photo credit unknown)

The fourth in a special summer series, CanucksArmy.com author Patrick Johnston will write whatever comes to mind about a random Canucks hero. What is a hero? Patrick’s criteria is super secret, but maybe, just maybe, if you pay close attention, you’ll figure it out

Alex Mogilny, in my memory, is one of the greatest Vancouver Canucks ever. In reality, looking at the numbers, it’s hard to say. 308 points in 312 games in a Canucks jersey, a third of which came in his only electric season. As skill goes, he was incredible, there are few competitors in answering the question: ’who would you like to have the puck on his stick at *that* moment for the Canucks?’ What is Alex Mogilny an example of? He’s a reminder of where this team was, the vortex they were in, of what can happen to a talent when the walls are crumbling all around.

(more…)

from QMI Agency at the Toronto Sun,

Former Toronto Maple Leafs tough guy Wade Belak was found dead in a Toronto hotel Wednesday.

The 35-year-old from Saskatoon was found in the tony 1 King West hotel and condo residence.

Belak retired in March after a long NHL career that included stops in Colorado, Calgary, Toronto, Florida and Nashville. He was recently announced as one of the ex-NHLers who would be performing on CBC’s Battle of the Blades this year.

continued

I had heard rumors of this early today, but in a situation like this, you surely do not want to report anything that is not correct.

added 6:41pm,

Nashville, Tenn. (August 31, 2011) – “The entire Nashville Predators organization and family is shocked and saddened by the sudden and untimely passing of Wade Belak. Wade was a beloved member of the organization, a terrific teammate and wonderful father and husband who will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Jennifer and children Andie and Alex. We offer our full support to them at this very difficult time.”

added 6:55pm, Ian Robertson of the Toronto Sun, in the original link to the Belak story has updated with this…

Belak took his life, according to sources.

added 7:30pm,

NEW YORK (August 31, 2011)—Gary Bettman, Commissioner of the National Hockey League, today released the following statement regarding the death of Wade Belak:

“The National Hockey League family mourns the passing of Wade Belak, who competed to the utmost every minute of his NHL career. Our hearts go out to Wade’s loved ones, his friends, his former teammates and to all who feel the horrible void left by this tragedy.”

added 7:48pm,

TORONTO (August 31, 2011) – National Hockey League Players’ Association Executive Director Don Fehr issued the following statement on the passing of Wade Belak:

“All Players and NHLPA staff are sincerely saddened and shocked by the passing of former member Wade Belak. His affable personality made him popular with teammates, fans and media, and he was a hardworking, respected member of the Association. He will undoubtedly be greatly missed throughout the entire hockey community. Our deepest condolences go out to Wade’s family and friends during this very difficult time.”

Go to Source…

VanCanucks: Media Release: #Vancouver #Canucks Prospects Camp opens Friday, September 9. http://t.co/KSlIwhR

Go to Source…

According to QMI and various other sources.

How many enforcers have to die before the NHL recognizes that post concussion syndrome is a serious, serious issue?

Rest in peace Wade. You were one of the good guys.

Go to Source…

Ex-Flame and Leaf enforcer Wade Belak was reportedly found dead in his Toronto condo this afternoon. The 35-year old recently retired from hockey.

Belak’s death marks the third tragic passing of an NHL tough guy this summer after Derek Boogaard and Rick Rypien. The cause of his death has yet to be reported, but whatever it is, this has truly been one of the saddest offseasons in NHL memory.

More to come as details emerge. For now, sincere condolences to Belak’s friends and family.

Go to Source…