Canucks Corner: The halfway mark

July 3, 2013 / Elliot Chan / Leave a comment

Formerly published in The Other Press. Mar. 29 2013

By Elliot Chan, Staff Writer

More than half of the season is over, and the Canucks are teetering uncomfortably in the standings. On one hand, they are leading the division with a slight edge over the Minnesota Wild; on the other hand, the slightest slip up will send them plummeting out of the playoff picture.

The Western Conference has always been competitive, but with six points separating 13 teams, the shortened season has made the race to the finish line even more dramatic. Few teams love drama more than the Canucks. So if we expect them to pull their game together and race away from the pack to join Chicago and Anaheim as un-touted division champions—don’t, because things are about to get messy.

Failing to exceed expectations, the Canucks are playing cool with all their unfinished business, namely the business in the crease. Cory Schneider is having a respectable season sharing the net with Robert Luongo, but respectable is not winning complete confidence from upper management. As trade deadline looms around the corner, everybody is anticipating the inevitable. But will it happen in April or will it happen in June? Luongo’s stock hasn’t been higher since the season started and that’s usually a sign that something will happen sooner rather than later.

It’s also apparent that the Sedins won’t be challenging for any scoring titles this year with their underperformance on the top line—an area the Canucks have to look at as they plan for the future. Jordan Schroeder has shown potential of one day becoming an elite forward, but it is a work in progress. And since Mason Raymond, Zack Kassian, and David Booth are all having a horribly-mediocre season, Canucks fans can only hope that someone in the organization will step up or a team with a top offensive prospect will be enticed by Luongo.

For a while, it looked as though the team could thrive without Ryan Kesler’s leadership and grit, but with so many games ending in one or two goals, the Canucks are hoping there is no delay with his healing foot. But the question is worth asking: will Kesler be the same player he was before? Will he go the extra mile to finish his checks? Will he have the same intimidating net presence? All questions aside, it is time for him to adjust his style. The ever-changing Canucks need him to become less of a two-way player and focus more on powering through opposition’s defense—as well as photo bombing his teammates during interviews.

HOCKEY: A GUIDE TO CANADA’S PASTIME

July 3, 2013 / Elliot Chan / Leave a comment

Formerly published by MeetVanCity.com

Saturday February 9, 2013

Hockey is considered to be a violent sport with its high physical contact. And that’s why we love it. On the ice, players can reach speeds exceeding 30 miles hour and the hockey puck can travel over 100 miles an hour. It is not hard to explain why hockey is referred to as “the fastest game on earth.”

Created outdoors during the icy northern winters, hockey is more than a sport for Canada.
It is a tradition and a culture. Hockey combines the act of ice-skating with shooting
a rubber puck into the opposition’s net with a curved stick. Each successful attempt is called a goal and it is worth one point. The team with the most points is the winner.

On the Ice: A game of hockey requires two teams with five skaters (a line) and
a goalie each. The National Hockey League (NHL) has 30 teams, seven from Canada
and 23 from the United States. A team is usually constructed with four lines of
three forwards and three lines of two defensemen and two goalies, one starter
and one back up (should the starter be unable to play). A game consists of three 20 minutes periods. If the 60 minutes end in a draw a five-minute four-on-four overtime is played. If no deciding goal is scored in the allotted time, then a best of three penalty shots is required.

The Process: In the NHL a hockey season consists of 82 games (with exception to lock-out years) with the 30 teams separated by two conferences: Western and Eastern. Each conference is divided into three divisions with five teams in each. The Eastern
divisions are Atlantic, Northeast and Southeast. The Central, Northwest and Pacific are the Western divisions. The majority of the games are against teams within the geographical divisions. Each win is worth two points, and if a game goes into overtime, the winning team earns two points, while the losing team will get a one-point consolation. At the end of the regular season, the top eight teams in each conference will contend for the Stanley Cup in the playoffs.

The Prize: The Stanley Cup is Canada’s Holy Grail. Etch around its rim are the years and names of pass winning teams, players and coaches. It is more than a trophy– it is a history book. Considered as the toughest championships, the Stanley Cup Playoffs consist of 16 of the 30 teams. Split up by the conferences, the playoffs are a four round best of seven series competition.

Whistle Whistle: Unlike most team sports, fighting is a distinctive element of hockey. Although players may choose to fight, they are still not exempt from punishment. Fighting is a major penalty that forces players out of the game and into the penalty box. Penalties are categorized by the infraction’s severity. A minor penalty is worth two-minute, double minor charges four and a major is worth five minutes. Different levels of suspensions are also dispensed to players whose offense contributed to injury or can be considered as an attempt to injure.

The Frozen Surface: A hockey rink is a rounded rectangle with lines and circles used to indicate various spots on the ice. Two blue lines mark a neutral zone, which separates the offensive and defensive zones. The blue line are also used to identify offside calls (where a player on the offensive can not be past the blue line without the puck passing first.) There are nine face-off dots on the ice, two in the attacking zone, two in the defensive zone and five in the neutral zone.

Hockey is a complicated game to play, but a simple game to watch. It is fast-paced and high action. There is nothing like the crisp air of an ice rink, the sound of crashing bodies, and the intensity of a game. But as a spectator, remember to pay attention, because with slap shots, big checks and heated competition anything can end up in the crowd during a hockey game.

Committed incorporated

July 3, 2013 / Elliot Chan / Leave a comment

Formerly published in The Other Press. Mar. 19 2013

Our questionable loyalty to businesses, products, and corporations

By Elliot Chan, Staff Writer

“Don’t buy lamps at IKEA,” my friend once told me. “It will look lonely in your house.”

I didn’t understand her profound statement or the personification immediately, but I soon understood. The lamp I had purchased looked out of place, awkwardly positioned in the corner of my room—yes, lonely. That was until I bought an IKEA desk and an IKEA chair to befriend it. Now my room doesn’t look half bad; far from the photogenic images in the flyers and brochures, but still respectable. Like dressing up in a suit and tie, my room, although furnished and appearing well-to-do, now lacks personality, originality, or any charm whatsoever. And it all started with a lamp.

Some advocate for companies the way we cheer for sport teams. Others are simply addicted. Over the years, I have developed a tight bond with Apple products. The story began with my first iPod, a green second-generation iPod Shuffle. I resisted the lure for many years, even though I was bombarded with advertising and recommendations. I had to find out first-hand whether or not it was a quality product, and although I have had MP3 players in the past, I now have an iPod. I was hooked. Several years later, I came upon familiar crossroads when the contract for my flip phone ended and I was due for a new one. I had all the choices in the world, but I went with old faithful: Apple. I once had a phone, but now I have an iPhone, and something tells me I will never have anything but. After all, it syncs so well with my MacBook Pro.

I’ve joined the herd shepherded by the big corporations, but is that such a bad thing? I know people who only order coffee from Starbucks and I know people who boycott it completely. Are loyalty or disdain for a company reasonable? We are creatures of habit and we find comfort in knowing that some things will always be there for us. There’s so much turbulence in our lives that it’s good to have some stability somewhere, even if it’s just sticking with Crest as the toothpaste of choice.

But it’s important to know that there’s a vast world out there. The only way for anyone to know what their preferences are is to try as many things as possible, and there are few mistakes more regrettable than settling. Exploration does not have to be an epic adventure. It can be as simple as making a different choice, such as ordering soup instead of salad, driving a Nissan instead of a Toyota, or shopping at Superstore instead of Safeway. Corporations, as evil and corrupt as they are, are still out to please you, so don’t be intimidated; embrace it.

Having a trustworthy, reliable brand is fantastic. In this materialistic world, life is not only about relationships between people, but also between consumers and corporations; when one finds the other, it is a true love story.

Douglas Profile: Cast of ‘Blue Window’

July 1, 2013April 17, 2014 / Elliot Chan / Leave a comment

Formerly published in The Other Press. Mar. 19 2013

Aaron Holt, Alex Chan, Katie Doyle, Larissa Sampson, Maddy Osborne-Wood, Michael Kurliak, and Shanelle Horobec (Actors)
By Elliot Chan, Staff Writer

“Fight Club!” “Breakfast Club!” “No, definitely Fight Club!” It is not uncommon for a group working together to have disagreements, but the cast of Blue Window came to a quick consensus when discussing the best pre-performance movie. “We all have such different taste in everything,” says Michael Kurliak, “But it is one of those things we can all agree on.”

“There is action, there is comedy,” Larissa Sampson agrees, “and there are hot men for Shanelle.”

“It is always an important thing,” laughs Horobec.

Blue Window is the ensemble’s second Douglas production, and it is clear that living in the trenches together for so long has erased all signs of formality. “It is so necessary for the work we are doing,” says Sampson. “Because of the emotional vulnerability; to be able to cry in front of the entire cast and know that they are not like, ‘Heh! Look at her trying to cry, she looks terrible.’” Their friendship and trust is the framework for the performance, and it is the most valuable and pleasurable part of the experience.

But with 12-hour days, rehearsing emotional scenes over and over again, the actors feel the tolls adding up. “A lot of stuff doesn’t come out,” says Maddy Osborne-Wood, describing the internal struggles of her character Boo:

“She has these big parts where she’s just lying on a couch, and at first I was, ‘Oh okay, lying on a couch,’ but the thoughts that come from that can be pretty draining.”

Although the presentation on stage is significant, the ability to remove themselves from the lives of their characters is equally important, if not more so. “Safety is the top priority,” said Alex Chan. “It is really easy to lose yourself. It might not happen on day one, and it might not happen on day five, but… something outside the work entirely can happen to weaken your mental fortitude and that is not healthy.”

As romantic as living and breathing theatre sounds, the group also knows that such a relationship could be abusive. “After rehearsal, I can’t just go to sleep,” said Sampson, “I have to go home and de-stress.”

“Defragment,” Aaron Holt adds. “It is good to take some time off and return to it. It becomes so much more exciting.”

Acting requires effort, and oftentimes the art form is unappreciated. Marketability becomes a large factor for the future of young actors. “It sounds horrible,” said Sampson, “but you have to pander to people. Nobody wants to see you do Macbethagain, the exact same way everybody else has done it. But if it is Macbeth set in space, would that be dumb?”

On a planet where entertainment is a mouse-click away, theatre seems as good as dead, but the cast is undaunted. “It is not dying,” said Holt, “It is just changing.” Vancouver‘s diverse culture is a breeding ground for new experimental art, as well as contemporary renditions of the classics. Motivated by the evolution, Osborne-Wood and the others don’t feel a need to relocate. “We have this group of actors and the stagecraft people,” she said, “and we are just starting to create our own theatre. We just need to start doing things and see what happens. It’s about giving opportunities and testing the water.”

Anticipating the future is not a comfortable act for anybody, and it is no easier for actors. But when all is said and done and the spotlight hits the stage, the cast of Blue Window will remember the stern words of a former instructor, Stephen Drover: “Don’t bullshit me!” A lesson we can all follow.

The sneeze season

July 1, 2013July 2, 2013 / Elliot Chan / Leave a comment

Formerly published in The Other Press. Mar. 12 2013

How to survive seasonal allergies

By Elliot Chan, Staff Writer

It is ironic that the season synonymous with rejuvenation and birth is also the period of the year that makes me feel like dying. No, I’m not being melodramatic; I just have a really bad case of hay fever. Running nose, itchy eyes, and endless sneezing are the crippling symptoms of spring allergies. They are not fatal the same way food allergies can be, but they can ruin a day, a week, or even a couple months. But those who have never experienced the horrible trials of blooming flowers will consider the suffering snifflers to be sick and disgusting, and offer little sympathy. It is the price we pay for a nice summer day—that is, if we can survive to see it.

Allergy medications are often the easiest solution. There are pills, sprays, and eyedrops all developed to soothe the symptoms. There is a whole aisle in the store dedicated to allergy relief. But with budgetary problems, I tend to conserve the pills for dire situations, meaning in moments where the sneezing and itching are too unbearable. Drugs may take anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple of hours to kick in, and because of their inconsistent reliability, they only work as a crutch. I am skeptical of modern medicine; some days I preach it and some days I curse it. Sometimes it’s best to find natural coping methods for chronic problems like allergies.

Spring allergies are mainly caused by the large amount of pollen in the air, so if your symptoms are bad, stay away from floral areas or simply remain indoors. Consider getting an air purifier inside your house to clean the air. Since Vancouver will remain frigid until early June anyways, there is no need to keep the doors and windows open. Locking yourself away from the world may seem like a horrible alternative to sneezing, but there will be days when breathing is more important than frolicking in a field.

Allergies are not limited by the weather. They can be as agitating on rainy days as they are on sunny days. But the heat plays a big part in our ability to cope with the discomfort. Sneezing and sniffling take up a lot of energy and the sun beating down on you while you inhale through your clogged nose can be absolutely draining. So seek out air conditioned places or stick your head in the freezer just to get a moment of relief.

A shower is another very effective way to deal with spring allergies. Because allergens like pollen are airborne, most of them travel on you or with you. A shower and a change of clothes will rid you of the particles that you have collected throughout the day.

There are moments where you’ll feel that the only way to deal with allergies is to attack them aggressively, but all that will do is leave you with tissue rash under your nostrils and multiple other agitations. Allergies should be dealt with methodically and should not cause frustration. Familiarize yourself with a routine to cope. Recognize the time of year they usually happen. Schedule your day accordingly so you don’t spend large periods of time outside or in dusty areas. Understanding what causes your agony is the best way to avoid it or at least bare with it until the season turns.

Tasteless T-shirts

July 1, 2013July 1, 2013 / Elliot Chan / Leave a comment

Formerly published in The Other Press. Mar. 5 2013

Keep your ego-boosting slogans to yourself
By Elliot Chan, Staff Writer

Remember those “I’m with stupid” shirts with an arrow pointing to the person beside you? Weren’t those hilarious? Well now, athletic brands like Nike are producing T-shirts that point the attention on the wearer, but with positivity. I’m referring to the “I’m so awesome” shirts, which aren’t funny at all—they are actually a bit aggravating.

To have the gall to wear a shirt promoting how great you are all day makes you an egomaniac, and that is not exactly a good first impression. Some might say their apparel isn’t meant to bring anybody down; they are simply inspirational quotes. Thanks, but I don’t need to get my inspiration from looking at your bulky torso. I know you work out—you’ve been talking about it all day. I don’t need your shirt to remind me too.

If you want to inspire someone, don’t rehash old sayings. “Just do it,” it says. “Then do it again!” How droll. There is a thin line between being confidently motivational and arrogantly ambitious. And the line can be crossed simply by wearing those shirts outside of your bedroom or the gym.

When someone walks by me wearing a T-shirt that says “Don’t sweat my swag,” in bold, colourful text, I am unsure what to make of it. Is it just workout slang or a subtle putdown? I’m really not sure. But perhaps pondering the meaning of such a phrase is in fact sweating the swag.

T-shirts are the perfect canvas for showcasing personality and interests. Yet, we are constantly changing. I just have to look through my own closet to find old relics of places “I heart” and concerts I’ve attended. The T-shirts I’ve accumulated over the years become a little history book of my life. What I wore when I was 17 is different from what I wear today. Like looking at old pictures, we remember how stupid we used to look in those Ed Hardy T-shirts and V-necks. Oh wait—we still wear those.

The casual look is the reason we choose to be in a T-shirt, but it is still important to stay classy. No matter how athletic, intelligent, and confident you are, your bad taste will tell the world otherwise. Save your witty quotes for Twitter or bathroom stalls. Don’t wear them on your chest as if “YOLO” is the name of some sport team you play for. If your shirt says, “I’m the best,” then you’d better live up to it.

Matt and Kim

July 1, 2013 / Elliot Chan / Leave a comment

Formerly published in Beatroute. Oct. 31 2012

COMMODORE BALLROOM – OCTOBER 29, 2012

It is hard to imagine high energy on the Sunday night of Halloween weekend. But Matt and Kim supplied the perfect double-shot-espresso kick to end the late October rituals. Packing into Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom with the fanatic opening performance by Oberhofer, Matt and Kim made a custodian’s nightmare out of the dance floor. Confetti, balloons, and derelict garments scatter across the venue as the crowds bounce to the pair’s ecstatic beat.

Gratefully sipping the 5% Budweiser from north of the border, Matt and Kim mixed their classic tunes with popular dance hits including Sir Mixalot, Alice Deejay, and Yolanda Be Cool & DCUP to name a few. Surpassing any nightclub experience, watching Kim laying the fury on the cymbals with her permanent smile was worth the ticket price. The pair used the stage like a jungle gym, striking poses on the bass drum, stool and even climbing upon the audience. Aside from being agile, the most memorable moments include Kim’s proposition. After hearing a collective chant from the crowd, she said she would remove her bra if the audience would take off an article of clothing and wave it in the air. Adhering to her words, Kim continued to drum away mildly exposed in her white-netted tank top.

There was no denying that Matt and Kim’s performance was both audibly and visually pleasing. Multiple cameras were attached to their microphones and the image was projected on a screen behind. Occasionally they would cut to the camera’s perspective showing the audience what the performance would look like if it was presented through Skype. But this was no small screen performance. It was a spectacle. Few musical duos could sustain the vigorous energy like Matt and Kim. They weren’t only hosting the party; they were the life of it.

After ending on a high note with “Good For Great,” an optimistic centrepiece on their third album Sidewalks, the couple guaranteed the crowd that their love for Vancouver would bring them back sooner than later. The reassured audience members finally catch their breath and wipe the sweat off their brows. It was indeed a workout of a concert. Feeling fit and undaunted, the costumed crowd steps out into the rainy night recollecting a successful weekend.

By Elliot Chan

REM: Really Entertaining Movies/Music

July 1, 2013 / Elliot Chan / Leave a comment

Formerly published in The Other Press. Mar. 5 2013

Great movies and albums I can’t stay awake for

By Elliot Chan, Staff Writer

Great films and albums aren’t always the ones that keep us on the edge of our seats or send us dancing until the sun comes up. Some fantastic works of art have a drowsing effect; they challenge the senses and cause the brain to concentrate extra hard on picking up the subtleties. These exhausting marathon films and albums are not meant for large groups of friends, nor are they the type of entertainment for a casual night in. They are a commitment you make, and patience, perseverance, and maybe a cup of coffee will help you reach the credit without snoozing.

Apocalypse Now (1979): Touted as one of the greatest war movies ever, the 153-minute running time felt like an endless anticipation for a battle scene that never comes. The film opens with those famous lyrics from The Doors, “This is the end…” Ironic. I have never watched it in one conscious sitting. During multiple screenings I recall Martin Sheen’s character Benjamin Willard getting on the boat and riding down the river, then fade to black and suddenly there is Dennis Hopper and an ox is getting sliced in half. I always wake up for Marlon Brando’s “The horror… the horror!” and then doze back to an uncomfortable sleep and waking up to the smell of napalm in the morning.

Bon Iver (Bon Iver) (2011): If you have a long study session or a workout and would like the accompaniment of music, avoid this album. Like a sunny day at the beach, Bon Iver has the ability to suck energy from mortal men. How can anyone be productive with his soothing ambient vocals? If you want to enjoy this album in its entirety, cancel all your plans. But trust me, it will be worth it.

jj n° 2 (jj) (2009): Based from Sweden, the members of jj have transformed R&B and hip-hop classics by such names as Akon, Lil Wayne, and Kanye West into soft-melodic tunes. Incorporating their own lyrical twist and adding a psychedelic aspect to familiar beats, jj has joined a large group of independent musicians in a subgenre called dream pop. Jj’s n° 2 is a terrific album for an afternoon on the porch with a friendly companion and a cup of Earl Grey, but what the artists recommend is another element they suggest right on the album cover (Spoilers: it’s weed).

Lord of the Rings – The Two Towers (2002): I sometimes do nerdy things, but I am not the most persistent nerd, proven by my many failed attempts at watching theLord of the Rings trilogy in a marathon. I can watch the first one, Fellowship of the Ring (2001), with little or no problems. Frodo takes the ring, Gandalf falls in Moria, and Boromir dies—bing, bang, boom. But the second one is an absolute struggle, and it is because of the scenes with the Ents (talking trees). While Merry and Pippin were trying to convince the passive tree race to join in the battle for Middle Earth, the dreadfully slow dialogue had already defeated me. Maybe one day I’ll watch The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings together… then again, maybe I’ll sleep on it.

Acceptance speech for the Award for Best Background Performance

July 1, 2013January 13, 2021 / Elliot Chan / Leave a comment

A satirical article, formerly published in The Other Press. Feb. 26 2013

As transcribed by Elliot Chan, The Extra Extra

Leonardo Deniro – Professional Background Performer

“Wow! Uhhh… Okay! Wow! I was so not expecting this. Wow! What an honour. When my agent first called and told me to show up on set, I did not know I was going to be playing such an amazing role. Unfortunate Bystander Number Four was an extraordinary exploration into the human dynamic; it has changed my life—so I would like to thank my agency, Meat Prop Inc., for giving me such a fabulous opportunity.”

(Pauses for a moment of introspection)

“Secondly, I would like to thank God for giving me a human body. Without it, I wouldn’t be able to be such an exceptional background performer. Next, I would like to thank my beloved mother for teaching me to stand still and then move naturally when someone shouts “Action!” I thought you were crazy at first, mom, but…(Resisting the urge to cry) Mothers know best and you were preparing me for a gurgling life of following directions. Without you, I would not be so obedient. You gave me the cues for success. I love you.” (Breaks down, dramatically)

(Milks applause for several more seconds)

“Next I would like to thank my colleagues. Gosh, any of you could be up here tonight, accepting this award. Denzel Washington DC, you were simply brilliant as the man walking the dog in Zero Dark Thirty. And then there is Daniel Night-Lewis; you were truly inspirational as that orc in The Hobbit, my eyes just somehow seemed to go to you. Who said being M. Night Shyamalan’s relative is a career curse, huh? Spinoff, dude, imagine a television show called Orc! Finally, how can I forget about you, Tobey Maguire. Where have you been, dawg? That was an incredible performance as the elephant in Life of Pi—I know your scene on the boat got cut, but damn! Incredible. I really don’t deserve to be in such an illustrious company… but I’ll keep the award anyways.”

(Pause for insincere pompous laughter)

“Background actors often don’t get the respect they deserve, but it is an art form.”

(More laughter)

“Sure, we might not be as good-looking and we don’t end up in the credits or whatever, but that’s not the point. We are a valued part of the movie experience. Like sets, props, music, and costumes, we complete the film. Just because we’re blurry figures in the background doesn’t mean we aren’t working hard. We are some of the hardest working people in the industry. You think sitting in a tent for 16 hours is easy? You think waiting for Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to say his lines is easy? No, can CGI characters do that? Fuck no! Sorry, I didn’t mean to cuss. (Fakes embarrassment) Bottom line is that there are a million background performers losing their jobs. Students coming out of background acting school with nothing, absolutely nothing, not even as a Walking Dead zombie part.”

(Music starts playing)

“Wait! Hold on, I’m not finished! (Pause) The industry is evolving and it is time for us, the background performers, to stick together and come to the foreground of the problem. We might be extras on set, but no more. We are the leading actors of our own lives. So thank you, the academy, for the recognition. Martin Scorsese, you are a legend! Thank you!”

Henrik versus Linden

July 1, 2013April 7, 2014 / Elliot Chan / Leave a comment

Formerly published in The Other Press. Feb. 26 2013

Will there ever be a new Captain Canuck?

By Elliot Chan, Staff Writer

On February 15, in a game against the Dallas Stars, Henrik Sedin surpassed Markus Naslund’s franchise record in points scored with 757. Although the Canucks eventually lost the game 4–3, it did not spoil the debate concerning the greatest Canuck of all time.

Among fans, there is no argument: Trevor Linden is still the idol in Vancouver. But realistically, what can Sedin do to over take him? The answer is simple: win a championship. The only way for any player to step out from Linden’s shadow is to reflect the light with the Stanley Cup. Then again, Sedin has done everything Linden did in less games played. Statistically, the only major area that Linden has the upper hand is in goals scored. Henrik is a playmaker, though he did show off his abilities to score in 2010 when his brother, Daniel went down with a leg injury. So, is it really so unfair to have this discussion?

Sedin has won the Art Ross and the Hart Memorial trophy, and led the Canucks to the Stanley Cup finals. But the term “led” is used loosely, because he has a notorious reputation of not showing up during pressure games. For most, it doesn’t matter what players do in the regular season, great players must bring their skills to do-or-die situations. Great players are clutch players. Unfortunately, Linden falls into the same category as Sedin. Both captained losing teams in the Stanley Cup Finals. The mirroring post-season experiences keep them on par with each other.

Besides coping with heartbreaking losses and being top draft picks, Sedin and Linden don’t have much in common. Sedin is Swedish, where as Linden is Canadian. I can’t speak for everyone, but in an international game where Canada is playing against the Swedes, it is a little difficult to cheer against Sedin. It plays a big part in Vancouver fans’ psyches. As shallow as it sounds, the best Canuck shouldn’t be a foreigner for that reason.

The other thing working against Sedin in respect of being the best Canuck is that he played most of his career with his identical twin right beside him. I’ve cheered them on for 13 years and still can’t tell them apart. For the longest time the debate was, who’s the better Sedin? They were neck and neck with points for so many years. One would pass and the other would score. Only recently did Henrik overtake Daniel in the race and earned recognition aside from being the other half of a scoring combination. Henrik Sedin will never be the greatest Canuck, because then what would Daniel be? They relied so heavily on each other their whole career it would be unfair to split them in such fashion.

Linden rose up the ranks, earned respect, and went through trials and adversity all on his own. That is why he is and always will be Captain Canuck to the city of Vancouver and Henrik Sedin, although he is currently wearing the “C” for captain, will always be paired up with his brother Daniel.