Social Anxiety Support

PGVan · 12-16-2008, 12:54 AM

With Trevor Linden's number retirement coming Wednesday night, I have to take the time to tell this community about this great ambassador to hockey and great humanitarian.

When my grandfather introduced me to being a Canucks fan when I was just 4 years old, Trevor Linden was the next big thing for the Canucks. As I grew up as a Canucks fan, Trevor Linden grew into a great player and a true leader among men. I was only 10 years old when the Canucks made their great run to the Stanley Cup Final in 1994, and I can still remember it like it was yesterday. I remember waking up the apartment building when Pavel Bure scored in OT in Game 7 against Calgary, and again when Greg Adams eliminated Toronto to win the Campbell Conference. Both those great Canucks' moments came under Trevor Linden's leadership both on and off the ice. While I was devastated to tears when the Rangers won Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, Trevor Linden ensured his team lost with class, knowing they had given it all they had, himself included. Linden scored both Canucks' goals in that game and I can still hear the ring of the goal post that Nathan Lafayette hit in the 3rd period. Linden was the centre of attention for most of what I believe is the greatest hockey game (and Stanley Cup Final) to be played in the modern era. Even though we lost, Trevor Linden made Canucks' fans proud. The rally of 60,000 screaming fans at BC Place a few days later showed just that.

1997 was the beginning of a dark era for the Vancouver Canucks. They signed Mark Messier. He who led the Rangers to beating the Canucks for the Stanley Cup in 1994 would also screw the Canucks for 3 years in a Canucks uniform. Mike Keenan clearly played his part as well. While Trevor Linden will take the classy road and tell everybody that he offered Mark Messier the Canucks' captaincy, we all know that Keenan (who was GM, and Head Coach Tom Renney) stripped him of it and gave it to Messier. It was bad enough that Messier wore #11 in Vancouver (which was unofficially retired after Wayne Maki died of brain cancer in 1974 as a member of the Vancouver Canucks), but when he got his way and had the captaincy given to him, the writing was on the wall for Trevor Linden to move on to another team.

That day came on Feb. 6, 1998. He went to the Islanders for Bryan McCabe, Todd Bertuzzi and a 3rd round pick that became Jarkko Ruutu. Knowing what they had just acquired, the Islanders immediately named Linden their captain. Using 20/20 hindsight, that trade was a blessing in disguise that took almost a decade to come to fruition. Bryan McCabe turned into the draft pick that Brian Burke used to leave the 1999 draft with the Sedin twins, and more recently, Todd Bertuzzi was the key to the trade that brought Roberto Luongo to Vancouver. During that time, Trevor Linden had stints with Montreal and Washington as well. Suddenly, on Nov. 10, 2001, just over a year after Messier left the Canucks to go back to the Rangers, the Canucks sent 1st and 3rd round picks to the Capitals for the man who was always a Canuck despite wearing three different uniforms. I remember that night as well. I was watching Hockey Night In Canada and news of the trade popped up on the screen. I dropped my drink and yelled in celebration. Trevor was a Canuck again! I got crap for spilling my drink on the new carpet, but who gave a rats ***!? Trevor was a Canuck again!!

Up until Linden's last game on Apr. 5, 2008, he never took a shift off. He left nothing in the tank after any game. He earned nothing but respect from his teammates, opponents and fans. He was a true leader on the ice, and just as importantly, off the ice...

Trevor Linden has a few of his own charities and funds, and was integral to the success of Canuck Place, a children's hospice in Vancouver. He still makes appearances there to this day. His charitable work throughout his career and beyond has been recognized through various awards, from the NHL, the City of Vancouver and the Province of British Columbia. Trevor Linden is known in Vancouver as much for his contributions to the city as he is for playing for the Vancouver Canucks.

Wednesday night, Trevor Linden gets the greatest honour a team can give to a player. The Canucks are retiring his #16. I will be taking the time off work to be home to watch it. I am stocked up on kleenex, an inevitable necessity to get through this night. Although it will be emotional, it will be an unforgettable night in Canucks' history.

As a player, Trevor Linden taught me to work as hard as I can at what I love to do. I admit I don't always employ that lesson to every aspect of my life, but he has set the example to follow. As a person, he has taught me that everybody is an equal, and should be treated as such. He doesn't live a day where he doesn't try to make somebody in a tragic situation feel better. Trevor Linden is a role model for young hockey players, the average person and other professional athletes as well. I can only hope that one day I get to meet Trevor Linden, shake his hand and say just two words, "thank you".

shyguy246 · 12-16-2008, 02:05 AM

A lot of people will remember Linden as a role player because that's what he was in his later years, but in the early 90's, he was an offensive force. Him and Bure were great together(and I wish they'd go back to those uniform's).
Anyways, here is what I remember when I think of Trevor Linden:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQEEAKcEoEA

Perfectionist · 12-16-2008, 06:42 AM

Trevor Linden is an integral part of Vancouver. I've never met anyone in Vancouver who doesn't absolutely adore him. He is hard work, dedication, humility and class all wrapped up together in one. I will so, so be watching Wednesday night.

2Talkative · 12-16-2008, 10:28 PM

Some good Linden footage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSLUqN6ywd0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAQmz...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgqBx...eature=related

This video shows you how much he was apreciated.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKbrV...eature=related

Perfectionist · 12-17-2008, 12:05 AM

They had people talking about him on the news tonight. Something I never knew, apparently in game 6 and 7 of the Canucks run at the cup in '94 he had cracked ribs and dislocated cartiledge in his ribs. As shyguy said, he was an offensive force, and still out there hitting.

I don't have a clip of it, but one of the favorite soundbites I've ever heard about Linden is some lady at Canuck Place. It's a place where terminally ill kids can spend their last few days with their family in Vancouver, and a lot of Canucks go visit. Apparently Linden just randomly shows up all the time to chat with kids, no fanfare, no publicity, just some random Saturday afternoon or Tuesday morning. Like I said lots of Canucks visit, but he seems to really go above and beyond. Man I love Linden.

PGVan · 12-17-2008, 07:20 PM

Godammit that was a beautiful ceremony. How he made the whole day and evening about everybody around him is exactly why Canucks fans love this guy so much.

Perfectionist · 12-18-2008, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PGVan

How he made the whole day and evening about everybody around him is exactly why Canucks fans love this guy so much.

YES. Exactly. He had an entire speech, and barely mentioned himself. It was all about the support he got, all about his teammates.

Seriously, I was holding back tears when he was speaking and when the number was being raised. Oh man.

shyguydan222 · 12-19-2008, 06:08 PM

I was suppose to be at the game dog nab it! It was an absolutely beautiful ceremony, to bad Brian Burke was not invited to the ceremony, with the help of Pat Quinn and Brian Burke they helped draft Linden #2 overall in the 1988. He is and will always be Mr. Canuck in my eye, he is a class act player and it is great that he got the recognition as it for his charitable work off the ice, and his leadership on the ice. It was a tear- jerker moment for me watching it lol

12-16-2008, 12:54 AM	#1 (permalink)
PGVan Status: SAS Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: BC Age: 25 Posts: 1,722	Trevor Linden With Trevor Linden's number retirement coming Wednesday night, I have to take the time to tell this community about this great ambassador to hockey and great humanitarian. When my grandfather introduced me to being a Canucks fan when I was just 4 years old, Trevor Linden was the next big thing for the Canucks. As I grew up as a Canucks fan, Trevor Linden grew into a great player and a true leader among men. I was only 10 years old when the Canucks made their great run to the Stanley Cup Final in 1994, and I can still remember it like it was yesterday. I remember waking up the apartment building when Pavel Bure scored in OT in Game 7 against Calgary, and again when Greg Adams eliminated Toronto to win the Campbell Conference. Both those great Canucks' moments came under Trevor Linden's leadership both on and off the ice. While I was devastated to tears when the Rangers won Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, Trevor Linden ensured his team lost with class, knowing they had given it all they had, himself included. Linden scored both Canucks' goals in that game and I can still hear the ring of the goal post that Nathan Lafayette hit in the 3rd period. Linden was the centre of attention for most of what I believe is the greatest hockey game (and Stanley Cup Final) to be played in the modern era. Even though we lost, Trevor Linden made Canucks' fans proud. The rally of 60,000 screaming fans at BC Place a few days later showed just that. 1997 was the beginning of a dark era for the Vancouver Canucks. They signed Mark Messier. He who led the Rangers to beating the Canucks for the Stanley Cup in 1994 would also screw the Canucks for 3 years in a Canucks uniform. Mike Keenan clearly played his part as well. While Trevor Linden will take the classy road and tell everybody that he offered Mark Messier the Canucks' captaincy, we all know that Keenan (who was GM, and Head Coach Tom Renney) stripped him of it and gave it to Messier. It was bad enough that Messier wore #11 in Vancouver (which was unofficially retired after Wayne Maki died of brain cancer in 1974 as a member of the Vancouver Canucks), but when he got his way and had the captaincy given to him, the writing was on the wall for Trevor Linden to move on to another team. That day came on Feb. 6, 1998. He went to the Islanders for Bryan McCabe, Todd Bertuzzi and a 3rd round pick that became Jarkko Ruutu. Knowing what they had just acquired, the Islanders immediately named Linden their captain. Using 20/20 hindsight, that trade was a blessing in disguise that took almost a decade to come to fruition. Bryan McCabe turned into the draft pick that Brian Burke used to leave the 1999 draft with the Sedin twins, and more recently, Todd Bertuzzi was the key to the trade that brought Roberto Luongo to Vancouver. During that time, Trevor Linden had stints with Montreal and Washington as well. Suddenly, on Nov. 10, 2001, just over a year after Messier left the Canucks to go back to the Rangers, the Canucks sent 1st and 3rd round picks to the Capitals for the man who was always a Canuck despite wearing three different uniforms. I remember that night as well. I was watching Hockey Night In Canada and news of the trade popped up on the screen. I dropped my drink and yelled in celebration. Trevor was a Canuck again! I got crap for spilling my drink on the new carpet, but who gave a rats ***!? Trevor was a Canuck again!! Up until Linden's last game on Apr. 5, 2008, he never took a shift off. He left nothing in the tank after any game. He earned nothing but respect from his teammates, opponents and fans. He was a true leader on the ice, and just as importantly, off the ice... Trevor Linden has a few of his own charities and funds, and was integral to the success of Canuck Place, a children's hospice in Vancouver. He still makes appearances there to this day. His charitable work throughout his career and beyond has been recognized through various awards, from the NHL, the City of Vancouver and the Province of British Columbia. Trevor Linden is known in Vancouver as much for his contributions to the city as he is for playing for the Vancouver Canucks. Wednesday night, Trevor Linden gets the greatest honour a team can give to a player. The Canucks are retiring his #16. I will be taking the time off work to be home to watch it. I am stocked up on kleenex, an inevitable necessity to get through this night. Although it will be emotional, it will be an unforgettable night in Canucks' history. As a player, Trevor Linden taught me to work as hard as I can at what I love to do. I admit I don't always employ that lesson to every aspect of my life, but he has set the example to follow. As a person, he has taught me that everybody is an equal, and should be treated as such. He doesn't live a day where he doesn't try to make somebody in a tragic situation feel better. Trevor Linden is a role model for young hockey players, the average person and other professional athletes as well. I can only hope that one day I get to meet Trevor Linden, shake his hand and say just two words, "thank you".

12-16-2008, 06:42 AM	#3 (permalink)
Perfectionist Status: Too Cool for School Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: At the Hundredth Meridian Gender: Female Age: 21 Posts: 2,313	Trevor Linden is an integral part of Vancouver. I've never met anyone in Vancouver who doesn't absolutely adore him. He is hard work, dedication, humility and class all wrapped up together in one. I will so, so be watching Wednesday night. __________________ -Oh if Hans Christian Anderson could've had his way with me

12-16-2008, 10:28 PM	#4 (permalink)
2Talkative Status: MIA Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Vancouver BC Gender: Male Age: 28 Posts: 507	Some good Linden footage. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSLUqN6ywd0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAQmz...eature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgqBx...eature=related This video shows you how much he was apreciated. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKbrV...eature=related __________________ "I have found the Iron to be my greatest friend. It never freaks out on me, never runs. Friends may come and go. But two hundred pounds is always two hundred pounds." - Henry Rollins

12-17-2008, 12:05 AM	#5 (permalink)
Perfectionist Status: Too Cool for School Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: At the Hundredth Meridian Gender: Female Age: 21 Posts: 2,313	They had people talking about him on the news tonight. Something I never knew, apparently in game 6 and 7 of the Canucks run at the cup in '94 he had cracked ribs and dislocated cartiledge in his ribs. As shyguy said, he was an offensive force, and still out there hitting. I don't have a clip of it, but one of the favorite soundbites I've ever heard about Linden is some lady at Canuck Place. It's a place where terminally ill kids can spend their last few days with their family in Vancouver, and a lot of Canucks go visit. Apparently Linden just randomly shows up all the time to chat with kids, no fanfare, no publicity, just some random Saturday afternoon or Tuesday morning. Like I said lots of Canucks visit, but he seems to really go above and beyond. Man I love Linden. __________________ -Oh if Hans Christian Anderson could've had his way with me

12-16-2008, 02:05 AM	#2 (permalink)
shyguy246 Status: Permanently Banned Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: In my head Gender: Male Posts: 539	A lot of people will remember Linden as a role player because that's what he was in his later years, but in the early 90's, he was an offensive force. Him and Bure were great together(and I wish they'd go back to those uniform's). Anyways, here is what I remember when I think of Trevor Linden: www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQEEAKcEoEA

12-17-2008, 07:20 PM	#6 (permalink)
PGVan Status: SAS Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: BC Age: 25 Posts: 1,722	Godammit that was a beautiful ceremony. How he made the whole day and evening about everybody around him is exactly why Canucks fans love this guy so much.

12-19-2008, 06:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
shyguydan222 Status: underlying pain Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Age: 27 Posts: 33	I was suppose to be at the game dog nab it! It was an absolutely beautiful ceremony, to bad Brian Burke was not invited to the ceremony, with the help of Pat Quinn and Brian Burke they helped draft Linden #2 overall in the 1988. He is and will always be Mr. Canuck in my eye, he is a class act player and it is great that he got the recognition as it for his charitable work off the ice, and his leadership on the ice. It was a tear- jerker moment for me watching it lol