That deepened feeling of sadness and disappointment is gone after watching the Vancouver Canucks lose in Game 7 to the Boston Bruins.
While there was chit chat in the editorial newsroom of the Penticton Western News, I didn’t really feel like engaging too much in it. I needed time for healing and I have moved on now. Congrats to the Boston Bruins and Mark Recchi, a B.C. boy who ends his NHL career with a third Stanley Cup ring. Perhaps wearing my Pavel Bure jersey during the playoff run wasn’t such a good idea. Honestly, I know that had nothing to do with the Canucks not winning. I just hope it doesn’t take another 17 years before the Canucks reach the final. Game 7 of the final set a CBC ratings record as an average of 8.76 million tuned in to watch. The peak hit 11.2 million viewers.
Adding salt to a cut wound in watching the Canucks lose were the riots that took place. Simply unfortunate. What I will remember most, though is going to Game 5, which the Canucks won 1-0 and being part of a surreal celebration. Hanging outside of Rogers Arena with a bunch of friends and making our way downtown high fiving an endless amount of Canuckleheads was so much fun. An experience I won’t forget.
All isn’t bad in the world of sports however. The South Okanagan Save-On Foods Flames played a strong game against the Vernon Tigers, winning 8-7 on Monday. The Flames put on a show for the supportive crowd who opened their wallets to help out Kody Ramsay, the nephew of Flames president Kevin Harms. Ramsay is fighting cancer and with the generosity of the Vernon Tigers lacrosse team, the Flames were able to give Ramsay’s family $1,700 to help. Kudos to the, Tigers, the Flames and their fans.
Sticking with lacrosse, congratulations goes out to Penticton Heat player Jean-Luc Chetner, who earned a spot on Team B.C.’s midget squad that will compete for the National championship in August. Chetner was joined by fellow teammates Brad Stel, Josh Greenwood and Kaid McLeod, who also impressed the coaching brass but were unable to crack the final roster.
My slo-pitch team, the Subcity Sluggers, had it’s best season in three years in the E Division. Despite a bit of a roller coaster season, the team finished 7-9-2 and managed to finished fourth in the playoffs. After losing to the Fighting Quail in the first playoff game and getting bumped to the lower pool, the team went on a roll to defeat the Lobsters, Copper Mug and get revenge against the Fighting Quail before losing a close one to Camp Cariboo. Great season team. On a side note, I dedicated my season to raising money for autism and swung the bat fairly well while racing through base pads to tally up a total of $191. I wasn’t alone though, as the newspaper and a friend matched my total and had teammates join also. For that, I say thanks.
Emanuel Sequeira is the sports editor of the Penticton Western news.