Vancouver Canucks Fans Relieved

While there are some hockey aficionados who opt to completely disregard exhibition games as meaningless and inconsequential, there are others who choose to view the pre-season as a series of games that foreshadow a team’s success (or lack thereof) during the regular season.

This was particularly true for Vancouver Canucks fans during this year’s pre-season. Indeed, at the commencement of this year’s exhibition games, it seemed like the collective Canucks fan base was holding its breath.

And can you blame them?

Big changes occurred during the off-season, not least of which was the decision to allow Ryan Miller to become the new starting goaltender. During the off-season, the Canucks recruited players such as Nick Bonino, Derek Dorsett, Luca Sbisa, and Radim Vrbata. In addition, Willie Desjardins was announced as the 18^th head coach of the Canucks, and Jim Benning took up the mantle as the team’s general management.

It would be odd to NOT be at least a teeny bit anxious about how the new management and leadership would affect the team.

Luckily, Vancouver fans can breathe a much-needed and much-deserved sign of relief following a stellar pre-season game. The Canucks lost only two out of seven exhibition games, and played particularly ferocious and riveting games against the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames. While these pre-season wins may not seem noteworthy, Canucks fans will no doubt relish every possible victory following last year’s devastating season.

For now, it seems like the team is in good hands. If the Canucks can keep this up in the regular season, we could be witnessing a return to form for the team.

The Canucks commence their regular season on Wednesday October 8^th at Calgary’s Scotiabank Saddledome. The Canucks will experience their first home game on October 11^th against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Arena.