Hope
April 29, 2008
One attribute Vancouver Canucks fans really get to hone in on and develop as human beings is hope. Every year it seems we search deep within ourselves (and the team’s roster) to see where we can find it and then ride that out until its eventual conclusion, which for Canucks fans has rarely been very fruitful. In the 38 year history of this franchise the Vancouver Canucks been to the Stanley Cup finals twice. Now don’t get me wrong, I love this team, I do - but geez, do they ever test one’s patience! After a disastrous ending to the 2007/08 season, the Canucks fired their General Manager (Dave Nonis) and then on April 23rd, 2008 announced his replacement - Mike Gillis. And this is where all us Canucks fans find ourselves again: searching for hope. My first reaction to Gillis’s hiring was frustration, but then after watching his entire press conference and a few one-on-one interviews, I found that I liked his frank demeanor and his hard-nosed hockey philosophy. Yes, he doesn’t have any experience with managing but he conveyed quite pointedly a style of team that I like and he seemed to have a fresh approach in how to achieve that - I was convinced. So, like the beaten dog that I am, I have once again found hope in this franchise and am here to say that I like the Gillis hiring and am hopeful about next season and the future to come. How will it all pan out? Well, that is why I am a fan. Go Canucks!
